To preserve the older-brotherly nature of the Tom-Tony relationship which is necessary to make it work (a younger brother would have to be like 15 which creates a whole 'nother set of problems), Tom is Tony's cousin. That way Tony can be the only son left in his family with a horde of sisters, making his death even more tragic. Tom is the cousin who has now inherited the title from Tony. This also explains Tony's fixation on Percy - he's a father-replacement figure.
Stop me. Please stop me. Or I'll have to write this and I know far too little about the Scarlet Pimpernel to attempt that.
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To preserve the older-brotherly nature of the Tom-Tony relationship which is necessary to make it work (a younger brother would have to be like 15 which creates a whole 'nother set of problems), Tom is Tony's cousin. That way Tony can be the only son left in his family with a horde of sisters, making his death even more tragic. Tom is the cousin who has now inherited the title from Tony. This also explains Tony's fixation on Percy - he's a father-replacement figure.
Stop me. Please stop me. Or I'll have to write this and I know far too little about the Scarlet Pimpernel to attempt that.