Always and Forever (14 page)

"I was sent back through time for a reason."

"Any idea what that reason is?"

"I have a few theories. But what I do know is that Archer, for as hard as he tries to make people think he's closed off and unfeeling, is quite the opposite. He's also not a fool. So why would he agree to bind himself to the likes of Katherine? I think I can find the answers in London. But I need your help."

Thaddeus seemed unsure and she could tell he was battling internally to make the right decision. She just hoped he would see things her way. She hated dropping this on Thaddeus but she couldn't tell Archer what she was up to because he would insist on coming and that would mean Katherine and her mother would join them as well. The ones she sought answers from were not going to open up if the Danvers were present.

"Okay, I'll take you to London but I still think you should tell Archer of your plans."

"It's not that I don't want to tell him but how do I explain to him my sudden wish to see his family? He'll see right through any excuse I come up with and know my intentions. He'll want to come and he can't make a move without Katherine knowing about it. And I definitely don't want her to know what I'm up to."

"I see your point but you can't just leave without saying anything."

Quinn exhaled as she rested back on the river's edge. "I know."

"Fine, we'll tell him that I'm taking you to London to see the sights," he gave in.

It was exactly what Quinn was hoping Thaddeus would say but she didn't say as much. Instead she sat up and wrapped her arms around him.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Thaddeus held her close for a moment then pulled away to reveal a broad grin. "Hold that thank you because when Archer finds out I'm taking you into London without him, he isn't going to like it."

Thaddeus was not wrong about Archer's reaction. They waited for dinner that night to tell him, thinking with the others present it would curb his initial reaction but it was quite the contrary. As soon as the words were out of Thaddeus' mouth Archer pushed back from the table and stood as his hands came down so hard on the tabletop that wine sloshed over the rims of many of the glasses. His voice was very soft when he spoke, the contrast so great from that of his reaction, that it made his words seem almost ominous.

"Absolutely not."

Quinn noticed the suspicious look that passed between Katherine and her mother. It was a valid reaction to Archer's response because as far as the Danvers were concerned, Archer didn't like her. The fact that those feelings had changed was not common knowledge. Since her arrival he had been indifferent towards her, even downright rude, so why then would he care if she journeyed into London with Thaddeus or half of the men in the county?

Her attention turned to Archer but the sight of his anger had her lowering her head. She understood completely where Archer was coming from, especially after what they shared in the woods. For her to even suggest leaving, and with another man, Quinn got his anger.

The trouble was she wasn't sent through time to fall in love with Archer. Quinn truly believed that she had been sent here to save him, to give him and all Scarcliffs who came after him, their legacy. But since she also didn't know how long she had in this moment she had to act quickly. As much as she wanted to spend every waking moment with Archer, he needed to stay behind with Katherine.

She kept her gaze adverted, even as his glare burned holes into her, since her courage seemed to have deserted her at that moment. It was heart-felt gratitude she felt toward Thaddeus when he spoke up.

"Sara will be with us so it will all be very proper," he encouraged.

Archer's voice was so flat that Quinn couldn't help glancing up at him and when she did she wished she hadn't. There was no emotion at all on his face. It was the same blank look he had given her the first time he'd met her. He was once again firmly behind his mask of indifference.

"Go then." And with that he turned and left the room.

She waited until later, after the women retired, before she sought out Archer in his study. She saw his large frame stretched out in a chair by the fire as soon as she entered. There was a bottle of scotch on the table at his side, a filled glass sitting next to it, but it didn't look as if he had taken a single sip.

"Archer."

She knew he knew she was there but he made no attempt to acknowledge her. She walked over and lowered herself in front of him, resting her hands on his knees.

"You know that I don't belong here," she began. "We don't speak of it, we try to ignore it, but it's there all the same. I have to believe I was sent here, sent to you, for a reason and as much as I would like nothing more than to spend every moment with you, I can't because there's too much at stake. I need answers and I need Katherine away from me as I seek out those answers." Quinn reached for him and pressed her palm to his cheek. "There will come a day when I will no longer be here. I need to do this so that when I do leave, I'll know that you will be okay after I'm gone."

His gaze never left hers and when he spoke his voice was barely heard over the crackling of the fire. "How can I be okay without you?"

Tears burned her throat at the sight of his pain -- a pain she shared -- but she knew there was no good answer that she could give so instead she stood and quietly left the room, leaving his question hanging unanswered between them.

London circa 1704 was exactly how Quinn always imagined. The harbor with the large masted ships, the dock workers eagerly unloading goods, fashionable ladies in their finery escorted by dashing gentlemen all looking very Jane Austen-esque. Horses and carriages crowding the dirt streets with shops, looking very much like those of Ebenezer Scrooge's time, lining either side of it. It was sheer wonder and awe in Quinn's voice when she whispered, "It's wonderful."

"'Tis loud, dirty and crowded," Thaddeus muttered but even his jaded opinion couldn't ruin the beauty for her. She had read countless accounts of old London society and how it evolved through the centuries but to actually have the opportunity to see it first hand was truly magically.

"We'll have to have some gowns made for you," Thaddeus explained. "The ones you have are fine for the country but not nearly elegant enough for the balls of the Ton."

Quinn felt a rush of excitement. The Ton, how the people of the time described London's high society. She was going to be mingling with those same people. She couldn't hide her pleasure when she asked, "We're actually going to attend balls?"

Thaddeus clearly couldn't understand her excitement but Quinn didn't care, she was about to experience what she had read about in countless romance novels. Were the women of the Ton really has catty as they were so often depicted in fiction? Were the men as outrageously handsome and debonair? Quinn was going to find out.

Thaddeus instructed the coachmen to Madame Beaufort's boutique which was located in a very posh part of town. Upon entering the shop, a large woman with red hair elegantly twined around her crown and dressed in a beautiful green and gold silk gown, greeted them.

"Bon jour. May I help you?" Madame Beaufort asked as a smile curved her red lips.

"We are in need of several evening gowns, a few day gowns, a riding habit and well…everything else," Thaddeus offered.

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.