“Choice,” the siblings chorused together.
Vivian’s eyes flashed. “Yet you didn’t think I deserved the same consideration a lord gave a small child?”
“You’re being melodramatic,” said Jacob. “I—”
“Oof,” said Tommy. “You just lostthisargument.”
“Erase that phrase from your vocabulary,” Philippa agreed with a wince. “Just because you might react differently doesn’t make someone else’s feelings invalid.”
Vivian crossed her arms. “Wouldyou react differently? If all it takes to be published is for one of your important friends to whisper into the right ear, then why aren’t there volumes of Jacob Wynchester’spoetry in bookstores all over England?”
“It’s complicated,” he hedged. “Listen—”
“Why should I? You don’t seem particularly inclined to listen tome. I suppose I’m too melodramatic.”
“Told you that was a mistake,” Tommy murmured.
“Listen,” Jacob said again, even though it was clearly the wrong thing to say. He wasn’t skilled at talking to people. He needed time to hone his words. Most of which ended up in the fireplace for a reason. “I’m not an old white baron. I’m just a man trying to help a friend. If you don’t want your play to be performed, then say so, and I’ll let the theater manager know to take it off the schedule.”
“If you do that,” Vivian said quietly, “neither he nor any other theater manager in England will consider my work ever again. Rejecting this opportunity, no matter how insincerely granted, would blackball my name.”
He swallowed.
“You give me no choice,” she continued, her eyes glossy. “All I wanted was choices. The freedom to live my life on my own terms. You took that from me.”
That… was not the gift he’d been trying to give. Jacob desperately glanced at his siblings for help.
They all became extraordinarily absorbed with inspecting the biscuits on their plates.
“All I asked of you was to help me find my cousin.” Vivian’s entire body seemed to vibrate with rage and hurt. “Achieve that if you can, but please don’t do me any more favors. It’s late. I’ll see myself home.”
Before Jacob could figure out how to salvage the situation, Vivian strode from the sitting room toward the front door.
It was raining now, just as Elizabeth had predicted. Outside the front window, Vivian walked with her head high as though she didn’t even notice the cold drizzle.
Or perhaps it was the best way to hide the tears on her face.
25
The next morning, after another sleepless night, Viv forced her feet back toward the Wynchester home. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d held such conflicted feelings about anything or anyone.
Usually her convictions were strong and sure. Giving advice was easy. She wished Parliament would listen tohercounsel. The world could be a better place in the blink of an eye.
But right now, Viv’s personal and professional worlds were upside-down. Jacob’s unexpected meddling had made her dream come true in the most galling way. She was furious with him and indebted to him and in a panic about how to make the most of what paltry attention might come her way.
If she hadn’t gone to the Wynchesters, she wouldn’t have met Jacob. If she never met him, she wouldn’t have broken her rule about kissing. If she hadn’t kissed him, maybe he wouldn’t have bypassed her express desires and tried to arrange her career himself.
But she couldn’t wish him to Hades. If she hadn’t broken half a dozen other rules and joined the previously disdained Wynchester crew on their justice-seeking missions… she wouldn’t have the least idea what had happened to her kidnapped cousin, or the remotest chance of rescuing him.
Somehow, over the past few weeks, keeping life divided in easy boxes of Good and Bad, Right and Wrong, had become exponentially harder.
By the time she reached the Wynchesters’ front door, she still hadn’t managed to sort things out. But she flashed their kind-eyed butler her best smile. Mr. Randall had let her in when she’d had nowhere else to turn. Unfortunately, her troubles had only increased since then.
Viv would decide how to handle what was left of her career on her own, but her best hope for Quentin’s safe return still lay with the team in this house.
She girded her loins and strode into the sibling sitting room. Today, only Jacob, Graham, and Marjorie were present.
Upon her arrival, Jacob leaped up from a sofa filled with kittens. “We have every place the Marquess of Leisterdale owns or goes in England under constant surveillance. The moment there’s any sign of Quentin or other suspicious activity, we’ll know about it.”
