His little brother was a selfish cod. There were things he didn’t understand and on top of that sometimes he did daft things without realizing how much it would impact the rest of the family. Atticus hadn’t seen Edmund and Figuroa in years and had been pleased for it – the Foxwoods, and by extension, the Dashwoods and Aldertons had been saved from scandal because of him. Then Basil had the gull to bring the other Lissington boy who had done nothing but shatter him.

And Basil wondered why Atticus was always angry with him; he tried his best to protect his little brother when he wanted to do nothing with his life except make poor decisions. He disappeared quickly and Atticus stood from the couch to go after him, hell bent on getting into his head and why he had decided of all days to invite people who would cause nothing but drama. Atticus rubbed his temples. Sometimes Basil just didn’t get it.

At least he’d been a bit interested in Miss Victoire lately, a fact that made Atticus happy – maybe his dear little brother would decide to court her after all. It didn’t help that Anthony was throwing a wrench in the plans by also being interested in her, and as he walked into the library in hopes of finding his brother, he found his cousin in the arms of the woman he’d been hoping Basil would court.

He cleared his throat, not even giving them a chance to separate before he was speaking. “What in the world… Anthony.” Atticus growled before he was turning his attention toward her; his face softened a bit because he wasn't mad at her. “Miss Victoire, my deepest apologies if my cousin has offended you in any way."

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   Anthony Alderton

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Anthony felt his heart flutter as the lady tucked the receiving end of the trinket box into his pocket. It was an honor to think she waned him to continue being the one to be there for her. He was glad to it too, as she seemed to encourage his attentions. Thank goodness Basil was not really in the mix. It made everything so much… simpler. Her little fingers brushing a curl out of his face sent a shiver down the brunette’s spine and Anthony grinned at her quip, broadly.

She was small against him, her height ever so precious as he noticed it when she tipped up towards him. Her red hair smelled like roses and spice, and perhaps something else he couldn't quite place. The kiss that followed only made his heart skip a beat and Anthony collected Ms. Torie into his arms with a soft (involuntary) hum against her lips. He could have picked her up and spun her around in that moment, he was so thrilled. He didn’t evidently, and a moment later, the peace was shattered.

Anthony!

The sound of his name called out in such a way made the brunette jump, pulling away from Ms. Torie like a guilty child. His face was flushed, both from embarrassment and a sudden spike in irritation as the owner of the voice registered. He turned, releasing the lady reluctantly, to face Atticus as his cousin oh so brazenly interrupted them. How unsporting of him!

“Atticus,” Anthony greeted, trying to make light of a suddenly awkward situation. He didn’t want to speak for Ms. Torie, but he wasn’t harassing her as his cousin seemed to imply. He hesitated then, unsure of how to defend himself without making it sound worse. Technically, he had overstepped in a breach of decorum. Frowning, and scratching the back of his head awkwardly, Anthony gave the lady a glance. “Ms. Torie got trapped under the ridiculous trick mistletoe,” he explained. “I was just relieving her from its sticking spell.” Well if that wasn’t the most transparent defense to being caught in the act, then frankly Anthony didn’t know what was.

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Victoire Malfoy & their new theme song

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Torie knew in the back of her mind that their moment was stretching too far, that they were pushing their luck, but as Anthony pulled her in, Torie was willing to take the chance.

Naturally, it ended all too soon with a stern voice chastising them and Torie couldn't help but to yelp and hide herself behind Anthony as Mr. Foxwood came into focus, clearly very upset. Her fingers curled around Anthony's arm tentatively as she peered around him, hoping this wasn't about to blow out of proportion. Now her heart was racing for an altogether different and wholly unwelcome reason.

She was certainly not offended, not when she had instigated what was just witnessed, but thankfully Anthony was much quicker to come up with an excuse, a plausible one at that, than she was. Of course there had been nothing quite so simple about it and had Mr. Foxwood really looked he would have been able to see that was far from a chaste peck on the lips to release the spell, but Torie found herself nodding along with Anthony's explanation, having trouble finding her voice.

It wouldn't do to suddenly become mute, so she forced herself to agree aloud, "Yes," She managed, breathlessness betraying her. "It is right up there, I am quite alright." She pointed upward to the sprig hanging above them. Mr. Foxwood didn't need to know that what he'd seen was in fact the second kiss and they had already been released from its grasp.

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Red again! June 1894

Atticus wanted to rub his fingers against his temple but instead he heaved a quiet sigh; between Basil and now Anthony of all people, he was sure that his family’s name was going to be sprawled across the cover of the Daily Prophet with some ridiculous headline by the end of Christmas. Maybe he could convince Reginald to prevent that from happening, but he could already picture his cousin raising his hands in surrender while telling him that wasn’t his department. He enjoyed the kid’s company but sometimes he was useless to him. What was the point in having a reporter in the family if he was too spineless to make some waves every now and then? (On their family’s behalf, of course.)

His eyes narrowed at his cousin who looked much more guilty than he let on, but they softened upon realization that he’d embarrassed poor Miss Malfoy. Hopefully it was from being caught rather than… something else. Catching the odd look between them, Atticus couldn’t help but frown. “They are pesky.” He tossed a look at Anthony with his eyebrow raised toward him because a simple kiss didn’t involve standing as close as they were, but he wasn’t about to start that conversation with a woman present.

He knew Anthony well, and knew that he wasn’t interested in leading any woman astray, especially at a Christmas event, but sometimes he got these silly notions in his head that he needed to be a white knight to every woman in need. “Would you mind if I stole my cousin’s attention, Miss Victorie? There are some matters we need to discuss.”

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Torie didn't think Mr. Foxwood really accepted their explanation, but she supposed she wasn't doing a very good job of separating herself from the situation. She didn't dare look up at Anthony, her eyes were locked on Mr. Foxwood, or his forehead at least because she didn't think looking him in the eye was a good idea right now either.

"Certainly," She gave Anthony's arm the briefest of squeezes before letting go and stepping around him. She dipped a little curtsey, still unable to glance backward. As soon as she hit the door, hoping Mr. Foxwood was too preoccupied, she dared to pass Anthony a sheepish smile and skittered from the room.

Automatically she slipped out of that room too and down the hallway around to the library. She passed Poppy on the way, but hardly recognized, she was too frantic. Torie was not one to eavesdrop, but this was too big not to be curious about! She felt guilty about leaving Anthony on his own, but she had effectively been dismissed and couldn't exactly say no. They had been standing near this door on the other side, so she might be able to hear something.

Gently she tiptoed toward the door and pressed her ear to the wood.

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   Anthony Alderton, Atticus Foxwood

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Red again! June 1894

Poppy was in as much confusion as the rest at the announcement of their new visitors. She knew of Edmund Foxwood, of course, through Basil and Atticus. She'd practically grown up with him, as much a cousin as the rest. But she was not aware he had gotten married. Strange too, that they already had a child and this was only just the first she was hearing of it! Poppy generally kept abreast of the familial ongoings, if nothing else (though this season she had been particularly distracted with her own measures, she supposed.) Nonetheless, she looked about for Atticus to inquire and the stormy expression there told her about all she needed to know.

Mouth closing promptly, Poppy turned away, watching her cousin as he stormed from the room. She felt a touch put out, not being privy to what was happening, but she settled for making polite conversation with Reginald until that came to its natural conclusion. She supposed everyone was entitled to their secrets, even if she generally knew them.

It wasn’t until some minutes later that Torie came from that same direction looking utterly scattered that Poppy began to grow concerned. A soft frown touched the girl’s brow as she watched the redhead skitter past her and turn to enter an adjoining, though currently empty room. Curious, she followed and crept up behind Torie to place a gentle hand on her friend’s arm. The woman was pressed against the door as if eavesdropping and Poppy tossed her a sly little grin. “What is it we’re listening for?” she asked, positioning herself across from Torie and mirroring the action. Surely it had to be something interesting to warrant such urgency!

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Atticus Foxwood & Victoire Malfoy

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© Fox

Poppy's arrival shouldn't have been a surprise, considering she had just passed the other debutante in the hallway. But as her friend appeared next to her, Torie nearly jumped out of her skin. It took all of her willpower not to screech, hand flying to her mouth to cover the gasp.

Gently she tugged her friend away from the door toward the middle of the room. "I kissed Anthony under the mistletoe after he gave me a very thoughtful Christmas present and Atticus caught us and then kicked me out so I am trying to hear what they are saying." Torie explained in a rushed whisper before resuming her post at the door. Maybe Anthony could get out of it, but now she was just a bystander— fortunately with Poppy for company! She was sure she would have to give a better explanation after the gentlemen concluded their conversation, but that was all Torie had to say for the moment!

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   Poppy Dashwood

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Red again! June 1894

Anthony could tell from the furrow in Atticus’ brow his cousin neither believed them, nor was in a mood to be indulgent. He could have sighed at the sight. Well, at least he had enough sense to ask the poor lady to excuse them - even if it felt impossibly rude to simply kiss her and beg off. Watching the pretty redhead with a longing look as she skittered from the room, Anthony sighed. It wasn’t until she was fully gone, steps retreated down the hall, that he finally turned on Atticus with a frown on his face.

“Well that was rude of you,” he quipped lightly, not really interested in getting into an argument. The brunette brushed a hand through his curls, mussing them. It didn’t matter now, he was sure it would be a time yet until he was allowed to see the lovely Ms. Torie again. “Really, why do we all perpetuate this ridiculous tradition of trapping women under dying branches of berries so that a man can save them?” He huffed a little bit, eyeing the mistletoe as if entirely betrayed. “It creates for a rather awkward turn-around, as you well saw,” he joked. A teasing little grin stole across Anthony’s face then as he tried, desperately, to make light of the situation. He hoped that at the end of all this, he could just pat Atticus on the back and escape from the scene of the crime himself. He was not interested in belaboring social convention on Christmas Eve with his cousin.

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Victoire Malfoy & Atticus Foxwood

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   Victoire Malfoy

Miss Victoire was quick to leave, and Atticus sighed as he mimicked his cousin in raking his hands through his hair. He didn’t answer the rudeness because well… it wasn’t like either of them were in good company to be canoodling with each other away from the festivities. Atticus shrugged in response. “I don’t have any hand in the décor that goes up. That’s all Mama and the staff. " Maybe Poppy, if Mama had decided to take her under her wing at all on how to run a household, but that wasn’t his domain and never would be his domain.

He cleared his throat, tossing a quick look around to ensure that the woman in question had actually left - how awkward it would be to have her listening to his request! Atticus let out a small breath as flicked his gaze to meet Anthony's. “Can we erm… talk about Miss Victorie?” It was awkward, what he wanted to ask his cousin. “Because Basil is rather fond of her, and we both know he can get all the help he can get finding someone who can put up with his…eccentric nature.” Atticus was trying to be gentle when talking about his brother, but he was always angry with him for inviting Edmund and Figueroa on top of inviting Lissington back into his house.

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   Anthony Alderton

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Anthony appraised his cousin with trepidation. He was sure this conversation was not going to go well as soon as Atticus looked about to ensure Ms. Torie had in fact left them. Ugh. He tugged his waistcoat down a little bit, as if to indicate he really had better places to be, but he stayed, silent, and listened anyway. What choice did he have?

The awkwardness that crept into Atticus’ tone surprised Anthony. He’d been expecting the statement or… some variation upon it. But it was no grand secret that Basil was not interested in courting seriously. Even as far as Ms. Torie was concerned, for whatever reasons he had, it would seem Basil wasn’t interested in the most perfect thing under his nose. (Not that Anthony could find it in himself to place blame since it worked out in his own favor tremendously.) But being the one to tell Atticus that? Well… it was not an enviable job.

Clearing his throat a little awkwardly - because yes, now it was weird - Anthony rubbed that back of his head. “Yes, well, on that topic: I have it on the lady’s good authority that they are just friends,” whatever that means. “I would never dream of encroaching upon a vested interest of yours or Basil’s,” Here Anthony’s gaze darted to the side. “You know that,” he mumbled miserably. He couldn’t help the flash of regret as he imagined the face of a young, cheerful Hanna— The pang of guilt and pain and nausea that followed was enough to screw his face up before Anthony could help it. He ran a hand through his hair hoping to shove those sentiments aside.

“Anyway, I quite like her,” he continued, tone growing a touch more firm. “And I have every intention of getting to know Ms. Torie better if she allows.”

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Victoire Malfoy & Atticus Foxwood

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   Victoire Malfoy

Atticus rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed. “Did Basil tell you that? I love my brother, I do, but I’m not sure he’s ever been able to tell the difference between a friend and something a bit more than a friend.” Basil hadn’t ever acted interested in anyone, although he couldn’t help but wonder if maybe his brother didn’t realize he liked someone more than a friend. He was smart, that much was apparent, but anything beyond that he was… lacking. Especially when it came to people and relationships. (It was a miracle he had friends at all, but it wasn’t like he was unfriendly, sometimes he could just be unapproachable.)

His hands dropped to his side and Atticus managed a half smile at Anthony. “I do know that.” His own mouth twitched into a frown; he and Anthony always had the same taste in women and sometimes it was difficult to get to know someone when they both wanted her attention. It’d gotten better as they’d gotten older and talked about it more, rather than silently competing with each other. He trusted Anthony more than anyone else in life — Anthony was, and would be, the one family member he wouldn’t keep secrets from. Well, at least until he married Suki. Then she’d join those ranks.

“I just want Basil to think about this before anyone makes a decision.” His lips twitched into a smile. “I quite like her a lot too, and she’ll make an excellent addition to the family. All I am asking, Anthony, is to not hurt my brother by getting to know her.” He cleared his throat. “Although it seems you are determined to ruin Ms. Victorie’s reputation by not only being alone with her, but by kissing her. Do you plan on marrying her? Or am I to ask Basil to do it once you’ve had enough?” He winced once the words came out; he knew Anthony wasn’t ever going to be one to do something that would ruin a woman.

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As Atticus pinched the bridge of his nose, Anthony braced himself. He knew his cousin’s tells better than anyone; they were practically brothers with how close they were. There wasn’t anyone who knew Anthony better than the man standing across the room from him now, and he liked to think the inverse was also true. As misguided words tumbled from the familiar man’s mouth however, Anthony breathed out a soft sigh.

“No, I’ve addressed the topic directly with Ms. Torie herself,” he responded, as if it was obvious. Anthony wasn’t sure he would trust anything Basil said, now that Atticus brought it up, because he was right— (not that Anthony had conceived of asking Basil in the first place, he realized now with chagrin.) Whatever, it didn’t matter! What mattered was that he’d addressed the topic regardless. And wasn’t the lady’s opinion worth more at this stage anyway since, as Atticus pointed out, Basil couldn’t be trusted to recognize his own sentiments? If he felt a small, guilty pang at the thought, Anthony tried not to let it sit too heavily upon him.

He softened for a moment then as Atticus seemed to recognize he was not trying to be a threat. They could settle this… misunderstanding like gentlemen yet. If he thought about, rationally, Anthony supposed he could understand Atticus’ desire to give Basil a fighting chance too. He could maybe even concede to it, allow them some space for Basil to make a decision— but then a barb shot from Atticus straight into his spine and Anthony frowned harder than he had in years. His face grew stoney and cold, irritation giving way to anger. How dare Atticus insinuate such a thing! After all he’d bloody done, over and over and over again.

“I resent that implication with every fibre of my being,” he shot, jaggedly. It was with an afflicted tone, unusual for Anthony’s usually so jovial demeanour. Very few were privy to seeing real anger on the brunette; he could count on one hand the number of people who’d ever encountered it, Atticus evidently being one of them. “You of all people should know I wouldn’t dare compromise a woman and step aside without doing the respectable thing. And if I ever did, I bloody well wouldn’t expect Basil to clean up after me,” he added, furiously. Anthony didn't know if it was protection of his family or a disbelief that the younger could, or would, do it that spurred that quip back. He squared his jaw in determination.

“I’m tired of stepping aside for you," he intoned, slowly, evenly. "If Basil wants to win Victoire Malfoy’s hand, then you’d best tell him to get a move on." Anthony sucked in a small breath, regret already coloring the inevitable. "I’m not going to roll over for the Foxwoods again.”

And with that, he turned to storm out of the room.

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Victoire Malfoy & Atticus Foxwood

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   Victoire Malfoy