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A pair of navicella vases carved from a rare type of alabaster caught her interest. She dated them as early 1600s and knew in her time they would be priceless. She itched to pick them up, to hold that kind of history in her hands, but she didn't dare.
She was so preoccupied with the vases that she didn't hear anyone enter the room until Thaddeus said her name. She turned with a smile on her lips but when she saw the man, the same very man she had seen disappear on the river bank, her smile slowly faded.
Thaddeus was tall, at least six foot, but this man was several inches taller with broad shoulders and slim hips which were emphasized by his crisp white shirt, black silk coat and charcoal-colored waist coat.
Unlike Thaddeus whose breeches reached to just below his knees, this man's breeches reached his ankles. His hair was long -- falling just past his shoulders -- and so black in color that the sunlight that poured in through the windows reflected inky blue highlights. His Slavic cheekbones, square jaw, strong chin, arched black brows and the most sensual lips she'd ever seen on a man all paled in comparison to those eyes; the color of an emerald, fringed by long, black lashes.
He was in a word, gorgeous. She was only half listening to Thaddeus as he made the introductions.
"Lord Archer Scarcliff, Miss Quinn Shaughnessy."
"Hello." Quinn offered in barely a whisper and didn't miss the slightly raised brow at the introduction. What was that about, she wondered? He offered nothing and just stared intently which was making her nervous. Finally, his lips parted and she felt herself hanging in suspense at what eloquent words he would impart on them.
"Miss Shaughnessy."
And with that Archer walked out of the room. He was surprised and grateful that his legs were steady. He was glad that he had learned as a small child how to hide his emotions because otherwise he would have made quite the scene. He had been rude but it was better to appear ignorant than to show what he was actually feeling: bewilderment and more than a little bit of fear. But then his reaction was to be expected when coming face-to-face with a ghost.
Quinn watched Archer's retreat and couldn't help sticking out her tongue before she muttered, "Snob."
She only remembered that Thaddeus was in the room when he asked, "Excuse me?"
She spoke to Thaddeus as she continued to look at the doorway that Archer had disappeared through. "Nothing." Disappointment filled her because hottie by the river was a real jackass.
"Sorry I must apologize for that," Thaddeus' voice pulled Quinn's attention. "He isn't usually rude like that. I can't imagine what caused it but I do apologize for his ungentlemanly behavior."
"It's okay. I seem to bring out the worst in people," Quinn muttered and clearly Thaddeus was confused by her words but before he could respond, a matronly woman entered the room.
"Mrs. Hamston!" Thaddeus all but cried as he lifted the older woman into his arms. Quinn noticed the blush and, though Mrs. Hamston was currently trying to act dignified, there was no mistaking that she was very fond of Thaddeus.
"Put me down this instant, young man."
"As you wish," he said as he placed her on her feet and dropped a kiss on her cheek. She swatted Thaddeus' arm affectionately before she turned to Quinn.
"His lordship asked that I show you to your room," she stated with authority.
"I bet he did," Quinn muttered not quietly enough since Thaddeus and Mrs. Hamston were both looking at her oddly. In the next moment, Mrs. Hamston turned abruptly and, in a swish skirts, left the room with such speed that Quinn almost had to run to catch up to her. They went up the stone stairs to the second level and when Mrs. Hamston pushed open the door to one of the guest rooms, Quinn had to stifle her surprise. The room was breathtaking with walls papered in rose silk. The windows were trimmed in the same silk, the furniture was ornately carved rosewood and the floors were covered by thick Persian rugs.
"I'll see to having your trunk brought up. Sara will be up presently to assist you."
Quinn was about to tell Mrs. Hamston that she didn't need a ladies maid but then thought better of it. "Thank you, Mrs. Hamston."
She wasn't certain but Quinn was pretty sure Mrs. Hamston snorted at her just before she pulled the door closed with a decided click.
Not long after Mrs. Hamston's departure, Sara arrived: a lovely young woman in her early twenties and, like Thaddeus, she was kind and helpful. Sara helped Quinn out of her dress so she could rest in her chemise, not that Quinn was tired but apparently that was what was expected of ladies of the time. Having the chance to actually speak to a member of the working class was too great an opportunity to let pass, though Quinn suspected she wouldn't get very much information since she knew in this time that it was considered bad form for the help to gossip.
"How long have you worked here?"
Sara seemed surprised by being addressed so directly about her personal affairs, but she quickly recovered to answer quite vaguely, "Three years."
"So you like it?"
"Yes. Mrs. Hamston and Mr. Tilward are both very fair."
The housekeeper and the butler would be the ones Sara would have to answer to.
"Do you know his lordship at all?"
Quinn didn't miss the blush so she wasn't the only one to think that Archer was a fine hunk of male flesh. Too bad he was also a miserable hunk of male flesh. "Very little."
