After Wesley had come to a suitable arrangement with Geoffrey and finally changed out of his muddy hunting coat and cleaned up from the moor, he joined Sebastian, along with Rory and Arthur, in the manor’s gardens.
“Geoffrey has agreed to handle everything and keep all of your names out of it,” said Wesley.
“Out of the goodness of his heart?” Rory said skeptically.
“Partly,” said Wesley. “And partly because I bribed him with the Bentley. I have a second one in Yorkshirethat can come to Kensington; today I want to take the H6. After all, I did win it.”
“The staff has already put the new rear tire on it.” Sebastian had also changed out of his muddy suit. He was still nearly glowing with energy—or more likely, with the magic still storming through him, the stampede of wild horses finally finding their way home. “It’s ready to go.”
“Shall we get out of here then?” Wesley said. “Sebastian, are you going to attempt some kind of flimsy subterfuge to get the keys?”
But Sebastian immediately shook his head. “Arthur should drive.”
They all looked at him, and he flushed. “As Wes has noticed, my magic is a little hard to hang on to right now,” he said sheepishly. “Arthur has Rory’s magic in his aura that saves him from being knocked down by mine. I don’t want to risk an accident myself—or accidentally causing an accident, if Wesley is behind the wheel.”
“So your magic is really back?” Arthur asked.
Sebastian held out his wrist, showing a familiar swirl of colors returned to his tattoo. “Yes,” he said, and Wesley could hear the happiness in his voice.
Rory squinted at the colors. “No more lion?”
“Oh, he’s still there,” Wesley said, eyes on the rampant lion hidden in Sebastian’s tattoo, always all Wesley’s, whatever form he took.
Not long later, they were on the road and heading east. The rain became light snow as they drove, flakes landing on the H6’s windshield. By the time they’d made it back to London’s outskirts and then into Kensington, it was well into evening. Wesley’s footman, Ned,was already coming down the front steps as they pulled the H6 up to the curb.
“My lord.” He had a big smile as he opened Wesley’s door, seemingly unbothered by the significant amounts of barking clearly coming from next door. “Delighted to see you.”
“Why do I heartwodogs?” Wesley said suspiciously, as he stepped to the curb.
“Because Lady Pennington got her Maltese, Powerpuff, a friend,” Ned said, as he held the door open for Sebastian to exit. “A darling little spaniel. They’re playing in the garden.”
Sebastian had gone doe-eyed. “That’s so sweet.”
Wesley sighed. “Just tell me there’s dinner.”
“Yes sir,” said Ned, as Arthur and Rory joined them on the curb. “Your other friends have just arrived, and you’ve brought Mr. Kenzie, Mr. Brodigan, and Mr. de Leon too? Miss Elsie will be delighted. Mrs. Harrick’s made a late dinner; she’s showing off her skills tonight.”
“My other friends?” Wesley said, blinking.
But as he walked into his home, he realized he could hear Jade’s and Zhang’s familiar laughter, and new voices he didn’t recognize.
“Oh, they’ve all made it!” Arthur said. “Wesley, come on, you have to meet Gwen and Ellis. If you think you and Sebastian have a complicated past with us, you’ve got nothing on these two. They adore Sebastian, though, so you’ll probably love them.”
Wesley huffed a laugh. “Be right there.”
Arthur and Rory hurried toward the dining room. Sebastian had disappeared when they got out of the car, probably sneaking in through the basement, whichleft Wesley alone with his footman. “Ah, Ned.” Wesley cleared his throat. “About sleeping arrangements—”
“I’m glad you brought that up, sir,” Ned said seriously. “You see, we have a bit of a problem.”
“We do?” Wesley braced himself. “What’s that?”
“Well, sir,” Ned began, “Your friends Miss Robbins and Mr. Zhang have said they’re staying with the Taylors, but Mr. Kenzie and Mr. Brodigan will need rooms here. And I’m afraid the basement room isn’t available.”
Wesley blinked. “Not…available?”
“No sir,” Ned said. “The cats are in there.”
“Thecats?”
