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They weren’t inseparable by any means. They had their squabbles like all siblings did. And he had, of course, gone off to school as was expected of the Alcott heir. But he had taken note of all her traits, and he often felt that he knew her best. She had been the one to pour out her heart to him as a child and even as she’d grown older. It was only in recent years, when he’d become too tied up with estate business and she’d become more introspective as her debut came and went without a match, that she didn’t confide her every thought to him. And it made him uneasy. He knew it would happen eventually, that she would wed and transfer her confiding love to someone else. But it hadn’t happened yet, and he worried for her. When Daisy kept things to herself, she tended to land herself in trouble.
So he listened for her tones, waiting to note where there were missing bits. And there were definitely things being left out in her narrative. But he didn’t really suspect she was truly courting scandal. His darling sister was still too conventional, despite the adventurous side that she tried to keep hidden. Unlike Lady Constance.
Florent almost clicked his tongue in dismay but caught himself before giving that telltale sign. He didn’t want Daisy examining him as he was doing to her. It was obvious she was preoccupied with something, or she would have already noticed that his mind was only partially engaged. But the rest of his thoughts had followed Constance Moreland from the room. He tried to drag them back to his concerns about his sister. What if she was going to want to follow in Lady Constance’s footsteps and become an eccentric?
For all his love of his little sister, he didn’t think she had the fortitude to carry it off. Florent was surprised that Lady Constance had that fortitude. It couldn’t be easy always being different from everyone else, especially for a woman. It might actually take concerted effort to do so, he would imagine. Again, his curiosity was engaged. And again, he fought a growl. His sister obviously needed him, but his thoughts were entangled with a different female.
Daisy prattled on about picnics and archery and visits to the village for a few moments, and Florent tried to be interested, he truly did. Perhaps if his thoughts weren’t so divided between the present and his responsibilities still at home, never mind the lovely young woman who had captured a large part of his brain as soon as he had encountered her, he might have found Daisy’s recitation interesting. He loved his sister and enjoyed her turn of phrase whenever she was describing something to him. But this time he just couldn’t quite do it. Until she started asking him about smuggling in the area.
“Have you ever heard of anyone using the river behind Alcott and Everleigh for smuggling?”
Florent was even more relieved that they had strolled away from the others. “Smuggling? What would make you ask about that?”
Daisy’s shrug was almost completely innocent, but Florent had managed to bring all his faculties back into alignment, and he knew for certain that something wasn’t quite right with his sister. “I’m curious, is all. You know me, always sticking my nose into things.”
“That’s an odd thing for a lady to stick her nose into, isn’t it?”
Daisy shrugged again but this time Florent actually believed it, and he fought a smile. Of course, his sister wouldn’t concern herself if something was ladylike or not. For such a feminine creature, she didn’t put much effort into it.
“I know we’re rather far from where someone would expect smugglers to be, but after a walk on the moors, I was thinking it was actually a rather perfect location for such an activity. Being far from the usual place would probably provide some protection from detection.”
“And so you thought to take up a career in criminology?” Florent frowned, wondering where his sister was going with her tale.
She shrugged once more and Florent was beginning to detest her nonchalance.
“I thought to write about it and so I was giving the matter some thought.”
Flor wasn’t sure if he believed that explanation, but his sister was known for spinning a good story from time to time. It was more plausible than her taking up the task of illegal importation, that was certain. But Florent still wasn’t convinced that her question was as innocent as that.
“So you haven’t heard of smuggling in these parts?” Daisy persisted. “What would you do if you did hear?”
“I’d have to look into the matter,” Florent said. “And I’d be highly curious how the person I heard it from knew of the matter.”
Daisy’s mouth widened into a grin. “Would you suspect them?” Her eyes danced with delight at the prospect. “Do you think I might make a good smuggler?”
Florent laughed. “I think you might possibly be devious enough.”
“Do you really?” Florent didn’t appreciate how delighted she seemed by the thought. “I wouldn’t have thought so.”
“Does that disappoint you? Most wouldn’t want to be thought devious.”
She hummed in response, deep in thought. “I suppose I wouldn’t want to be thought to be currently devious, as in I wouldn’t want you to think I was lying to you. But I would like to be thought intelligent enough to be devious.”
“I certainly think you are.”
“Why Florent, that is such a sweet thing to say.”
“You are quite the strange little thing today, my dear.”
“Perhaps the fresh air has addled me.”
“It’s more likely that the not so fresh air of being in Town these past weeks is what has done it.”
Daisy grinned again, not in the least bothered by his ribbing.
“Are things truly set to rights at home, Florent?” she asked next, quietly searching his face.
“Nothing to worry you in the least.”
