The Rebellious Rake Bonus Epilogue

THE REBELLIOUS RAKE

MANY YEARS LATER

CHAPTER ONE

The loud crash from somewhere inside the house had Ram groaning. Beside him, Flora simply lifted a pillow and lowered it over her head.
“Merry Christmas, my sweet.” Raising it, he pulled her into his arms. “Mayhem is about to rain down on our household from below.”
“Merry Christmas, my love,” Flora mumbled.
This woman had filled all his cold spaces with love and then given him four children who’d finished the job. They argued, they loved, but more than anything, she gave him something he’d never thought he needed. Stability, by being a constant in his life. Ram often wondered how he would have existed if Flora hadn’t stepped into it.
“I love you,” he said, kissing her softly. “Thank you for choosing me.”
Her eyes were sleepy, and this was the Flora look he loved best. When her guard was down, and she didn’t have all her wits in order yet.
“I did not realize there was a choice.”
“Baggage.” He kissed her soundly.
“Samantha is refusing to wait to open the presents!” The thud of a small fist followed these words on the bedroom door. “I can’t hold her off much longer. Make haste please, Mother and Father!”
“Open the door, Henry,” Flora said, moving out of Ram’s arms to sit up.
The bedroom door opened slowly, and there appeared their eldest child and Curidah, who bounded forward and onto the bed to lick his people thoroughly.
“Gah,” Flora said, batting him away as he pushed his hairy muzzle into her face.
“I wonder if he will ever tire of that. Every morning when we wake, it is the same,” Henry said.
The oldest of their brood at nine. He was watching the dog’s antics. Earnest, with Ram’s hair, and Flora’s eyes, he took his role as eldest Hellion seriously. Ram had told him repeatedly it was not his job to raise his three siblings, it was his parents, but he still felt it necessary to keep them in line.
“Merry Christmas, Henry and Curidah,” Ram said. “And I doubt he will change now, as he has been that way for many years.”
Their son wore a blue dressing gown and slippers. His hair stood up at the back, and just looking at this small person he’d helped create, Ram felt so much love.
“And to you, Father.”
Getting out of bed, Ram hugged his son close. The little arms went around his neck and hugged him back.
“Now, you kiss your mother and go back downstairs. In the kitchen, there is a tray of fruit mince pies. You can all have one of those, and we will join you shortly.”
Releasing his son, he hurried to his mother and pecked her cheek. Flora hugged him, and then he was gone, the lure of food too great to resist.
“Up you get, Mrs. Hellion. We have gifts to give.”
Washing and dressing, they were soon on their way down the stairs; the noise increasing as they drew closer to the parlor.
Opening the door, Ram found his four children all seated on a sofa, looking sweet and innocent, which he knew was a facade. His children took after their surname. The scent of the large Christmas tree, heavily laden with decorations, filled the room.
“Papa!” The youngest was first to reach him. At three, she was a force of nature and had complete control over the entire household.
“Merry Christmas, Lilly.” Picking her up, he kissed her cheek, and then made a foul sound into her neck, which she loved. Handing her to Flora, he reached for the next Hellion.
“Merry Christmas, Samantha.” He hugged the second of this progeny.
“Merry Christmas James,” lastly came his third born.
“Can we have our gifts now?” James asked when he released him.
“I don’t see why not,” Ram said
“Excellent idea,” Flora added.
They tore paper, exclaimed over gifts, and Ramsey thought he’d never tire of moments like this.
Life in Crabbett Close was not what he’d ever expected it to look like, but he and his family would live nowhere else.
“Is that carol singing?” Ram asked as he sipped his second cup of tea for the day, while admiring a rather fine scarf Flora had got him.
“Yes!” Lilly jumped up and down. “I want to see.”
“Well then, let us dress and venture out,” Flora said. “We are congregating to sing, play games and eat early this year, as families have other places to go.”
“First, I need to give your mother her gift,” Ram said.
“Why are you always last to give mother her gift?” Henry glared at him.
“I like to make a statement, son. You know that.” He handed the box to Flora.
Still the most beautiful woman he knew. She was his other half. The reason he could be the man he was, and the father to his children. She’d helped him grow, as he’d helped her.
Flora opened it slowly; to annoy her children, all were voicing their displeasure by hurrying her along loudly.
“Ram, it’s beautiful!” She took out the necklace he’d found one day while walking along Bond Street.
“An angel, for my angel,” he said, taking it from her. He then fastened the gold chain around her neck. The angel was gold also, with small sapphire eyes and wings made of pearls.
She sniffed loudly, as he’d known she would. Flora now wept often and freely, especially when she was happy.
“Right, now get up those stairs and wrap up warm,” he said. “It’s frigid out there.”
As the Hellion’s put on multiple layers of clothing, with scarfs covering their noses and hats pulled low, the singing became louder, indicating that the Crabbett Close carolers were nearing their house.
Opening the front door, he hustled his brood outside. Ice cold air slapped them in the face, making blink several times. Looking skyward, he felt a few flakes of snow land on his nose.
“Ooooh, Mavis has sparkly ornaments hanging from her ears!” Samantha said, clapping her gloved hands together.
Ramsey walked out to the road as the carolers reached them.
“Why is Uncle Alex with them?” Henry asked.
“One never really knows why Uncle Alex does anything,” Flora said.
“Amen to that, my love.”

CHAPTER TWO

Flora burrowed into her scarf and laughed softly as Alex sang off key beside Mr. Greedy.
In the years she’d been living in Crabbett Close, she’d come to realize it was a street like no other in London. The locals were interfering, kind and odd, and she loved everyone.
Their children had been raised knowing they would find friendship and love, plus food when required, when they stepped outside their front door. Of course, there was also Ramsey.
He was a man who loved deeply and laughed loudly. A man who showed them he loved them every day, even when he was growling at them. Her man and the love of her life that she’d never expected to find.
He’d aged as had she, with grey hair at the temples and a few more lines, but still as handsome as the day she’d met him.
As the carolers moved on to the next house, Alex dropped out of their formation and came to join them.
“What’s under that cloth, Ram?”
“Nothing for you until we reach food tables, Alex,” Ram said, moving the large tray he carried out of reach. “Can you please tell me why the close seems to be set up for a Crabbett Close game?”
“Unsure,” Alex said. “Will you share whatever is in those bottles with me instead, Flora?” Alex looked hopeful. He still laughed the loudest and annoyed everyone the most, and she doubted that would ever change.
“I will not. Now move it, Alex. We are to join the others.” She nodded to the grass where people were gathering.
“I think that is extremely harsh, don’t you, children?” Alex said, bending to kiss the cheeks of all four Hellions.
“Extremely. If I was carrying food, I would have given you some, Uncle Alex,” Henry said.
“That boy knows how to soften people up. We need to keep an eye on him, my love,” Ram said as they walked to the Christmas party.
Several fires blazed for warmth and in the center of the grassed area were huge tables piled with food and drink stood. Children ran toward them and took the Hellion’s back to the games they were playing.
“You are not going to believe it,” Ellen said, looking pink cheeked and beautiful with outrage. “The games have been called.”
“I thought we’d discussed this, and that was not to happen on Christmas Day,” Ramsey protested.
Ellen made a pffting sound. “As if the Crabbett Close locals care a jot about that. They discuss, agree, and then do the opposite.”
Ellen, like her brothers, looked unchanged from the woman Flora had met many years ago. It was vexing, Flora thought, looking at the woman’s unwrinkled skin.
“Apparently they got around the protests by saying it would be a different kind of Crabbett Close games,” Ellen said.
“Merry Christmas, Ellen,” Ram said, leaning in to kiss her cheek.
“Oh yes, Merry Christmas to you both.”
They received hugs and kisses from everyone, along with wishes for plenty of Christmas blessings. Ram put the tray on the table, and Flora added the bottles she’d brought.
“So what’s the deal with the games being called?” Ram asked as he stomped his feet to keep them warm.
“I have no idea, but as Mr. Greedy has finished caroling, I’m sure he is about to tell us,” Leo said, looking around them.
“Merry Christmas everyone!” Mr. Greedy boomed several minutes later. “It’s time to start the games.”
“I thought we weren’t having any on Christmas Day!” Alex yelled.
“We have done things differently this year,” Mr. Greedy replied.
“Oh goody,” Gray muttered.
“Can we eat first?” Alex yelled. Everyone ignored him.
The children shrieked with excitement as they were allocated to adults so they could take part.
Everyone then moved in directions they’d been told, and Flora found herself with Lilly and Henry at the first table, awaiting Ram.
“I’m sure I just felt a snowflake on my nose,” Harriet said. “What sane person willingly stands outside in frigid conditions when their houses are just a few feet away?”
“Ah,” Flora said. “I see where you’re going wrong. Not a one of us is sane.”
“Place the blindfold on the first player!” Mr. Greedy called.
“But what are we doing?” Mungo’s thick Scottish accent reached the entire street.
“A child will guide you to the tables, and then instruct you on what to do,” Mr. Greedy replied. “Those not competing will look after younger children.”
“I doubt anyone lucky enough to be tucked up warm inside their houses eating a hearty meal would believe we are doing this on Christmas morning,” Cyn grumbled from beside Ellen.
“But imagine if we did not have all these people in our lives,” Ivy said.
Flora looked at the scene before them. It was magical. A huge Christmas tree stood in the park, erected and decorated by the locals. People were laughing, some singing. There was color and happiness everywhere.
“Of course you are right,” Cyn said. “But it tis early, and I did not get enough sleep last night.”
“Go!” Mr. Greedy yelled.
They looked to the men stumbling their way, blindfolded, toward them.
“This will not end well,” Flora said, noting that Samantha and Henry were the ones guiding their father.
“They’ve also just taken a nip of the Alvin’s treacle flavored gin,” Ivy added.
“It’s the mutton fat that sticks in your throat,” Miss Alvin said from behind them.
Flora was sure she had to be at least one hundred years old, but no one had the courage to ask her age. She stood with a stooped posture, her shoulders rounded, bundled up in so many clothes that only her nose and eyes were showing. “Now when they reach us, you’ll direct them to pull on the pants and scarf. Then there’s a wee puzzle to solve,” Miss Alvin added.
“No drinking or eating?” Harriet asked?
Mr. Alvin pulled back a cover and there were jars of pickled whelks and sugar biscuits.
“What’s in that?” Flora pointed at a bottle with glasses around it.
“It’s a special Christmas drink Mr. Greedy made.”
“Which means it will probably have you pickled in a matter of minutes,” Ellen whispered.
A shout had them all looking to the contestants who were about to descend on them. Leo had walked into the back of Ramsey and both were attempting to stay upright. Mungo was going in the wrong direction entirely.
“Let the fun begin,” Cyn muttered.

CHAPTER THREE

“How hard is it, my little darlings, to ensure your father does not end up walking into the back of one of your uncle’s, or the grumpy Scotsman?” Ram said through his teeth. Now he was no longer in danger of landing on his face.
He was feeling toasty after the brisk walk and shot of something so strong it singed his nostril hairs when he inhaled it.
“Molasses rum?” He said to anyone listening.
“It was too fruity for that,” Gray said from nearby.
The blindfold was disconcerting. On any given day, he could find his way down this road, but with his eyes covered, it was a struggle.
“Mavis is walking like she can see,” Samantha said from his side.
“She’ll win again,” Henry said. “Move faster, Father.”
“Hello, dear. How is your morning going?”
He knew that voice. “Hello, my love, it is going exceedingly well, accept of the fact our progeny have absolutely no sense of direction.”
“Hold out your hands, things are about to take a turn for the worse,” Flora said.
“Why?” He gripped the material she handed him.
“These are trousers, and you need to get them on while blindfolded. We cannot help, as we have our own tasks,” she added.
“I’ll take the sweet food,” he said, feeling for the waist of the trousers. Who’s were they?
“Too late, Henry has that. Samantha is now about to recite a riddle for us to solve.”
“Which leaves what?”
“A pickled whelk.”
“Absolutely not,” Ram said. “I am blind and putting on someone else’s trousers. You eat it, woman.”
Flora made a gagging sound.
“Is there alcohol?”
“Yes, here.”
He dropped the trousers and took the cup she pressed into his palm. As he raised it to his lips, Samantha spoke.
“What always runs but never walks, often murmurs, never talks, has a bed but never sleeps, has a mouth but never eats?”
Ram took a large mouthful, hoping for spiced rum, and choked, then gagged as the vile taste filled his mouth. It was the pickled whelk. As it was half in his mouth now, he had to choke it down. When he’d managed without heaving it back up, he said, “that was excessively cruel.”
“I always liked your wife a great deal more than I like you.” The Scottish voice drifted to him from a few feet away.
“Answer the question,” Samantha demanded, because Mavis is nearly finished. “And put those trousers on, Father.”
“Trousers,” he said, holding out his hand.
“Here,” Henry said. “I have them the correct way for you,” his son then whispered.
“Oh, dear.”
“What?” He asked his evil wife.
Tabitha is helping Mungo put on his pants, and he thinks it’s Anna.
Ram managed to get one boot through the leg hole, and was negotiating the next, when he heard Tabitha say, “oh, Mr. Mungo, that is the wrong hole.”
“Mungo has just turned into a statue,” Flora whispered. She then giggled, which was a sound Ram had never tired of.
“The answer to the riddle is river,” Henry said. “Now make haste, Father.”
“Our children are far smarter than us, wife,” Ram said now in the trousers. He just needed to fasten them. “And I will point out, Henry, that I am blindfolded.”
“Yes, yes,” Samantha said. “Just get on with it, Father.”
After he put on his pants, someone directed him around the table.
“Straight ahead,” Henry said.
“Left sightly,” Samantha added.
Flora was now humming a Christmas carol.
The hems of the large pants he was now wearing under his overcoat were tripping him with every step he took, and the scarf that Flora had wrapped around his neck was far too tight. Something hit him hard from the side and he listed left, but managed to stay upright.
“Blindfolds off!” Mr. Greedy roared. “I fear you Nightingales will maim each other!”
Ramsey tore his off and then blinked to focus. Leo had barreled into him and was now picking himself up off the ground. Just ahead of him was Alex. Mungo and Gray were in front of them. Mavis was, of course, in the lead.
“Come on, Hellions, we need to pick up our speed!” Ram yelled.
“Oh, so now you can see you wish to perform better,” Flora mocked him as she skipped past with Samantha.
Ram caught her skirts and pulled her back. “You are a witch,” he whispered in her ear.
Behind the next table stood Mrs. Varney and Oakley, a large, solid man who rivaled Mungo in stature, and the tree he was named after. Tabitha had wed him three years ago, and while she still flirted shamelessly with everyone, it was clear they cared deeply for each other.
“Molasses whiskey,” Bramstone said, smacking his lips together.
“Kippers,” Theo shuddered.
“I’ll take the riddle,” Henry added. “Samantha can eat the fruitcake.”
Before Flora could grab it, Ram had the whiskey in his hands.
“Awww, now that’s nice, dear, you get the kippers,” he taunted her. She bared her teeth at him.
After finishing the whiskey, Tabitha gave him a skirt.
“Ah, I don’t think so,” Gray said, looking at his, in a fetching shade of green.
“I’ve always wondered what a dress was like to wear. Very freeing one should imagine,” Alex said.
“Would you like to discuss what it is like to wear the undergarments, brother?” Ellen snapped. “Corsets are—”

“No, I would not,” Alex cut her off by forcing the cake between her lips.
“I say, Mavis has just thrown back her whiskey, and it now eating the kipper because her great niece Tammy has no wish too. That’s not fair,” Cyn said.
“Each morning, I appear to lie at your feet. All day I will follow, no matter how fast you run,” Henry said. “Yet I nearly perish in the midday sun,” Henry shouted.
The Hellion’s thought about that one as Ram attempted to wrestle the dress over his head.
“You Hellion’s are not too bright!” Leo called. “It’s easy.”
Henry poked out his tongue.
“Shadow!” Samantha cried.
“And again they beat us,” Flora sighed.
After that, things went downhill. Mayhem ensured. Alex was jogging around the close, stopping every few feet to pirouette, when Leo held out a hand toward him, which had everyone laughing hysterically.
“I’m not entirely sure if living here is a blessing or a curse,” Ram said to Flora.
“Mavis has won!” Mr. Greedy called.
“Again,” Theo said, looking thoroughly put out.
They congregated around tables with the other residents and feasted after that.
“I can’t believe Mavis won again,” Ivy said. “She’s the undisputed Crabbett Close champion for sure.”
“She cheats,” Alex said, disguising his voice, so Mavis didn’t know he’d spoken, because they all knew she was the strongest person here, and did not take kindly to anyone suggesting she cheated.
Flora leaned into Ram, and he put an arm around her shoulders. Kissing one cold cheek, he looked around them.
“Blessed,” Flora said, answering his earlier question. “I can think of no other place I would rather be than right here with you and all these people.”
He had to agree with her, there was absolutely no place better than this.

THE END

BUY ON AMAZON

READ ON KINDLE UNLIMITED

READ THE COMPLETE NOTORIOUS NIGHTINGALES SERIES