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They chatted while Sara helped Quinn prepare for her nap. An hour later, Sara pulled the door closed quietly behind her. Quinn wasn't tired but made herself comfortable in the massive bed. It was with genuine surprise that she found her eye lids growing heavy and before long, she drifted off into sleep.
Some time later Quinn was awaken by Sara so that she could help Quinn get dressed for dinner. A bath was sent up and Quinn was helped to bathe. She wasn't thrilled about that but she didn't dare reject the offer since she didn't want to act too far from the norm because her odd behavior might pique the interest of the staff and cause them to start nosing around in her business. The last thing she wanted was for her secret to be found out because that would surely lead to her being strapped to a pile of flaming sticks.
The dress Sara selected was a dark purple silk gown which had a tight bodice, delicate floral details stitched along the full hem, a scooped neckline and off the shoulder sleeves that were fitted to her wrists. Sara worked Quinn's hair into a twist but allowed for a few long curly sable wisps to frame her face. Almost two hours later, Quinn was walking down the stairs heading for dinner.
Thaddeus stood at the base of the stairs waiting for her. "I hope you rested well."
"I did. I didn't realize how tired I was. Traveling from far away lands can make one sleepy."
Thaddeus reached for her hand as he replied, "Indeed."
He led her down the hall to the formal dining room. A long cherry table and ten straight back chairs that lined each side filled much of the space. The linens were silk, the glasses crystal and the cutlery sterling silver. Every thing was spectacular.
Thaddeus showed Quinn to her seat before taking the place across from her. He leaned forward a bit and whispered, "I must warn you that Katherine will be joining us this evening and she is rather difficult."
Quinn's eyebrow rose at that. "Katherine?"
"Miss Danvers, Archer's…" he hesitated like he didn't know the right word before he finished "...lady friend."
Oh. What like a kept woman or a girlfriend? Quinn mused over what kind of woman would tolerate the arrogant jackass she had met earlier? She found she was actually looking forward to the meal just so she could find out.
"She's very curt. She has had a spat with nearly every person employed in this household. She is not an easy person with whom to get along."
It was Quinn's guess that that was Thaddeus' way of saying that this Katherine was a bitch. She leaned further over the table. "I can sometimes be difficult myself and never more so than when faced with a trying person. It's one of my idiosyncrasies, like when someone starts to laugh I can't help but laugh along with them. Anyway, if I start misbehaving you need to stop me."
"You have a most unusual way of speaking. Idiosyncrasy?" he asked for clarification.
"Habits," Quinn replied.
"Ah, I see but I have another question. How, pray tell, am I to stop you from misbehaving?"
"I don't know. Kick me under the table or something, but believe me, once I get going I can't stop myself. It's a problem."
"I would never kick a lady."
"Thaddeus, if I get started, kicking me is the least of what you'll want to do."
"Oh, I'm sure you exaggerate."
Their banter was cut short when Archer stepped into the room escorting the most beautiful woman Quinn had ever seen. They were an exquisite study of opposites, his tall, hard body dressed entirely in black and she stunning in silver. Her hair was so pale blonde it almost looked white and it was pulled up to accentuate her long, elegant neck and high cheekbones. Under winged brows were thickly lashed blue eyes so pale they shimmered like aquamarines. Her silver gown was gorgeous against her coloring and enhanced her perfect willowy figure. She looked ethereal and Quinn was almost fooled by her beauty until the woman's gaze landed on her and she saw the coldness behind those pale eyes.
"Miss Shaughnessy, Miss Danvers," Archer offered.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Danvers."
Katherine tilted her head, regally, before she dismissed Quinn and turned her attention to Archer. Quinn glanced over at Thaddeus in warning because it was clear this meal was not going to go well.
The first course was soup. The footmen brought large tureens filled with a variety of soups, a spicy consommé, a root vegetable puree laced with cumin and cinnamon, and a mushroom and leek chowder. The salad course came next and not just greens but spiced fruits and nuts, cheeses and dried meats. Following that was capon cooked in an herb-broth flavored with nuts and fennel, curried pheasant cooked in a stew of exotic fruits, white fish roasted to perfection and drizzled with herb-butter and boar sliced thinly swimming in a spicy broth.
Quinn did her best to sample everything but there was no way any human body could eat all of this food especially when strapped into stays. She was barely aware of the conversation during the meal and also the reality that only Thaddeus deemed her worthy enough to be included in the discussion. As far as Archer and the ice princess were concerned, she didn't exist. They only noticed her when at one point during the meal, Quinn couldn't control her inhaled breath as a footman placed a Rouen serving dish just in front of her. She had seen this same very piece in a museum in London.
"Are you familiar with Rouen porcelain?" There was disbelief in Katherine's tone as she addressed Quinn.
Quinn was so in awe of the piece that she answered before she thought about it. "Yes. I've seen this piece before."
The condescension in Archer's voice pulled Quinn's attention and she looked up into his mocking green stare.
"That piece was just created, commissioned by me, a few years ago and it's a one of a kind. It isn't possible for you to have seen it before. Perhaps you shouldn't pretend knowledge on things you know nothing about."
