Bab 16: Chapter 16: Syringa, Part 1

"What are you doing?" Aubrey repeated.

Ruthven stood to his full height. "Nothing harmful, I promise. I wanted only to look."

"This is my mother's room," Aubrey replied, stalking toward him, hands balled into fists, all but vibrating with renewed anger. "I cannot believe you would dare - "

A finger was placed over his lips, startling him into silence. "Have a care, unless you want your father to find us here."

"Then I could tell him - " Aubrey cut his own words off, realizing just how poorly the conversation would go were he to reveal he had known all along that Ruthven was problematic.

But that was selfish, and this was his mother's room, damn it. "No one is allowed in here," he said, but took care to be quiet.

Ruthven laughed softly, light from the hallway making him a just visible shadow. "Then why is it free of dust and well-cared for?"