A Treasured Little Murder: A Violet Carlyle Cozy Historical Mystery (The Violet Carlyle Mysteries Bo

she knew she’d rather sleep safely in Jack’s warm arms than coolly without him. The truth for Vi was that she’d probably be unable to sleep and spend half the night sitting in front of her typewriter working on that piece of madness she and Denny had concocted.
Then, because life liked to make a mockery of Vi, she’d wake with a headache. She’d be in a foul mood due to the lack of sleep, her own lack of stalwartness, and then buy whatever dress would ‘do’ and then have the auto filled with petrol. That way, she could return to Jack—who she had only left to make some sort of idiotic point that was so irrational he hadn’t argued with her.
By the time they’d lingered over their noodles and ices, sipped their drinks, and split the list of things to do the next day, Vi was already planning on giving up sleep to work on her draft. The only agreement was that they’d all focus on getting their part of the lists completed as quickly as possible so they could leave the hellfire of London for the cooler countryside.
None of them had to say aloud they were hurrying home to their loves and not to escape the heat. They all knew the truth, and they all wanted to be home. Jack. Ham. Smith. Home.

Chapter 5
After visiting the dress shop together the moment they opened, the three friends took their lists, separate cabs, and attacked London with their goals. Vi’s list included dropping by her brother Gerald’s home to invite him and send him after her cousin, Algie.
“Talked to a fellow about you at the club today,” Gerald said with the slow idleness that didn’t seem to understand that Vi was in a rush.
He was a man, Vi thought, who had rarely been in a hurry at all. He reminded her of her father, only much younger. Gerald had the casual arrogance of a man who didn’t even realize he shed pride like a snake shed its skin.
“Did you tell him that I was a joy to the world? Actually valuable above rubies? Did you say that you were blessed beyond measure that I called you brother?”
Gerald didn’t get her jokes as well as Jack and Victor so her oldest brother stared at Vi as though she’d lost her mind.
“The heat,” she said in casual explanation.
He lifted a brow and then glanced at the parlor. “Come sit. Smythe will bring something cool to drink.”
Vi took a seat after handing her brother the stack of invitations. “Do have Smythe mail these for me, please?” With a wicked grin, she added on the list of extra food that needed to be brought to the house. Her brother wasn’t so amused, but his man took the list and the enclosed thirty pounds with a nod.
“There’s swimming,” Vi said, knowing her brother’s flat contained nothing of the same and that he and his wife were lingering in London to avoid their stepmother, Lady Eleanor.
“Perhaps we’ll ship out after your place. Your Amalfi villa?”
Vi agreed to lend the place to him and then asked, “So why were you talking about me at the club?”
“Some fellow trying to find your friend.”
“Hollands?” Vi asked in extreme surprise.
“He was with a crackpot gent I know. Always chasing treasure, ruins, theories, and myths. He’s the laughingstock of the club, but his father is a marquis.”
“I’m curious as to why I care about this fellow other than he is obsessed with a prize from Rita’s wedding.”
“It’s not that, Vi. They think it’s the start of an ancient scavenger hunt.”
“What are you talking about?” Vi demanded with a raised brow. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“It’s not me,” Gerald told her idly. “It’s them. They’re trying to quietly drum up money to finance their treasure hunt.”
Vi had to blink rather rapidly as she attempted to understand what her brother was telling her. “They want to hunt an ancient treasure using the goblet?”
“They call it Nemo’s Goblet.”
“Nemo?” Vi’s head tilted as she stared at her brother. She accepted the cold ginger beer from Smythe as she asked, “Nemo as in nobody? Or Nemo as in the fiction?”
“I have no idea.” Gerald grinned at her and said, “I gave them money.”
“You did?”
“Or promised it.”
“Why?” Vi demanded.
“It was an if-then situation.”
Vi’s gaze narrowed on the self-satisfied expression on her brother’s face. “The if being—”
“That they get Rita to give them permission to search on her property.”
Vi’s mouth dropped as her brother started chuckling like a child. “You encouraged them.”
“I suggested they be quite dogged. Told them both you and Rita were impressed and energized by perseverance in the face of opposition. Especially when no one believed in the mission, nay—calling, of the sufferer.”
“Did you use the word sufferer?” Vi asked, still gaping. She knew her expression was giving her oldest brother nothing but delight.
“Oh, I used it. I also suggested he focus his efforts on you. Said you were the leader of your merry band of fools.”
“I’m telling Jack.” She hated that she said it the moment it exited her mouth.
“Jack will think it’s as funny as I do.”
“Perhaps,” Vi agreed. “Until he has to deal with the dogged perseverer.”
That only made Gerald laugh harder.
“Since when am I the target of your pranks?”
“It was just too easy.”
Vi frowned at him and then said, “You’re getting the worst of the guest rooms.”
“I’ll still be using your bathing pool.”
Vi couldn’t help but grin at the look on his face. “You’re a fiend.”
“You love it.”
“It was a good one.” Vi rose and crossed to him, lightly kicking him in the shin and then dropping a kiss on his face. “I’ve got to get the rest of my list done.”
“I thought Smythe was doing your list.”
“Only the things I can pawn off on him.”
“Fine then, go. Lottie and I will be there the day before your party, so we can recover from the journey.”
“I’ve got it all. We can go home soon!” Vi crowed as she entered the