Page 19 of A Waltz on the Wild Side (The Wild Wynchesters #6)

“That’s only one possibility,” Viv said. “Maybe whatever was stolen is not for sale. Perhaps the thief wishes to keep the object for himself.”

“Or use it for blackmail,” Jacob suggested.

“Quentin would never stoop to blackmail,” said Viv with satisfaction. “I told you he had nothing to do with the burglary.”

Tommy arched her brows. “A lad who would have otherwise been born a wealthy, respected viscount… and who instead receives a pittance so small, he cannot even afford to hire the cheapest maid-of-all-work to share some of the load dumped upon his already busy-with-two-careers-of-her-own cousin… You’re saying a lad like that couldn’t use an extra shilling or two? ”

“I didn’t say he couldn’t use the shilling,” Viv said tightly. “I said he wouldn’t steal it.”

Not because she or Quentin held any particular respect for British property law. To their eternal rage, Viv and both of their mothers had been British aristocrats’ “property.” Hers had died because of it.

To this day, tens of thousands of other men, women, and children like them were still enslaved on rich English lords’ offshore properties and plantations. To the devil with the British, and all their self-serving conscienceless behavior!

The reason her cousin would never steal from an aristocrat, regardless of his feelings on who was allowed to own what, was because Quentin knew exactly how and why Viv’s mother had been murdered.

That Viv herself had almost suffered the same fate.

How close they’d both come to never meeting each other, much less being a source of daily happiness in each other’s lives.

Quentin also well knew that here in England, the poverty-stricken were regularly prosecuted on theft charges.

The indigent could be hung for pickpocketing so much as a penny.

Quentin would never risk his life in such a foolish way.

Or force Viv to relive her grief at the loss of her last living family member.

Her lungs seized and her throat closed up just thinking about it.

“I agree with Miss Henry,” Jacob said. “At least with regard to Olivebury. Given that Quentin would be the current Viscount Ayleswick, if the lord had married Quentin’s mother, it would make more sense for Quentin to rob the half-brother who took his place in the aristocracy, rather than a total stranger. ”

“Then who did it?” asked Elizabeth. “This would be far easier if Olivebury would just tell us what the thief stole.”

“Offering our services was the first thing I tried,” said Graham. “Olivebury refuses to speak to me. He hasn’t answered a single call or letter.”

Viv gave him a considering look. “Maybe that’s because you’re… you?”

Graham raised his brows. “Are you referring to my skin color, or the fact that I’m a Wynchester?”

“Both,” she admitted.

Though from her perspective, the Wynchesters as a whole lived a life of privilege… for some of them, life was still sometimes cruel and arbitrary and unfair.

Elizabeth leaned on her sword stick. “Mr. Olivebury may not be an aristocrat, but now that Philippa’s father has retired, Olivebury is one of the most important voices in the House of Commons. What he says, others believe. Where he goes, others follow.”

“Didn’t he work with Faircliffe on the factory reform bill?” asked Jacob.

Graham nodded. “Yes. He’s been one of the duke’s best allies for years. Their progressive politics is why neither has been elected speaker of their respective houses.”

“With so much in common, perhaps Olivebury would open up about the robbery at his gentleman’s club, over a brandy or two,” Viv suggested.

“Superficial confidants might not be enough,” Jacob. “The plan ought to include a firsthand look at the scene of the crime.”

Viv nodded slowly. “If that were possible, you ought to be the one to lead the search.”

They all stared at her, uncomprehending.

“Did you say… Jacob?” Elizabeth repeated.

“He’s the reason anyone drew a connection between Quentin’s disappearance and my missing plays in the first place,” Viv reminded her. “Sometimes we don’t know what we’re looking for until we stumble across it.”

Jacob suddenly became very interested in picking invisible lint off his waistcoat.

Graham closed his notebook. “We can send a team to sneak in while Faircliffe attempts to charm Olivebury at a club.”

“I never say no to a good infiltration,” said Tommy. “Let’s do it.”

“I don’t have time to do it.” Marjorie groaned. “I can barely spare a minute to forge a set of keys, much less pick locks in person.”

“I didn’t say we should break laws ourselves,” said Viv. “It’s irresponsible and an unnecessary risk to behave like a villain.”

“Take that back,” Elizabeth protested. “We’re not the villains.”

Viv snorted. “You’re not morally different, if you think it’s fine for you to break rules when they get in your way, but you nonetheless expect others to adhere to them.”

Marjorie gasped. “Not morally different!”

“Even if you’ve never blackmailed anyone,” Viv began.

The family exchanged glances.

“—or kidnapped someone—”

The Wynchesters smirked.

“—or stabbed someone—”

Elizabeth whistled innocently.

Viv couldn’t believe them. “How can you believe yourselves ethically superior to anyone? Do you even register the hypocrisy of your actions?”

“Listen,” said Elizabeth. “Do you want to find your cousin or not?”

Viv clicked her teeth together and crossed her arms. She needed the Wynchesters’ help to find and exonerate Quentin. And she’d be damned if she let them bollocks that up without her oversight.

Besides, Quentin wasn’t the only one who enjoyed a good I told you so .

He’d begged her to spend time with the Wynchesters, believing she’d come to love them in the process.

If they proved themselves to be even worse role models than she’d feared, he would have to admit she was right about them all along.

Vivian : All right, Quentin. You win. Until I find you and exonerate your name, I will spend every waking moment with your Wynchesters and do my best to take their measure with an open mind. You have my word.

Quentin : Huzzah! If I’d known this would work, I would’ve disappeared ages ago!

Vivian : Addendum. If you’ve put me through this panic on purpose, in some harebrained scheme to soften me toward this family, then when I lay eyes on you, so help me God…

“Very well. I’ll help you,” she forced herself to say aloud. “Solving the robbery will clear Quentin’s name, and then we must find him posthaste.”

“We could follow your script,” Tommy suggested. “It worked before. No one would be expecting a second whooper swan invasion.”

Jacob shook his head. “The Olivebury household is unlikely to be fooled by the same thing twice.”

“If you two sneak in through a window on a moonless night—” began Elizabeth.

“I shall not participate in breaking the law,” Viv interrupted.

The Wynchesters might take for granted that their deep pocketbooks and aristocratic connections provided them with impenetrable armor, but Viv’s reinforced sleeves could barely protect her from a disgruntled badger.

She straightened her spine. “However, I do have an idea on how we might be invited inside…”