Page 88 of Charming Artemis

A knock sounded at the library door, odd since the door was not closed.

Charlie looked to Jason and Corbin, neither of whom rose to investigate. He was seated closer to the doorway, likely the reason they were leaving it to him.

As he approached the threshold, he spied Wilson standing still and silent, his chin tipped upward, his perfectly bald head held at a dignified angle. In his right hand, he held a battered black rod.

Charlie looked back at his older brothers. “Black rod,” he said.

Laughter answered the explanation.

Every one of the brothers knew what was expected of them, this ceremony being a long-established one amongst them, having been adopted from the centuries-old ritual calling parliament to session.

Charlie slammed the door shut—that was what he was required to do.

Three hard raps echoed off the door. Wilson would have done the knocking with the rod; that was an important part of the undertaking. Charlie opened the door again.

Wilson declared, “Mr. Corbin Jonquil, Mr. Jason Jonquil, and Mr. Charlie Jonquil, you are hereby commanded to remove immediately to the House of Peers.”

Their version of Black Rod’s summons to the House of Commons at the State Opening of Parliament was a bit muddled and simplified. Charlie thought he’d heard that Philip and Layton had reworked it while they were still young. Most of this had been decided upon when Charlie was a baby, perhaps even earlier than that. Being the youngest of so large a family meant he’d missed out on a lot of their adventures.

So while resuming their playacting with the Black Rod ritual was a bit juvenile, he was excited. There were few opportunities for him to feel connected to his brothers. He clung to every last one of them.

Wilson handed the rod over to Charlie before bowing and walking away. In the actual ceremony, the members of the House of Commons followed Black Rod with as much disinterest and ruckus disrespect as possible without actually injuring their dignity to the House of Lords. The brothers undertook the thing a bit differently; they traveled in whatever groupings they were summoned to the gatehouse, the brothers’ version of the House of Lords, where Philip and Layton reigned supreme. Both brothers had claim on titles, making them peers amongst the Jonquils.

“Seems to me we’ve a trek to make,” Jason said as he and Corbin passed Charlie. “Don’t neglect to bring the black rod with you.”

They made their way across the grounds. Corbin was as quiet as ever but appeared to be enjoying this favorite childhood adventure. The door to the gatehouse had been left open in anticipation of the arrival of the House of Commons.

The three of them stepped inside only to find all the other brothers had arrived already. Harold sat not far from the door. Stanley lounged comfortably in an old, battered chair. Philip, Layton, and Crispin were seated and waiting, appearing to be quite thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Charlie set the black rod on an obliging table. It was not meant to be removed from the gatehouse, except when used to extend the summonses. He was the last of them to take his seat.

“I see the House of Lords is well represented today.” Charlie motioned to the three of them.

“Couldn’t toss Crispin in with you lot,” Philip said. “He’s quite a fine and proper baron, you know.”

“Baron, yes,” Layton said. “Fine and proper... ” He gave a shrug.

“I defer to the earl,” Crispin said in condescending tones. “Please, your lordship, begin the proceedings.”

“Thank you, your lordship.” Philip turned toward Layton. “Your future lordship.”

Stanley made a show of being sick in his mouth. Jason muttered something along the lines of “Off with their heads.”

“We have assembled here today to address three pressing matters,” Philip said. “The first is my wife’s current difficulties.”

“We’re not going to do away with you, no matter Sorrel’s suffering,” Jason tossed out.

The brothers snickered and grinned. Philip pretended to be deeply offended.

“Allow me to slip us all past the theatrics,” Layton said. “Has anyone sorted out a better version of a Bath chair for Sorrel?”

“We worked on it a bit this afternoon,” Jason said. “Charlie pointed out the many ways in which we were dunderheads about it, but we’ve not found any solutions.”

“I do not believe I used the termdunderheadeven once.” Charlie made the objection in a tone of dramatic disapproval.

Crispin laughed. “That is a tone I have heard your wife wield to great effect. She is having an influence on you.”

“And on your fashion sense,” Philip added. “I’m pleased to see you’ve kept it up.”

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