The Scholar (Emerson Pass Historicals 3)

“Thanks, Theo,” Poppy said. “Maybe I’ll try to sit next to him at the bonfire.”

“What’s the sister like?” Cymbeline asked.

“Smart as a whip,” Poppy said as she caught my eye. “Perfect for Viktor.”

Poppy had an evil streak.

“Is Viktor seeing her?” Cymbeline scowled in their direction.

“I believe so.” Poppy’s eyes twinkled at me. “Or so it would seem tonight.”

“What’s it to you?” I asked my sister.

“Absolutely nothing.” Cymbeline stuck out her chin the way she did when she felt defensive. “Why would it?”

“No reason,” Poppy said. “Other than a kiss back in 1920.”

“You’re both very unkind.” Cymbeline crossed her arms. “And anyway, you couldn’t be more wrong. I don’t care about Viktor or any other smelly man.”

Louisa laughed as her glance slid my way. “They’re not all smelly. Some smell very good.”

A thousand suns rose inside my chest. I smelled good. Louisa thought I smelled good! This was turning out to be a very good day.

“There are exceptions, of course.” Cymbeline, seeming to have forgotten her angst over Viktor for the moment, looked at me and then Louisa. “Theo is perfect in every way.”

“Not perfect,” I said with mock modesty. “But go on.”

Louisa laughed. I beamed with my whole body.

Viktor and Isak trotted over to us. As often happened, I was struck by how similar they were in appearance. Both tall and broad-shouldered with hair that wasn’t quite red and not blond either.

Isak greeted us with a hearty hello. “Are you ladies ready to head down to the riverbank?”

“Absolutely,” Poppy said.

“Fiona and Li are coming too,” Viktor said. “And bringing their instruments.”

“Fiona?” I asked Cymbeline. “Isn’t she a little young to be out?”

“She’ll be with me,” Cymbeline said.

“And me,” Poppy added. “Nothing to worry about.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but Cymbeline stopped me. “Don’t be like Jo, Theo. You sound like an old lady. This is the modern age. Women can be in the company of friends and be perfectly safe.”

I didn’t know what the modern age had to do with anything, but I decided to keep my mouth shut. I didn’t want to be called an old lady even though now I was worried about Fiona running all over town at night. Did Papa and Mama know? Never mind, I told myself. I’d get that all sorted out later. Tonight was my night with Louisa, and I planned on enjoying every minute.

“Fiona’s a good kid,” Isak said, obviously sensing my worry. “We all look after her.”

“Not wild and unpredictable like your other sister,” Viktor said. “Isn’t that right, Cymbeline?” Given his light tone, his intention was to tease her. However, when it came to Viktor, Cymbeline didn’t seem to have much of a sense of humor.

“What do you know about anything?” Cymbeline’s eyes narrowed into slits. “You don’t even know me.”

Viktor winked at her and then gave her one of his guileless smiles. “I’ve spent my whole life studying you.”

God only knows what my sister might have said next. Fortunately, we were saved from knowing when Nora arrived with Neil and Emma Hartman.

Nora introduced Neil and Emma to the rest of us.