Oliver pursed his lips. “All of that is true, but in the interest of technical accuracy, I did not meet her until I was fifteen.”
Sebastian slammed his fist into his palm. “Irrelevant. Robert, I told you to make sure the Brothers Sinister were present. It was your only task aside from helping with the sign. I wrangled the pig, the pastries, the sesame cakes, the…” He sputtered in outrage. “And you couldn’t take three seconds to speak with Violet?”
“I forgot!” Robert said. “She didn’t come on our walk, which is when I’d planned to talk to her. Besides, when the two of you are together, you take over everything!”
“We can’t help being the most interesting people in the room,” Sebastian shot back. “But this time, it will be different. We’re…not entirely at ease with one another right now; why do you think I told you to invite her instead of doing it myself?”
Oliver turned to Sebastian. “Still? You have been arguing with one another since May.”
Sebastian shrugged. “In a manner of speaking. It’s complicated.”
“Arguing with Violet?” Robert echoed. “Good God, Sebastian. What on earth is there for you and Violet to argue over?”
Sometimes, Sebastian wondered if his cousins saw him at all. It had been years since he’d given his first lecture, but neither of them had ever managed to reconcile themselves to his career as a scientist. That actually came out in their favor most days, as his career as a scientist was based on fraud and deceit. Still, he sometimes wondered if they ever took him seriously.
That was partially his choice. After all, he was so rarely serious.
And so now, he simply shrugged. “It shifts. At present, we’re arguing over the fact that I’ve been in love with her for half my life. This does not comport with her view of me, and so she wishes I had not told her.”
Oliver rolled his eyes. “Oh, that’s likely.”
Sebastian looked away. “Your opinion, dreadfully uninformed as it is, is noted and discarded.”
Robert let out a sigh. “Really, Sebastian. Talk sense and be serious.”
No. Of course they didn’t believe him. “Very well. Give me a moment.” He spun in a circle, putting his hands over his face as he did. He held his hands in place for a few dramatic heartbeats, and then flung his arms wide. “Behold! I am now Serious Sebastian. Serious Sebastian can say only Serious Things.” He scowled at them both. “Right now, Serious Sebastian wants to know why you are not bitterly ashamed to have forgotten Violet.”
“Right,” Robert said. “That’s a convincing representation of a serious man.”
Sebastian pointed a finger at the duke. “Serious Sebastian is not amused by your attempt to change the subject. Serious Sebastian insists that you stop arguing with me and go get Violet right now.”
“Oh, come on, it can wait a minute. I’ve just poured champagne, and I thought we might have a toast before—”
It was one thing for Robert to shrug off Sebastian. Sebastian consciously tried to lighten things up, after all—a necessary role when his cousins were both too serious. But to shrug off Violet? Brittle, brilliant Violet, the one who had fostered the bond between Sebastian and Robert in the first place?
Sebastian took a step forward. “You want to see me serious?” He glared at Robert. His cousin was an inch taller than him, but when Sebastian took another step toward him, he blinked and backed away. “Here. I’m serious. Violet is upstairs in a room all alone. She doesn’t know anyone else here—nobody except Jane, who is busy tonight with her sister.” He jabbed a finger into Robert’s chest. “You’ve known her since you were four years old. And maybe you can’t remember, but I can. She made games for us when we were young. She had half of Eton playing cards by her rules, except they never knew they were hers.”
Robert frowned reluctantly. “I suppose there is something to that.”
“Stop supposing and use your brain. She’s widowed. She has no children. Her mother is…not warm. Her sister is a viper who does her utmost to make Violet feel inadequate.”
“Lily? Little Lily? Are we remembering the same girl?” Robert’s eyes narrowed. “She’s a little vapid, but sweet. I thought.”
“You’re a terrible judge of human nature,” Sebastian muttered. “We are her friends. Look at what she’s done for you. She put herself out to help Minnie survive those first years after you married her. And Jane—she befriended Jane the instant we realized Oliver was falling in love with her. And you just forgot she existed.”
“I…” Robert’s eyes dropped. “You’re right. That was bad of me. As soon as we toast—”
“None of that. Get Violet right this instant,” Sebastian snapped, “or I’m leaving this room.”
“Of course. But first—”
And that was the end of it. Sebastian wasn’t quite sure what came over him, but he simply held up one finger, interrupting his cousin. “Oh, look. The instant has passed.”