AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As promised, Thaddeus had the items delivered the following morning. Quinn dressed in breeches that were much too big but belted a piece of rope and they did the job. Her shirt was loose and sloppy but that was okay too. The one concession she made was to wear her bra: she needed the support and absolutely refused to wear the corset. The silk stockings felt very nice against her skin and the soft-soled shoes were awkward but doable. She found a ribbon to pull her hair back and quietly made her way from the castle to their meeting spot. Thaddeus was already there, dressed very similarly to her, but his reaction to seeing her was, Quinn supposed, natural.
"It isn't decent, you dressed like that," he whispered. "Perhaps we should return to the house."
Quinn started stretching. "If I don't run I'm going to become a beach ball."
"Beach ball?" he queried.
"Never mind. You can go back if you want but I am doing this." She looked up and grinned. "Thanks for the clothes."
"Certainly. But let's hope no one sees us. They won't understand, I don't understand," he added.
"Once we start running you won't care."
Quinn started out slowly so Thaddeus could acclimate but once she warmed up, she let loose. The burn of her muscles as her feet pounded on the soft ground, the cool, crisp air that she took into her lungs, the sweat that glistened on her skin and ran down her back all felt so good. Thaddeus, being as in shape as he was, kept pace with her easily. Quinn estimated they ran about two miles before she suggested they turn back. Once they reached their starting spot, the sun was just beginning to rise and they both slowed their pace to cool down.
"That felt so good."
Thaddeus was just watching her, his breathing labored, his brow soaked. "You're quite good at that. And you're right, it felt good."
"Every day, four miles. I've been doing it since I was a kid."
He couldn't help a look at her figure as her clothes were plastered to her skin before he whispered, "You can tell."
Quinn looked up at him but there was no heat to his words just an observation. She grinned.
"Can we swim in the river?" Quinn asked.
"Yes. You swim too?"
She grinned before she added, "Like a fish."
Thaddeus returned the grin before he said, "I'll be right back."
Quinn watched as he disappeared into castle and turned to soak up the beauty of the landscape. Her moment of solitude ended when Thaddeus rejoined her with blankets and a basket.
"Breakfast?" she asked.
"Yes. Cook threw a few things together for us."
"A man after my own heart," she gushed. "Shall we?"
Every morning after, Quinn went for a run. If Sara wondered why she had men's clothes and why they were always soaked, she didn't say. The running was a bit of home and a little piece of normal that Quinn savored; that first hour in the morning where it seemed she had the whole world to herself.
Things changed on the third morning though. Incredibly, her activity was discovered by none other than Lord Scarcliff. When she reached her turning around point in the woods, she noticed movement within the trees seconds before Lord Scarcliff emerged. Quinn wanted to keep on running but knew she couldn't escape that easily so she was forced to stop as she approached him. He was looking at her oddly but said nothing.
"Good morning," she offered brightly.
His voice sounded almost pained when he replied, "Good Morning. Please don't stop on my account."
Quinn nodded before she turned and started back, then finished with a refreshing dip in the river.
The following morning when she came outside to warm up, Quinn was surprised to find Lord Scarcliff there under the oak tree, dressed as she was, waiting for her. It was in unspoken agreement that he started warming up with her. They ran in silence and when they were done, he returned to the castle while she made her way to the river. Quinn wasn't sure why he joined her that first morning but every morning after, he was always there waiting.
Chapter Three
One night, just over a week after Quinn arrived in the 18th century, she met Katherine's brother, Viscount Edwyn Danvers. She froze when she walked into Lord Scarcliff's solar because the Viscount could pass for Derek Blake's twin.
"Quinn?" Thaddeus whispered in her ear as she robotically put one foot in front of another. "You will have to share whatever just passed through that lovely mind of yours." And then he turned his attention to the Viscount.
