In the pause that followed, Venetia realized that Skye was looking at her questioningly, as if waiting for her to comment.
“You should have your mother’s jewels, Skye,” Venetia said at once.
“Are you certain?”
“Of course. They rightfully belong to you. You would have inherited them had I not married your brother.”
“I confess I would very much like to have them since they were my mother’s.”
It was only fitting, Venetia thought. She most certainly did not want the pendant that currently belonged to Quinn’s former mistress. Admittedly she was still profoundly jealous of the dashing Lady X. Venetia would have liked to be more gracious now that she could claim Quinn as her true husband, her love, but it would probably take a while before she could fully overcome her long-held apprehensions.
When she caught Quinn’s
eye, she realized he had guessed what she was thinking, for he reached over to take her hand and interlaced his fingers with hers.
Evidently he also approved of her generosity to his sister, for he leaned closer to murmur in her ear, “I will make it up to you. I will buy you a fortune in jewels if you like.”
“I don’t need jewels to be happy,” Venetia whispered back.
His eyes glimmered. “I know. That is one of the many things I love about you.”
While he was reassuring her, the subject changed to the shipwreck that had taken the lives of their parents and the crew.
There was no new information from Macky as to the site of the tragedy, nor was there a legal need to prove sabotage, but if the wreck was ever found, Kate thought they should mount a salvage effort, since she wanted a proper burial for her parents. At the very least, she wanted to journey to France to find her mother’s pauper’s grave and provide her a decent headstone.
Ash offered to fund the search for the ship’s remains, but with his son so young, he preferred to remain at home until the wreck was actually found. Jack, who had been born in Paris and spoke fluent French, was the logical choice to lead an expedition to the southern coast of France, but Sophie was expecting their first child, and he disliked the risk of her sailing abroad.
In Skye’s opinion, Hawk had spent too many years living in exile on a Mediterranean island, and she wanted him to come to know his newly reconstructed English home. And Quinn thought Hawk had done more than enough already.
Kate ventured to suggest that Uncle Cornelius might wish to be involved in a salvage endeavor, since Steven Wilde had been his older brother and Lionel Wilde his distant cousin.
As for Quinn’s preferences, his steamship was in the final stages of construction, but he promised that after the launch this summer, he would be pleased to help. “For now I mean to take Venetia to Tallis Court to recuperate,” Quinn concluded.
Eager to see her new home, Venetia liked that idea also. But then she recalled her sister. “What about Ophelia?”
“What about her?”
“Until she settles on a suitor, I ought to remain in London, if only to prevent my mother from dictating her life.”
Quinn shook his head. “With Kate and Skye to help her marriage prospects, Ophelia can manage on her own. You’ve done more than enough for her, including risking your life.”
“Perhaps so.” Just then Venetia also remembered Cleo. “I must tell Cleo she will have to find another companion when she returns to France.”
“I predict she will understand.”
Venetia arched an eyebrow. “I am not so certain. She is not your most ardent fan…although I know she will be happy for me once I persuade her that we have made a love match.”
“That should not be difficult. I am really quite humiliatingly in love.” A smile lurked about his mouth as he brought Venetia’s fingers to his lips. “I had every intention of controlling my own fate, but destiny intervened in my plans.”
“And so did I,” Kate injected with a self-satisfied smile. “I am glad you finally overcame your cynicism, cousin.”
Quinn amiably acknowledged her aid. “Although I am loath to admit it, I am supremely grateful for your persistence, Kate. If not for you, I would have missed the love of my life.”
“Oh?” she said archly. “Do tell. I was right, wasn’t I?”
“Yes, you were right.” Venetia saw the self-mockery in Quinn’s beautiful blue eyes, the suppressed laughter, yet he seemed entirely serious when he declared, “The truth is, love can readily be denied, until you meet one person who changes your life forever.”
Venetia gazed back at him adoringly, happiness welling inside her. With every word he bound himself more firmly in her heart.