"Tell me the truth now." Violet Humphrey stared at Charles with a sharp gaze honed by years of raising rogues for children.

"Truth? I have no idea what you're talking about." Charles hedged as best he could, but he knew he wouldn't win any argument his mother began.

"There's a woman." Violet sat perched on a settee with Charles's little sister, Ella, beside her. Ella had a book open in her lap but had not turned a page since this parental inquisition began. Her blonde ...