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She leaned into him and he couldn't help but lower his head to her as she whispered, "He lied."
Quinn watched with interest as Archer's anger changed directions and he turned on Thaddeus.
"I should…" he looked back at Quinn, "what was it? Beat him to within an inch of his life?"
"Yup, I wholeheartedly agree." Quinn said all the while smiling at Thaddeus.
Quinn turned to look into emerald-green eyes that were showing an entirely different emotion now. "I knew nothing about it," she promised. "I found out as you werestalkingtoward us."
Clearly amused by his friend's white lie, Archer offered, "They don't have to find the body."
"Oh, I so agree."
It was then that Thaddeus spoke up, "Yes, plot my murder but now you have an entire evening in which to share, alone. You can thank me later."
He started away when both Quinn and Archer's voices stopped him. "Thank you," they said in unison.
He turned and grinned. "My pleasure."
Quinn watched Thaddeus disappear into the crowd and turned back to find Archer watching her. He put his hand out to her and whispered, "Dance with me."
Quinn's hand slipped into his as he led her onto the dance floor. He turned her to face him, as he pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her waist. It was effortless the way their bodies moved together, twirling around the dance floor, almost as if they were one soul sharing two bodies. No others joined the dance since they were all held spellbound looking upon the very rare instance of true love.
It was scandalous, their conduct, but later when the guests retired to the privacy of their homes, it wouldn't be the scandal that they remembered but the beauty of that one dance. The glimpse into that one perfect moment. And though there would be talk in the morning, it wouldn't be fed by disgust or anger but instead envy.
Quinn lay on her stomach as she plucked the petals off a rose from an arrangement that had magically appeared in her room left for her by a secret admirer. Her face hurt from smiling so much but she couldn't help it. She was being completely swept off her feet by an 18th century Lord. It was a mistake to let her heart get so involved but how could she not? Shouldn't she have memories when she returned to the future, like the magical dance Archer and she had shared the night before? Oh yes, she should.
"He loves me, he loves me not." Quinn continued until the last petal and it wasn't a surprise that it was he loved her. They hadn't spoken the words but there was no denying that they both felt it. She didn't know how she could love him so completely when she hardly knew him, but she definitely did.
Sara entered the room and smiled at her happy Lady knowing full well who the flowers were from. Although it had never been spoken, their dance last night was all the news this morning. So Sara even knew all about that too. Katherine was going to burst a gasket when she learned of it. Oh well. Had it been anyone else, Quinn would have felt shame over her conduct but it was Katherine and she just couldn't make herself feel badly.
"Miss Danvers has requested that you join her for tea this morning," Sara told her with trepidation.
"I bet." Quinn exhaled and climbed from bed. "Might as well get it over with."
Katherine was already in the music room when Quinn entered, and she was alone, which had Quinn wondering how the ice princess pulled that off. This wasn't even her house. Of course, if she married Archer she would be mistress of this place as well. She certainly liked taking liberties.
"Please join me?" Katherine offered graciously but there was no denying the fury behind the words.
Quinn took a seat but declined tea since she wouldn't put it past a woman scorned to poison it. Quinn watched as Katherine went through the steps of pouring herself tea, adding a touch of sugar and stirring it with a little spoon, before she rested the spoon on the saucer and took her first delicate sip. All the while, Katherine's focus was fixed on Quinn.
"How was the ball?" Katherine asked.
"Lovely, my first," Quinn replied innocently.
"Yes. Was it everything you hoped it would be?"
"Excuse me, but I'm not much for beating around the bush. What is it you want, Katherine?"
All pretense of civility faded as Katherine's lips curved into a sneer. "Stay away from him," she warned.
Quinn leaned back in her chair. Katherine was seething and Quinn wondered if she poked at her enough would she slip and say more than she intended? There was only one way to find out.
"You aren't married yet, Katherine, he can still cry off you know."
Oh, yes, if possible those almost color-less eyes turned even colder. "He's mine," she seethed.
"I'm not sure he is aware of that because last night he wasn't thinking about you at all," Quinn tormented.
