“By who? Newgate Prison?”
“Several whos, actually. Their names escape me at this present time. And don’t be flippant.”
“If only you would let me have Dimity as my companion—”
“She is your piano teacher, and even in that I am unsure she is a wise choice,” Gabe muttered. “The woman has perfected insolence with just a look. Zach is right, she is trouble, and not a good influence on you.”
“She is my only friend and understands me,” Abby said slowly.
“We are your friends,” Michael said. “And want only the best for you as we love you.”
“As I love you,” Abby ground out. But, you are my brothers. I cannot talk about hair ribbons and the latest fashion with any of you. You have your lives and I have mine… which is spent inside these walls or being escorted about the place with an army of servants watching my every move. I sometimes feel like I can’t breathe.”
“Oh, yes, your life is horrible after all,” Zach drawled. “Pretty clothes, a lovely home with plenty of food, and let’s not forget all the society events you frequent. And on the matter of hair ribbons, I told you the pink hair band was nicer than the blue just last week.”
She wanted to reach over the table and smack that smug look from his face with the spoon she held. Instead, she opened her hand and lowered it slowly to the table.
“The best day will be when she marries,” Zach muttered.
That hurt. She’d never given them any trouble. Yes, they argued, and yes, she did not take all their dictates with a docile smile, but for the most she did as they asked of her, and they had a great deal of fun together. But lately even that had lessened.
“Her husband can put up with her tantrums.”
Abby bit the inside of her cheek to stop from shrieking. That would get her nowhere with these four. They were immovable in their belief that they needed to watch over her… extremely closely. Yelling would only have them declaring she was a hysterical woman.
“And how, Zachriel, is that supposed to happen when every man I dance or speak with, you intimidate?”
Their mother had thought the surname Deville hard for any child to handle, so had named her sons after angels. Hilarious really, as they were the least angelic men in existence.
“We do not intimidate—”
“You told Mr. Capon that if he so much as looked my way again, you’d ensure he’d walk with a limp!”
“Abby, we know what men are like, so you have to trust us to look after you. Capon is a blithering idiot,” Michael added. “As many of the men in society are.”
“I wouldn’t know, I never get to speak to them.”
“Oh now, that’s an over exaggeration,” Zach said with his mouth full of food.
“For God’s sake, swallow before you speak!” Gabe bellowed. “You have the manners of a barnyard animal.”
Abby smiled at her youngest brother in that way a younger sibling did when they were enjoying seeing another in trouble.
“And what of Sir Christopher? He actually whimpered when you surrounded him to discuss his intentions toward me. I danced with him twice!”
“He is a blithering idiot,” Nathan muttered. “I will have no future niece or nephew of mine hampered with such an imbecile for a father, even considering they will carry our blood.”
“Another one? How interesting that it appears only you four are in possession of all your wits, when so many are not.” There was a definite snap to her words now.
“We just know better than you.” Zach looked smug.
“You can’t even do up your shirt buttons correctly, so please tell me how it’s possible you know better than me?” She smiled sweetly as he looked down. Of course they were not crooked, but she’d enjoyed the reaction nonetheless.
“Please pass the plum conserve, Michael,” Abby said. Arguing with them got her nowhere. They believed love should come in the form of wrapping her up tight in a swaddling blanket. As yet she had been unable to break free—unless she broke the rules and left the house undetected.
Thinking of Daniel calmed her. How she wished she could see him again.
“We love you. Is it a crime that we’re protective because of that?” Gabe asked.
“Love is not meant to be stifling,” Abby muttered.
“That sounds like something your piano teacher would say and likely has.” He scowled. “That woman is trouble, and I’m seriously reconsidering hiring her. She refuses to acknowledge her place in this household, of which incidentally there is not one!”
Abby rose. This was getting her nowhere. If she stayed, she’d continue arguing. Placing her hands on the table, she gave each of her brothers a steady look, finishing with Gabe.
“If you dismiss Dimity, then I will make your life hell. I will do everything in my power to destroy my reputation, which, incidentally, you hold in higher esteem than I, and I will run naked through the streets if I must.”
Each face paled. They’d pushed her before, and she’d put stinging nettles in their beds. However, she was no longer ten years old; she would have to find another way to deal with them.
“You are no longer a child. Perhaps you should behave like the adult you profess to be,” Gabe said.
She had to be careful around him; he had a devilishly tricky way with words and often turned a conversation before she realized what he was about.
“I will not be moved in this. Dimity is the only friend I have ever had or you’ve allowed in my life. I will not have her taken from me.”
“Only friend,” Nathan scoffed. “I’ve seen you surrounded by ladies.”
“All demanding information about you four under the disguise of friendship. Not one of them is sincere. They pretend to be my friend because of you lot,” Abby said.
That shocked them.
“I don’t think—”
“Exactly,” Abby cut Gabe off. “You don’t think… none of you do. You spend your days out in
