Page 54 of A Waltz on the Wild Side (The Wild Wynchesters #6)

Quentin started. “What do you—oh.” He had the grace to look somewhat abashed. “You mean Horace. I suppose that wasn’t well done of me.”

“I think you’ve been punished more than enough for that deception,” said Jacob.

Viv drew a shaky breath. “I’m sorry I didn’t rescue you sooner, Quentin. I tried everything in my power. I went to the Bow Street Runners—”

“Useless,” said Tommy, in her Bow Street uniform.

“Newbury’s a good sort,” Jacob objected.

Viv recognized that name. “He’s the only one who actually listened to me. Until I came to you.”

Jacob gave her fingers a squeeze, then kissed the back of her hand.

Quentin made a garbled sound, as if his head were moments away from exploding.

“How did you do it?” he demanded, awestruck. Then his face cleared. “I guess you really do know everything.”

“If I’ve learned anything, it’s that I know nothing.” Viv smiled at her cousin. “I always knew I didn’t have all the answers, but I believed I ought to have them. So I tried my best. Just like you were doing.”

His expression filled with shock. “You’re not angry with me for masquerading as Horace and getting kidnapped?”

“You’re an idiot,” she said fondly, “but a good-hearted one. I suppose I can think of worse people to emulate than the Wynchesters.”

“You can ?” Quentin stared at her.

“Within reason,” she said quickly. “They’re not perfect.”

“Pretty close, though, with you on the team,” Tommy said.

She and Jacob began talking over each other at once, detailing the ways in which Viv had aided the family in their various missions, and how it was her recollection of a line in a month-old newspaper article that had helped lead them to the right doorstep today.

“You’re practically a Wynchester yourself, Viv,” Quentin breathed in reverence.

“As good as family,” Tommy agreed. “Her seat is next to mine in the sibling sitting room.”

“In fact,” said Jacob, “how would you both like to spend the night tonight, as our honored guests?”

Quentin turned pleading eyes to Viv. “Can we?”

She arched a brow at Jacob. He was a sweetheart, and he might be trying to ease Quentin’s transition from being held hostage back to the real world.

Or Jacob might be remembering her promise that he could court her as soon as her cousin had been found.

Jacob smiled innocently.

Viv narrowed her eyes.

His smile widened.

“Better borrow a good book from Philippa,” Tommy told Quentin. “I wouldn’t expect to see your cousin again until well after noon tomorrow.”

Quentin’s eyes goggled as his head swiveled back and forth between Viv and Jacob.

“Tommy is teasing,” Viv said quickly. “Er… somewhat teasing. Jacob is indeed romancing me—”

Quentin grabbed his chest and flailed against the carriage squab.

“—but I will be spending the night with you, of course. You remain my highest priority. I doubt you’ve eaten or slept well since you’ve been gone. Why don’t we take tonight to relax at home? We’ll settle down on our own, then tomorrow afternoon—”

“Cousin, are you bamming me?” This time, Quentin’s clasped hands bounced in supplication. “After a month stuck inside a pantry, I find myself making friends with real Wynchesters. I don’t plan to sleep at all, lest I miss a single minute of it!”

Viv reached for his hands. “But I thought we could—”

Quentin grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her toward Jacob. “I’m willing to postpone further conversation with this Wynchester if the two of you have somewhere you’d rather be.” He turned to Tommy. “I can’t wait to hear every bit of the plan to rescue me. Did my clue help?”

Viv blinked. “What was your clue?”

Quentin held up his thumb proudly. “They tried to use another finger, but I made the print using the one with the scar.”

Jacob raised his brows, impressed. “That was your idea?”

Viv arched one of her own. “You faint at the sight of blood.”

“Which gave me time to come up with the plan,” Quentin confirmed happily. “They’d pricked my index finger, so as soon as I regained consciousness, I smeared the blood onto my scarred thumb and pressed it onto the paper.”

“That was a good clue,” Tommy said admiringly. “Well done.”

Quentin looked like he might explode into feathers.

“And yes, it gave us the break we needed,” Jacob added. “My family wouldn’t have known the significance, but your cousin put it together instantly.”

“She’s the smartest woman in the world,” Quentin said proudly. “Except maybe for Philippa Wynchester. Will I get to meet her, too?”

“You can attend one of her reading circles if you like,” Tommy said. “I’ll help you with your disguise.”

“Oh! And Graham? Can I meet him, too? I’ve collected so much intelligence for him over the years. Even more in the past few weeks. You wouldn’t believe the things people say when they don’t remember there’s someone locked on the other side of the pantry door! For example—”

Viv and Jacob exchanged slow grins as Quentin prattled on happily to Tommy.

Although Viv had at first believed the best thing was for her and Quentin to have quiet time together tonight in the comfort and safety of their home, he did not want or need her hovering over him like a mama bird.

Her cousin seemed to think her celebratory night would be better spent in Jacob’s arms.

Viv wasn’t used to taking Quentin’s advice, but for once maybe her cousin was right.

There was a first time for everything.