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Quinn felt almost giddy in response to that little tidbit. "Will she bring lots of land and money to the marriage?" she asked.
The snort from Mrs. Hamston was completely unexpected. "I don't know what the Danvers are telling the nobility, but the truth is there's something off about them. Servants talk, yet no one talks about them. Another oddity is their clothing. Based on what I've seen of the ladies' fashions, they are all last year's or older. Their shoes are well-worn and their unmentionables have been repaired many times. It would seem they barely have two pence to rub together and what little they have the Viscount spends carelessly."
There was something about the entire situation that just felt off. If the Viscount really was Derek, then who were Lady and Miss Danvers and why did Archer bind himself to them?
The women had retired for the evening while Thaddeus and Archer adjourned to his solar for an after dinner drink. Thaddeus watched his friend and wondered why he would continue his farce of an engagement to Katherine when he had such an obvious attraction to Quinn? He was curious but he knew his friend well enough to know that if Archer wasn't ready to talk about it then he wouldn't. So instead he decided to find out just how strong Archer's feelings really were for Quinn.
"I know I said I thought of Quinn as a sister but I'm thinking about asking her to court me," he lied. "She is quite the handsomest woman of my acquaintance."
At those words, Archer abruptly stood and began prowling around the room. Thaddeus feigned ignorance and continued on.
"She has such a fire in her soul. I do believe a man would never grow tired of her company. I know you are not altogether fond of her but I am quite captivated."
Archer stopped pacing and turned to Thaddeus. "Fond of her? My God since the moment Quinn entered my house I have wanted her. I can't think of anything but her. It's driving me insane. I want to cry off my engagement with Katherine and take Quinn to my bed and keep her there until this overwhelming hunger for her is sated."
"Then why don't you?" Thaddeus said in response to Archer's outburst.
Archer turned to the fire and Thaddeus knew his next words weren't offered lightly. "I've made a promise and am duty bound to honor it. But if there was anyone who could make me forget my duty, it's her."
He turned and leveled a resigned gaze on his friend. "I think I would do just about anything for Quinn."
The following morning Quinn and Nickie headed into the village. She felt it important that Nickie interact with other children his age and since there were none at the castle, they would seek them out in the village. She didn't run that morning, hadn't been doing it as religiously since Archer had stopped coming after their kiss. She craved a bit of exercise and decided to kill two birds with one stone with a horseback ride into town. When they arrived at the stables, Quinn was surprised by the age of the stable master.
"Morning, Miss. Master Nicholas," he called cheerfully.
"Hello. Please call me Quinn and you are?"
"Tommy," the stable master offered.
"Hello, Tommy," Quinn replied.
His smile came in a flash and in that moment, Quinn could see the man he was going to grow into. Oh boy, he was going to be a heartbreaker.
"What can I do for you, Quinn?" he asked.
"We would like to ride into the village."
"Should I hitch up a team?"
"No, thank you. We were hoping for a ride this morning."
"I'm afraid we don't have any side-saddles," he responded sadly. "The Lady and Miss Danvers do not ride."
Quinn had been riding since she was four and preferred riding bareback. She doubted she would have been able to pull off a side-saddle anyway.
"I'll ride astride and Nickie would like his pony Champ saddled."
Tommy looked over at Nickie before he said, "'Tis a fine pony, Champ."
Nickie all but beamed at the compliment and Quinn felt a wave of affection toward Tommy for his kind words. She didn't miss the look he gave her though, but she wasn't sure if it was one of surprise that she planned to ride astride or worry that she was going to hurt herself. She reached for his hand to reassure him.
"I've been riding since I was a very small girl. I'll be fine."
He seemed to relax at that and immediately disappeared into the stable only to return minutes later with a pitch black pony and a beautiful roan mare.
"Oh he is magnificent, Nickie, and she is a beauty," Quinn offered as she ran her hand down the mare's flank.
"Her name is Majesty. Lord Scarcliff only just recently purchased her."
