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He blushed at the thought of "everything else" while the Madame looked at him pointedly. Quinn quickly offered, "My cousin doesn't seem to understand that I'm not a little girl anymore."
It was true that Quinn was twenty-seven and considered, in this time, firmly on the shelf but being petite she tended to look much younger than her age. For the first time in her life, this was a good thing.
With the cousin relationship firmly established, the Madame warmed up to them and proceeded to have her staff bring in bolt after bolt of beautiful fabrics: silks, satins, velvets, laces in stunning colors of deep greens, blues, richly-toned reds and purples, and a silver gray silk that matched Quinn's eyes perfectly.
After Quinn was sized and styles were discussed, the Madame packed a trunk with several chemises, silk stockings, petticoats, night rails and slippers.
Thaddeus paid for everything then gestured to the footmen to take the trunk as he led Quinn from the shop. Madame promised the gowns in a week's time which had Quinn hoping she was still in the same century when they were done! Quinn reached over and took Thaddeus' hand into her own once they were settled in the carriage.
"Thank you. You've taken on quite a bit with me and I wish there was some way I could repay you."
Thaddeus brought his other hand to rest on top of hers. "It has truly been my pleasure. I'm honored to have been so singled out."
Quinn squeezed his hand before she leaned back and smiled at him from across the carriage.
They stopped in front of a beautiful townhouse and as the footmen pulled their trunks down, Thaddeus helped the women depart the carriage. They climbed the steps to the front door and Quinn realized, to her surprise, that she was nervous. What if she was all wrong about Archer's family? What if there was no secret behind why Archer chose Katherine? What if his mother and sisters were just as cold and vain as Katherine and he chose her because it was all that he knew? Doubt pounded through her as the door was pulled open and standing just behind the butler were three very beautiful, and very excited, women who immediately stepped forward to surround Thaddeus with warmth and welcome. Thaddeus turned to her to make the introductions and she knew one thing with absolute certainty: these women were nothing like Katherine.
Thaddeus had told her a bit about them during the ride into London but seeing them for herself and knowing this was Archer's family made her yearn to know them better. Lady Scarcliff had her son's black hair but her eyes were not clear green like Archer's but instead hazel in color. Her hair was bound in a loose bun at the nape of her neck and she was dressed in a gown of golden silk that hugged her tiny waist with a full skirt that fell to the floor. Rosalind, the elder daughter, at twenty-two, also had black hair and hazel eyes. And though she didn't have the beauty of her mother or brother, she was still an exceedingly attractive woman. But it was the younger sister, Cecilia, who was only just eighteen, that was positively gorgeous. Long, curly black hair that fell to her waist, large emerald-green eyes that were fringed with thick, black lashes, skin that held the beauty of youth, smooth and creamy white and full red lips. She was petite, probably just over five feet, but her hour glass figure was that of a woman. Quinn was pulled from her silent study of them when Thaddeus finished the introductions.
"And this Ladies Scarcliffs is my very good friend Miss Quinn Shaughnessy."
Quinn could see the questions on their faces but they welcomed her into their house with grace and kindness. And then Thaddeus answered their unasked questions when he added quite on the sly, "Arch is in love with her."
Quinn wanted to kick him. What the hell was he thinking dropping that bomb? With great effort Quinn forced herself to look directly at Lady Scarcliff, who was studying her most intently. "And are you in love with him?" Lady Scarcliff asked pointedly.
Quinn answered honestly, "Yes."
"You do realize that he is betrothed to another?" Lady Scarcliff queried.
"I do know that," Quinn replied.
There was no reaction to this and Quinn found that she was holding her breath. Then quite suddenly Lady Scarcliff declared, "Thank God."
And that quickly all of Quinn's fears evaporated.
She was shown to her room where a bath was immediately brought up for her. After bathing and changing, she headed downstairs to join the others in the music room. She was the last to arrive, Thaddeus meeting her at the door and escorting her to a spot on the divan across from Lady Scarcliff. Lady Scarcliff addressed Quinn while Thaddeus brought drinks to everyone.
"Thaddeus has told us much about you, Miss Shaughnessy."
One look at Thaddeus confirmed that he really had told them much. Oh great, she was going to get tossed from the house before she ever had the chance to ask the questions she came here to ask!
"Don't worry, Miss Shaughnessy, we aren't going to pile up a bunch of sticks just yet," Lady Scarcliff teased.
"That's very comforting to know." Quinn muttered which earned her an honest laugh from Lady Scarcliff.
"I'll hold judgment until I understand why you're here. What is it you wish to know from us?"
"I don't understand why Archer entered into an agreement with Miss Danvers."
Lady Scarcliff's eyebrow rose as she asked, "You don't think he would have asked for her? She is a remarkably beautiful woman."
"Yes and an ice princess. The man I know wouldn't have pledged himself to her voluntarily. My guess is something forced his hand, had him once again doing what he believed was his duty."
"You seem to know my son very well for someone who has known him for so short an acquaintance."
Quinn held Lady Scarcliff's gaze as she offered, "I can't explain it but I do know him. I know his heart and his mind and that's how I know that nothing, outside of duty, would have him pledging himself to someone as horrid as Miss Danvers."
Quinn saw it, the look of pain that flashed across Lady Scarcliff's face.
