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"Please call me 'Quinn'."
A slight smile touched his lips as he replied, "Quinn, Mrs. Hamston mentioned you were interested in reviewing the household journals. If you would prefer, I could show you how an estate like this is run."
Quinn was speechless for a moment because Archer had been thinking about her and even sought her out. She was delighted by this turn of events and even more excited about the look on his face because there was that familiar warmth there that she had seen before. More surprising was her reaction to it: she felt lightheaded. She realized by the smile that pulled on only the one side of his mouth, that she had yet to answer him. "I would like that very much," she barely whispered.
"Excellent. We can start in my study." He seemed to hesitate a moment before he reached for her hand and as soon as they touched, they both stilled at the heat of their contact: a heat that burned in an astounding way. She looked up at him to find he was watching her with an expression that matched her own, he was smitten too. The sound of one of the maids scurrying down the hall ended their moment and wordlessly they started toward his study.
He detailed every aspect of his estate, from the farming to the investments. He even explained how disputes were settled among his tenants. After their time in his study, he took her for a tour of the grounds and what an experience to see the place through the eyes of the man who had envisioned it. He was so animated when he spoke and in seeing him like this Quinn realized what she felt for him was more than simple attraction. She knew she was in serious trouble of losing her heart and that thought terrified her because she knew all too well that there could never be a future for them.
Archer took her to visit some of his tenants and while he discussed concerns with the men, the wives treated her to sweet cakes and tea. She watched as he interacted and though he was the Earl, he was kind and fair. He listened, he didn't decree, and he was humble enough to not believe that his way was the right way. There was no denying the respect, and even affection, that his people had for him. It was this thought that had Quinn more determined than ever to learn what happened here because in the future, the townspeople feared Whispering Winds and all its inhabitants.
They ended the day walking along the river's edge. Archer's head was down as they walked along. He couldn't recall enjoying a day more and he knew it was all because of the woman walking at his side. There was something about her that called to him, like a perfect memory being remembered.
Then she spoke. "It's beautiful. You have created a wonderful home here even despite its size. It is a happy, comfortable home. You must be very proud."
He stopped walking which made Quinn stop and turn to him. His voice was so soft making his words seem even more meaningful: "Never more so than at this moment."
It wasn't a conscious action when he ran his finger down along the line of her jaw; he just needed to touch her. When he moved his focus to her face, he saw what he had hoped to see. She felt it, too. It took a great deal of willpower to keep from pulling her into his arms and kissing her as he longed to do. He couldn't, at least not until he handled Katherine, so with regret he instead reached for her hand and pulled it through his arm.
"I should get you back," he stammered.
"Thank you for the tour," she replied crestfallen.
"It was truly my pleasure."
Later, while Lady Danvers and Katherine dressed for dinner, Quinn sat in the music room before the harpsichord playing feverishly lost in the music. She played works from some of the greatest composers the world has ever known though in this time they had yet to be born. She was in the middle of Mozart'sSonata in Gwhen Archer appeared in the doorway. She quickly pulled her hands from the keys.
"Please don't stop," his voice was just barely over a whisper but there was that warmth to it that stirred Quinn's blood. Her fingers found their keys as she took up the melody from where she left off. The last note of the piece faded into silence and Quinn turned to see Archer watching her with a look of longing so powerful it had her heart flipping over in her chest. He started towards her, those green eyes burning into hers, and he moved like a man who had no control over his body. Quinn was held spellbound by him so she didn't even realize that she had risen from the bench to move just to the side of it. He was so close that she only needed to reach out for him and she'd be touching him and then the spell was broken by Katherine's voice echoing from down the hall. Archer stopped, looking almost confused as to how he came to be standing so close to her while Quinn remained perfectly still as she fought her need for him knowing it was wrong.
"Excuse me," she whispered before she started from the room but his soft voice stopped her.
"Instead of running, will you take a walk with me tomorrow morning?"
She knew she should say 'no' because of the look in his eyes and she tried, really she did, but when she answered it wasn't 'no' that left her lips.
"Yes." And before another word could be spoken, she slipped from the room.
Sleep didn't come easily for Quinn since she spent the entire night replaying her time with Archer in the music room -- remembering the look on his face. He wanted her -- there was no doubt about that -- but he was already pledged to another and even though it wasn't a love match, Archer was an honorable man and had to stand by his choice.
Quinn had no right to feel what she did, including the overwhelming sense of betrayal that he would choose duty over love, but even as she thought those words she knew she was being completely unfair.
As the sun rose, Quinn hesitated to dress because she knew if she met Archer it was going to change everything. But she allowed her heart to overrule her head as she climbed from bed and quietly got dressed.
By the time she slipped from the house, her nerves were strung tight and her stomach was doing flips. He was standing near their tree, his back to her, and he looked so right standing there waiting for her. The moment he turned to her and she saw his unguarded expression, one that looked as she felt, she lost a little piece of her heart to him.
A small smile curved his lips before he whispered, "I wasn't sure you were going to come."
"I wasn't sure I was going to come," she replied warily.
"I'm glad you did."
Quinn held his gaze and spoke from her heart. "Me too."
They walked in companionable silence for a while until Archer stopped and turned to her.
"I'm betrothed to Miss Danvers." His voice was harsh and filled with regret.
"I know."
