The heavy scent of lavender and lilac made Thomas Longfellow press his fingers into his temples, massaging out the forming headache. The chatter was as incessant as the clattering and clanking of metal service platters upon glass cases and Thomas tensed at the noises crowding him. He had always hated the shops on Ladies Mile. As a boy, his mother had always insisted he accompany her as a lesson in patience and training as a gentleman.
"Sir." A young sales girl squeaked an apology as she bumped into his arm. Thomas gave the flustered girl a slight strained smile in acknowledgement. He steadied his breathing, chastising himself to calm and focus. Breathing through his mouth, he scanned the ladies around him he caught sight of his girl.
Her back was to him, as she hovered over a glass case. Thomas could tell by the way his ward bounced her head up and down that she was being rather charming and particularly agreeable. He shifted his weight, impatiently, as Audrey point to objects in the case.
He studied her immediately noticing her habitually untied boot and a flushed neck that betrayed her stubbornness of refusing to wear her shawl or coat in the winter afternoon. He barely had time to wonder what object had caught the girl's attention when the sales attendant lifted a single feather. His movements were reactive, trained, and forever graceful as Thomas practically materialized next to Audrey.
"… So you do not sell the feather?" Audrey was asking, pursuing her lips as she felt the weight of a man near her elbow.
"No, Miss. I am sorry. It is part of the display. Though, I could ask…" The sales girl held the feather between two fingers as her brown eyes darted around seeking a superior.
"Miss Audrey." Thomas whispered sternly. Audrey didn't tense or spare a glance to her guardian. She focused on smiling sweetly at the sales girl, politely shaking her head.
"No, no. It seems my guardian has come to collect me."
"Pack up the last two perfumes Miss Audrey has been inspecting, if you will please." Thomas nodded at the girl. The sales girl spun around delighted for the sale.
"Miss Elizabeth was seeking out some ribbons, she should be back in a moment." Audrey sighed exasperated at the accusatory glare Thomas settled on her.
"The business of the Brooklyn Birds is none of your concern." Thomas hissed through gritted teeth. Audrey bounced her hair, in that coquettish way Thomas remembered the girls of his youth always doing, as she tilted her chin up. Her eyes danced with delight and achievement, a look that made her look more alive than she had been in months. Thomas embraced the weariness settling over him.
"I've heard these days they are not of Brooklyn." Audrey glanced back down at the feather in the display case. "Do the colors indicate…"
"No. If you can not leave this to rest, I will forbid you from going out." Thomas growled a bit straightening up to use his height to impose his authority on the girl. Audrey snapped her whole body around to face her guardian, flickering a memory of Spot Conlon to the surface. Blazing eyes the color of a fine brandy shot daggers up at him and a set of knuckles were pressed underneath his right ribs.
"Forbid me? You forbid me from shutting myself up in your study any longer. Critter forbids me from sitting in Central Park alone. Casey forbids me from wearing anything but these wretched skirts! What shall I be allowed to do?" Audrey hissed angrily.
Thomas stared down at her, refusing to give in to his desire to shut his eyes and rub his temples again. Instead he patiently reached his left hand across his torso and corrected her fingers into a properly formed fist.
"I know it's been some time, but you'll hurt yourself with a fist like that." He whispered to her, trying not to smile at the indignant fury that flushed her cheeks. She shook off his hand and settled her hand, each finger stiffly stretched out, against the glass.
The sales girl appeared with the bundle and Miss Elizabeth Samson cheerfully bound into Thomas Longfellow's back.
"Forgive me, Mr. Longfellow!" She exclaimed. Thomas pinned a final glare at Audrey, demanding silently she behave as he smiled at Elizabeth.
"Nothing to forgive Miss Elizabeth, I've come to escort you ladies home. I hope you've finished your shopping for the afternoon?"
"Oh yes, I've bought the most wonderful ribbons and…" Elizabeth elicited a squeak of excitement as she reached into her bundles "… I have bought you this gorgeous feather Audrey, as you've taken to them so lately! It will look lovely in your hair for the Arion Society Grand Masquerade Ball!"
"The Arion Society Grand Masquerade Ball?' Thomas questioned.
"Oh." Elizabeth yelped automatically casting her eyes downward.
"Yes, I've been invited." Audrey tilted her head daringly as she skipped forward pulling Elizabeth with her. Caught off guard by the movement and her friend's blunt behavior towards her guardian, Elizabeth almost tripped again. Thomas squinted his eyes on his brazen brat but focused on paying the sales girl.
Stepping onto the street, Thomas automatically reached out to forcefully pull Audrey's shawl over her shoulders. He gave in to the childish need to reaffirm his authority by violently tugging on the material as a dare for her to remove it. Refusing to wait to see if she would, as he expected, remove her shawl despite his none to subtle warning he stepped to the edge of the walk. Raising his hand, he snapped his fingers making eye contact with his driver.
Elizabeth took care of carrying the tense conversation in the carriage, a true product of her upbringing she was an expert at socially avoiding uncomfortable tension. Thomas trained in the same art, responded willingly and kindly to the girl's prompts even as he stared only at Audrey. The carriage jolted to a stop and Elizabeth laughingly dismissed the offer to walk her to the door, assuring Thomas she would manage the short distance fine without his arm.
"Do behave," Elizabeth had whispered worriedly to Audrey before dashing up to the front garden of her home. Thomas smiled as he watched the young lady slow into a graceful step before reaching the porch of the house.
Once their human truce flag disappeared into the house, Thomas threw himself across the coach and settled oppressively next to Audrey snaking his arm around her waist and into her pocket. Audrey tried to jerk forward but Thomas flung his arm over her legs and held her in place.
"Don't." Audrey snapped as she squirmed uncomfortably trying to pull out of his hold.
"You could just give me the letter." Thomas attempted a pleasantly coaxing tone.
"It's my letter." She grunted. The tips of her boots splattered mud against the plush of the empty seat as she continued to kick out in hopes of freeing herself.
"Forgotten boots and my top hat aside, Miss Audrey, I've strict orders."
"And have you always done as you were told?" Audrey taunted as she jabbed the man with her elbow. Thomas pushed back just enough to pin the girl's arm against the back of the seat.
"I will not see you hurt because of your own impulse." Thomas stated his ruse at patience finally shattering as he began to wrestle with the flailing girl. The carriage lurched and the struggling pair tumbled onto the floor of the carriage with a loud thump.
"As if you didn't once have foolish impulses!" Audrey screeched as she freed one of her arms and struggled to untangle her legs from her skirt. A low murmur and sharp whistle, masquerading as the driver calming the horses, warned them both before the door swung open.
"Quiet down and get up." The growling did not wait for obedience. The carriage dipped with the weight of a full grown man and just as instantly, two hands tightened around Audrey's waist and lifted the girl and settled her forcefully onto the bench. Christopher O'Connell glared down at Thomas, refusing to offer the man a helping hand up.
"You could…" Thomas began even as he placed his hands on the seats to aid his ascent.
"I won't." Christopher shook his head as he reached back to close the carriage door. Waiting until Thomas was seated again, Christopher knocked at the carriage wall once signaling to the driver to continue on its route. An angry silence settled inside the carriage warring with the muted sounds of the city still alive with evening headlines, booming businessmen, and giggling socialites.
Christopher pulled out a pocket watch from his coffee colored coat and snapped it open. He relaxed considerably as he studied the time; obviously calculating something before snapping it carefully shut. He meticulously put it back into his coat, unbuttoned his outerwear and reached up to adjust the flap cap he wore over his unruly hair. The old bird was giving Thomas and Audrey a moment to settle on his appearance, the only courtesy he would likely willingly spare them. His unforgiving attention noticed as Thomas pulled back his hand from the folds of Audrey's skirt. Christopher nodded at the spot of her skirts and held out a hand, palm up and expectant. Audrey squeaked in discomfort and shot a pleading look to Thomas. Christopher's waiting hand twitched and his fingers curled up impatiently signaling the girl once more.
"Critter…" Audrey began in desperate whisper. Christopher shook his head and his eyes stared down at his empty hand. It had been almost a month since they had seen each other last, and Audrey had sworn he would not make her cry again. No matter if she deserved the criticism and harsh words.
"Now." Critter cut off any further requests with his unwavering tone. Audrey blinked furiously, warding off tears, as she placed the unopened letter into the open palm.
"It's my letter." Audrey forced through gritted teeth.
"And you are my responsibility." Critter shrugged. Thomas huffed indignantly but didn't dare to contradict the man he recognized to be in a black mood.
"I don't believe the letter is from Jack." Thomas vaguely explained.
"She is not to receive any of the letters." Critter mumbled as began to read the letter.
"They are my letters!" Audrey glared at them both.
"And you've become rather resourceful in finding them haven't you, Miss Audrey?" Critter dropped the letter into his lap and stared at the girl. He could tell she was happy, in her indignant way, to see him. Audrey Alexandra Kai had always loved the attention warranted to her troublesome ways.
"You trained me to be a bird." Audrey replied flippantly. Thomas choked back a laugh.
"Anyone might say she is your own fault Crit." Thomas nodded.
"You are all my own fault." Critter nodded picking up the letter again and muttering "Mouthy little scab."
Audrey glanced at Thomas surprised and the man laughed and shook his head. The man gestured at the open letter.
"Conlon. Conlon's the only one he's ever called a mouthy little scab."
"Yes, Cricket's always been a disobedient louse." Critter nodded.
"A disobedient louse?" Audrey questioned. "I have never heard you call him that."
"We rarely talk of others when we speak, Miss Audrey you have quite enough faults of your own. And he's learned to behave. " Critter smiled as his eyes keep moving across the page in front of him.
"Enough bloody lips and black eyes might do that to a boy." Thomas sheepishly smiled as he ran a hand tenderly over his intact lips. Audrey shifted impatiently at his side and began fidgeting with the package Miss Elizabeth had given her back in the department store. She pulled the singular large blue feather and held it up between the men.
"Do the colors mean something?" She twirled the feather between her fingers.
"The business of the Brooklyn birds is none of your concern." Cricket replied immediately. Critter slowly folded up the letter and leaned forward in the carriage his gray eyes fixed on the blue feather.
"Would I tell you?" Critter snapped his gaze to her.
"No." She shook her head.
"No." He nodded in agreement.
"May I have the letter?" She asked trying to keep the wistfulness from her own voice.
"After your last run off I told you, you were not to have any of their letters…" Critter began slowly, sadly shaking his head as if he himself regretted the decree.
"I have behaved perfectly…" Audrey began but Thomas snorted.
"Hardly, dearest. But she hasn't run off again." Thomas added hastily.
The carriage slowed and a deep whistle mingled with the neighing horses. Critter licked the inside of his one of his thumbs and reached out to wipe off the dirt smudged on the bottom of Audrey's chin.
"A young lady of society, who frequents the Hyphen with that Canterbury boy, should not be wrestling her guardian on the floor of her carriage." Critter lightly chastised.
"He shouldn't try to take her letters." Audrey shrugged off his tending. She adjusted her blouse and arranged her skirts before reaching out to the carriage door and using the handle to pull herself up. She pushed open the door, ignoring the offered arm of support and the calculating glare of her fellow riders.
"You…" Critter caught her elbow, holding her in the carriage a moment longer. "…Appear well?"
"Can't your birds tell you that?" Audrey snapped. Her eyes were blazing with repressed anger and her cheeks were flushed with annoyance, but the young lady had learned her temper rarely helped any situation involving Christopher O'Connell. The old bird was indifferent to childish temper tantrums and often times would dig in his heels if someone railed against his decrees.
"You did say she could have the letters once you read them." Thomas whispered.
The pair of gray eyes drifted for a moment, a slow and decisive study between the gentleman and the young lady. Critter swung his left arm up and his thumb and fingers gripped into Audrey's chin in a hold that left her unable to move her gaze from his face.
"You know where to find me, if you ever need me?" He asked quietly. The girl tried to nod but Critter's hold would not allow the bounce of her head even slightly. She licked her lips and curved down her brows taking in the earnest face of the man in front of her.
"Yes, I do." She mumbled. Critter nodded while holding out the letter with his right hand. Audrey immediately snatched it away from him and folded it into her skirts, without even trying to move her head.
"You slip out a window or the kitchen door and I will burn the next four letters Jack Kelly sends you. Do you understand?" Critter tilted her chin down as if forcing her to agree. Audrey jerked and tumbled, almost falling out of the open door carriage into the street. Ever watchful, Thomas had reached out and caught the girl.
"Careful." Thomas sighed.
"Yes, sir." Audrey nodded of her own violation before jumping out of the carriage. She didn't wait for anymore warning, instruction, or farewell. Picking up her skirts, she ran to the front door of the Longfellow Estate.
"Do you think she knows?" Critter pulled out his pocket watch once more. Thomas reached out and closed the carriage door, knocking on the ceiling to signal the driver to go on.
"About the birds?" Thomas slouched down in his seat.
"No. " Critter tapped at his pocket watch. "About the storm that's coming."