Jacob cleared his throat. “Perhaps we should adjourn to the Planning Parlor?”
“What’s a Planning Parlor?” asked Miss Henry.
“Something private. Just for Wynchesters,” answered Tommy. She shot a knowing look at Marjorie, who grinned.
“Except for clients who later become Wynchesters,” Marjorie agreed. “Of course you’re welcome. Philippa and Adrian might already be in there.”
Tickletums waddled up to nudge Jacob’s boot. He scooped the hedgehog against his chest and cupped a hand around him protectively.
“Does he bite?” Miss Henry asked in surprise.
“You might,” he muttered.
His siblings gazed at them both with open fascination.
“Itriedto befriend your cat,” Miss Henry protested.
“Tiglet?” asked Tommy.
“Dionysus,” Jacob said grimly.
Marjorie gasped. “Dionysus doesn’t like people. Except for Jacob. Did he growl at you?”
“They both did,” Miss Henry said with a shrug. “Dionysus attempted to claw open my ribs and bite off my hand. When that didn’t work, he ran away. That’s how most of my interactions with strangers tend to go.”
“What did Jacob do?” Marjorie asked.
Jacob and Miss Henry stared at each other, both remembering precisely what he had done. He’d taken his client’s hand in his, stroked the soft skin, and discovered her unsteady, racing pulse.
If they were alone, he’d be tempted to do it again. He wanted to explore every inch of her warm skin, not just her hand and the pulse point at her wrist. He wanted to taste her skin with his tongue and use his hands to—
“We argued,” said Miss Henry without meeting his eyes.
Yes. He should focus on the ways they didn’t mesh. And keep his mind on the case.
Marjorie gave a knowing grin.
It means nothing, he warned her in sign language.As soon as we find her cousin and clear his name, our new client will be gone from our lives for good.
His sister smirked, then turned to dash from the sitting room and race up the stairs. The others were right on her heels. Leaving Jacob… alone with Miss Henry. Subtle.
Nonetheless, he offered her his free arm.
“I know how to walk,” she snapped, and stalked to the stairs without aid of chivalry.
Maybe he should make chain mail for himself and Tickletums. Jacob cuddled his tiny hedgehog closer to his chest for safety. He wondered if her satchel contained a change of clothing.
Now that she’d been invited into their inner sanctum, Miss Henry might not plan on leaving.
12
Viv hated how much she loved the Planning Parlor.
She’d long despised people who floated through life, blissfully exempt from the rules and punishments designed to keep people like Viv in her place—or eradicate people like her completely. Therefore, she’d fully expected to hold everything the Wynchesters had or did in equal contempt.
But she hadn’t known about the Planning Parlor. Quentin didn’t know such a location existed either, which was the main reason Viv had been unawares. He would absolutely lose his mind to know she had glimpsed their secret lair firsthand.
Quentin: They have a WHAT?
