Quinn pressed a light kiss against her hair before musing out loud, “I think I loved you from the moment you threatened to shoot me to prevent my courting your sister. I can’t imagine my life without you now.”
Venetia’s muffled spurt of laughter was followed by a note of skepticism in her voice when she asked, “Truly?”
“Yes, truly. Who will argue with me and set me straight when I need it?”
“You have a point.”
Another few heartbeats passed before he continued his reflections. “You are more than enough woman for me, Venetia. You are intriguing and challenging and strong and inspiring. You make me want to be a better man. Why would I ever want anyone else?”
He was teasing her lovingly, yet he wanted to make certain she understood his gravity. Quinn put a finger under her chin and tilted her face up so that he could see her eyes when he repeated his vow of fidelity.
“I swear on my life to be faithful and never betray you, Venetia. Will you believe me?”
“Yes,” she answered softly. “I believe you.”
Quinn rewarded her reply with another long kiss before he let her rest again. That she’d chosen to trust him filled him with a fierce sense of gratitude.
It was another quarter hour before they stirred again. He wanted to see that she was fed, and she wanted to thank his family for all they had done for her—as did Quinn.
“If I know them, they will be eager for a family conference. Our gatherings became a tradition when our bachelor uncle, Cornelius, tried to raise five unruly orphans.”
Still feeling a bit wan, Venetia accepted his help in donning a brocade dressing gown and didn’t object when Quinn insisted on giving his arm for support as he escorted her downstairs. On the way there, he directed a footman to have Mrs. Pelfrey deliver breakfast to the drawing room, and in an hour have a warm bath filled for her ladyship in his bedchamber.
When Venetia entered the drawing room with Quinn, Skye was the first to see her. Rising quickly, she crossed to the door and took both of Venetia’s hands in a warm greeting. “How are you feeling?”
Venetia returned her smile. “As if I was trampled by a horse.”
Skye dimpled. “Don’t tell Maura or Hawk that. They both would come to the horse’s defense. Come, you must meet Maura and Ash. Their adorable baby is sleeping upstairs in the nursery. By the way, you just missed your parents and sister. They called to make certain that you were all right. And Hawk has brought us up-to-date about that villain Montreux. I cannot believe he got away with multiple murders all these years.”
Anger clouded Skye’s brow, but she shrugged it off as she shepherded Venetia into the room to join the company. Venetia was indeed glad at last to meet the eldest Wilde cousin and his lovely wife, Maura. Lord Jack and Sophie and Katharine were present also, as was Lord Hawkhurst.
When she was settled comfortably on the sofa, with Quinn sitting beside her, Venetia effusively thanked everyone, especially Hawk, for coming to her rescue last evening.
When he brushed off her gratitude, Skye explained her husband’s modesty. “Hawk is accustomed to such heroics. He once rescued our aunt Isabella from a Berber sheik in the Kingdom of Algiers.”
An amused Lord Jack chimed in. “The rest of us are not trained in espionage or versed in dangerous enterprises, but we always look after our own.”
“Yes,” Sophie added fondly. “You are a Wilde now, Venetia.”
“Which means,” Quinn said with a pointed look at his cousin Kate, “that interference in one another’s lives is a given, whether you like it or not. But at least you will never find yourself alone.”
The reminder heartened Venetia. “I should like that a great deal.”
“I almost regret missing the excitement last evening,” Ash jested.
Maura sent him an arch glance before turning to Venetia. “I only regret that we didn’t arrive in time to be of help to you.”
“Undoubtedly,” Katharine interjected, “there will be other occasions in the future. You should prepare yourself to be swept up in all manner of scandals and adventures, Venetia. Perhaps when we are old and gray we can look back on this ordeal as an adventure. Meanwhile, you should have something to eat. Ah, here is Mrs. Pelfrey now.”
The housekeeper directed two footmen to deposit laden trays on a side table, then appeared to delight in fussing over her latest patient, Lady Traherne.
Venetia was soon fortified with hot tea and toast, and Quinn a more substantial breakfast. While they ate, she listened as Maura told an amusing tale about their infant son and found herself reveling in the warmth and laughter and familial feelings that pervaded the drawing room. Before this, such a loving family scene would have engendered an unbearable ache of loneliness. Now she was part of it.
Relishing the thought, Venetia let the discussion wash over her while she observed her new family. They were all charismatic, intriguing characters with strong, lively personalities, and she could imagine the pleasure of sculpting each one of them.
The conversation eventually turned to retrieving the remainder of the de Chagny jewels from Montreux and the need to establish ownership. Venetia only half paid attention until someone mentioned that the jewels were not entailed and that Skye was Angelique’s heir.
“But Venetia is Quinn’s wife now,” Skye said hesitantly.