Always and Forever

by L. A. Fiore

  At dinner the discussion was fairly benign but after Lady Danvers and Katherine excused themselves, complaining of headaches, the gentlemen -- with the new addition of the Viscount -- stayed in the dining room so as to not exclude Quinn. Soon the conversation turned to business and investments which was just what Quinn hoped would happen.

  Thaddeus was mentioning Thomas Newcomen and the work he was doing. Quinn knew that in the next few years Thomas Newcomen would be the first to harness the power of steam to use in mechanical work: namely, he would create the first practical steam engine to pump water. His invention would later take off across the country, particularly in the coal mining industry. As far as investments went, this one was a winner. Quinn was happy to hear that both Thaddeus and Archer were investors in Newcomen's work but the Viscount was not.

  "We can't just sit back and be idle, Edwyn," Archer admonished. "We need to take a more active role in our estates and finances. Simply marrying for money isn't going to keep our estates solvent generations from now. Our legacies should be something more tangible and not just the results of advantageous marriages."

  Quinn was so shocked to hear such modern thinking coming from Archer that she simply stared at him in wonder.

  "In the five years I've know you, your attitude has always been very odd, Arch, but I for one like the concept of marrying for money. It makes it all very simple. Not that I'm in the market for a wife, but if I was she'd be the richest one I could find." It looked like he was going to say more but the look on Archer's face dissuaded him. This was clearly not a conversation for mixed company in the 18th century. The Viscount unconsciously looked over at Quinn before he offered, "As far as our estates, that's why we have tenants to work our land and provide revenue."

  Quinn didn't miss the look of disgust that passed over Archer's face before he quietly added, "Yes, well, some of us take a far larger cut from our tenants than others."

  "Absolutely, they're lucky they have the land to work. We are entitled to take what we want."

  "They're paying you for the use of that land," Thaddeus interjected but Edwyn ignored him and turned to Quinn.

  "What do you think, Miss Shaughnessy?"

  She was rendered speechless for a minute because looking at the Viscount she saw Derek looking back. Her mind was a bit scrambled as it tried to reconcile where her thoughts were taking her. She knew she needed to give an answer and found that she was thankful that not much was expected of ladies in this time because forming a real answer was beyond her.

  "It's quite taxing just getting myself put together each morning. I couldn't possibly be asked to do anything more," she said in her most shrinking violet voice.

  The Viscount bought that answer with a lascivious grin but Archer and Thaddeus both stared at her curiously.

  "I've got my sights set on a lovely pair of grays," The Viscount offered which thankfully steered the conversation away from her but as Quinn listened her thoughts were elsewhere. Was it possible? The Viscount's careless and cavalier attitude certainly suggested someone who thought very little about his current situation and, if she was right, would also explain Derek's impossible luck in finding rare treasures. He wasn't finding anything but stealing and hiding away only to dig up these treasures again in the future. She couldn't believe she was even entertaining such a ludicrous thought but not only was she, she was determined to learn how he was traveling through time since it was knowledge she herself was going to need in order to return home.

  Later that evening after everyone had retired to bed, Quinn found herself heading towards the kitchen in the hopes of finding something to drink. As she passed by Archer's solar, she heard voices but when she heard her name she stopped to listen.

  "Who is she, Thad?" Archer questioned.

  "I don't really know."

  "So why did you bring her here if you know nothing about her?"

  Thaddeus remembered the day Quinn appeared before him -- he knew he'd never forget it -- but what struck him more than the manner in which she appeared was the look of loss and confusion he had seen on her face when she looked up at him. Whatever happened to her, however she had found her way to their part of the world, she was lost, alone and scared. He couldn't turn his back on her.

  "She was lost and petrified, Arch. You would have done exactly as I, had it been you who stumbled upon her."

  "Stumbled?"

  "She was wandering the woods," Thaddeus lied.

  Archer moved around his desk to refill his brandy. "She's different, even her name is unusual."

  "You don't like her?" Thaddeus asked. Outside the door, Quinn stepped closer to hear Archer's answer.

  Like her? Archer almost laughed out loud at that question. Just remembering the first time he saw her had his pulse racing. He almost fell to his knees when she had turned to him. He knew he had been exceedingly rude to her that day but it was either that or succumb to the strongest and most primitive urge to throw her over his shoulder and lock her away with him so he could claim her, over and over again. Never had he ever experienced such a visceral reaction to another person and he feared getting too close and losing himself to the demands of his body. After mastering being in her company without jumping her like a rutting stag, he discovered the remarkable young woman who lay beneath. She spoke her mind, gave her opinions very decidedly, and honestly, the night she protected his son from his nurse he thought her the most magnificent creature he had ever beheld. Like her? He was halfway in the love with the woman and he didn't know a damn thing about her.

  "I like her well enough but I would like to know who she is," he covered. "Why hasn't anyone come looking for her? Why has she not made any attempts to get home?"

  Thaddeus, remembering how she just appeared, offered rather cryptically, "I believe she is very far from home."

  "Well, far or not, we need to get her to tell us who her people are so we can attempt to get word to them."

  "I will ask her tomorrow," Thaddeus offered.

  Archer looked up at his best friend. "She's going to act as Nickie's nurse until I can replace Jenkins. I know I don't know very much about Quinn but my gut tells me he'll be completely safe with her."

  "She fell from a tree saving him, Arch."

  "I know. Mr. Tilward wouldn't tell me anything until I pressured him and even then he was still rather reluctant. But he did say that Nickie was free falling from a distance that probably would have broken his neck."

  "Her entire left side is one big bruise. Mrs. Hamston feels the need to tell me this over and over again," Thaddeus offered.

  Archer looked pained. "Yes, Tilward said much the same. She risked her life for a child she doesn't know."

  "Like you said, Arch, she's different. And though we know very little about her, I do believe she is genuinely a good person."

  "So why haven't you made your interest in her known?"

  "My feelings for her are more like that of a brother. I don't have those heated feelings that I've seen emanating from you from time to time." Thaddeus laughed at Archer's look. "I've known you a really long time, Arch, and I have never seen you look at a woman they way you do Quinn. And that includes your wife and Katherine."

  "I don't know what you're talking about."

  Thaddeus grew serious. "Katherine is a cold fish, Arch, and she'll never warm to you. Before you make the second biggest mistake of your life and marry another hag, let yourself get to know Quinn. I know it was your father's voice in your head when you picked Katherine but you know better than anyone the kind of man your father was. Choose for yourself, Arch, choose someone who even if you had your lifetime to do over, you'd still pick her. I know I ask a great deal but think about it."

  Archer didn't reply but Thaddeus knew he acquiesced and in the hall just beyond, a smiling Quinn made her way back up to her room.

  The following morning Quinn collected Nickie from the nursery and planned to work with him on reading and math in his school room but after seeing the dreary room she decided
to conduct the lessons outside. Nickie was a very eager student and before Quinn knew it half of the day was over. She closed the primer and placed it on her lap before turning her full attention to him.

  "How would you like to pack a lunch and go fishing in the river?"

  "Oh, yes, could we?"

  "Absolutely. Let's put your books inside and then we'll see if we can get Cook to pack us something tasty."

  A little while later Quinn and Nickie sat on the river's edge with fishing rods in hand. Quinn had removed her shoes and stockings so she could dip her feet in the water.

  "It's beautiful here," she said mostly to herself but Nickie responded anyway.

  "I've never fished in the river before."

  Quinn looked at him incredulously. "Never? Your father never brought you?"

  Nickie's little head lowered before he answered, "No."

  Regardless of the warm feelings burning through Quinn for Archer Scarcliff after eavesdropping on his conversation last night, she couldn't deny the disappointment Nickie's words caused. She reached over and covered his hand with her own.

  "Maybe we should ask him to join us one of these days?" she pondered.

  The light that filled his little eyes almost broke Quinn's heart but as quickly as it flashed, it faded again.

  "He won't. He's very busy."

  "I think he can find the time to share an hour or two with his son." Even if he didn't agree, she would drag him to the river by his hair if necessary. The visual of that brought a smile to her lips.

  As the sun moved across the afternoon sky, Quinn found herself humming. There was nothing she liked more than jamming to tunes on her iPod.

  "What is that you're humming?"

  It was, in fact, AM Radio from Everclear and Quinn told him as much.

  "Sing it for me?" Nickie begged.

  Quinn looked around her to make sure they were alone since most of the words in the song would make absolutely no sense to anyone living in this time. In fact, eavesdroppers would be more inclined to believe she was speaking in tongues.

  "Okay."

  Quinn started singing softly but anyone who had ever heard AM Radio knew it wasn't a very soft song. The more the beat took over, the more you just wanted to get up and dance: which was exactly the sight that greeted Archer and Thaddeus when they appeared, drawn to the boisterous singing.

  Quinn was singing to Nickie, holding a "microphone" stick to her mouth, while he wailed with laughter. And when she wasn't singing into the stick, her hips, hands and head were shaking wildly. For Archer, it was both the oddest and most erotic thing he had ever seen. He wanted to put his hands on those hips and pull her up against him while he buried his face in her hair. He wanted to kiss her: wanted to feel as her lips molded to his. He shook his head to clear it before he called Quinn's name and if his voice sounded harsher than normal, well, he couldn't help that.

  "What are you doing?" he insisted.

  Quinn immediately stopped singing and stood straight up realizing with embarrassment that Archer and Thaddeus had been watching her. Archer looked pained which was completely unfair since she had quite a good voice. And Thaddeus was not even attempting to cover his laughter. She started to speak when she realized she was still holding the stick to her mouth so she quickly dropped it and innocently clasped her hands behind her back.

  "Singing lessons," she explained which only made Thaddeus laugh louder. Archer said nothing, only continued to stare at her with that odd pained look.

  "Well, instead of spying, why don't you two come and join us?" she asked.

  This suggestion was met with blank looks causing Quinn to roll her eyes as she added, "Rather than catching flies with those open mouths of yours, how about catching some fish?"

  Nickie literally rolled off his rock in a fit of laughter. Thaddeus was the first to recover as he stumbled toward them.

  "I'd love to throw in a line. How about you, Arch?" Archer knew he had a thousand things to do and the idea of wasting his day away doing something as unproductive as sitting by the river where he most likely wasn't going to catch anything was ridiculous so he was just as shocked as everyone else when he replied, "I'd like that."

  Nickie stopped laughing and looked at his father with intense love and gratitude. Quinn's heart warmed watching Nickie help his father set up his line because though Archer clearly knew how to do it, he listened closely and took instruction graciously from his son. After all the lines were cast, Quinn looked over at Nickie. When she finally caught his eye, her breath stilled at the expression of pure love and contentment staring back at her.

  Quinn was on her way to the library to locate the household journals that Mrs. Hamston had told her about. She was very interested in the accounting for such a grand estate and didn't want to disturb Archer with her questions. She was only halfway to the library when she heard her name being called. She turned to see Archer making his way towards her.

  "Miss Shaughnessy."

  "Please call me 'Quinn'."

  A slight smile touched his lips as he replied, "Quinn, Mrs. Hamston mentioned you were interested in reviewing the household journals. If you would prefer, I could show you how an estate like this is run."

  Quinn was speechless for a moment because Archer had been thinking about her and even sought her out. She was delighted by this turn of events and even more excited about the look on his face because there was that familiar warmth there that she had seen before. More surprising was her reaction to it: she felt lightheaded. She realized by the smile that pulled on only the one side of his mouth, that she had yet to answer him. "I would like that very much," she barely whispered.

  "Excellent. We can start in my study." He seemed to hesitate a moment before he reached for her hand and as soon as they touched, they both stilled at the heat of their contact: a heat that burned in an astounding way. She looked up at him to find he was watching her with an expression that matched her own, he was smitten too. The sound of one of the maids scurrying down the hall ended their moment and wordlessly they started toward his study.

  He detailed every aspect of his estate, from the farming to the investments. He even explained how disputes were settled among his tenants. After their time in his study, he took her for a tour of the grounds and what an experience to see the place through the eyes of the man who had envisioned it. He was so animated when he spoke and in seeing him like this Quinn realized what she felt for him was more than simple attraction. She knew she was in serious trouble of losing her heart and that thought terrified her because she knew all too well that there could never be a future for them.

  Archer took her to visit some of his tenants and while he discussed concerns with the men, the wives treated her to sweet cakes and tea. She watched as he interacted and though he was the Earl, he was kind and fair. He listened, he didn't decree, and he was humble enough to not believe that his way was the right way. There was no denying the respect, and even affection, that his people had for him. It was this thought that had Quinn more determined than ever to learn what happened here because in the future, the townspeople feared Whispering Winds and all its inhabitants.

  They ended the day walking along the river's edge. Archer's head was down as they walked along. He couldn't recall enjoying a day more and he knew it was all because of the woman walking at his side. There was something about her that called to him, like a perfect memory being remembered.

  Then she spoke. "It's beautiful. You have created a wonderful home here even despite its size. It is a happy, comfortable home. You must be very proud."

  He stopped walking which made Quinn stop and turn to him. His voice was so soft making his words seem even more meaningful: "Never more so than at this moment."

  It wasn't a conscious action when he ran his finger down along the line of her jaw; he just needed to touch her. When he moved his focus to her face, he saw what he had hoped to see. She felt it, too. It took a great deal of willpower to keep from pulling her into his arms and kissin
g her as he longed to do. He couldn't, at least not until he handled Katherine, so with regret he instead reached for her hand and pulled it through his arm.

  "I should get you back," he stammered.

  "Thank you for the tour," she replied crestfallen.

  "It was truly my pleasure."

  Later, while Lady Danvers and Katherine dressed for dinner, Quinn sat in the music room before the harpsichord playing feverishly lost in the music. She played works from some of the greatest composers the world has ever known though in this time they had yet to be born. She was in the middle of Mozart's Sonata in G when Archer appeared in the doorway. She quickly pulled her hands from the keys.

  "Please don't stop," his voice was just barely over a whisper but there was that warmth to it that stirred Quinn's blood. Her fingers found their keys as she took up the melody from where she left off. The last note of the piece faded into silence and Quinn turned to see Archer watching her with a look of longing so powerful it had her heart flipping over in her chest. He started towards her, those green eyes burning into hers, and he moved like a man who had no control over his body. Quinn was held spellbound by him so she didn't even realize that she had risen from the bench to move just to the side of it. He was so close that she only needed to reach out for him and she'd be touching him and then the spell was broken by Katherine's voice echoing from down the hall. Archer stopped, looking almost confused as to how he came to be standing so close to her while Quinn remained perfectly still as she fought her need for him knowing it was wrong.

  "Excuse me," she whispered before she started from the room but his soft voice stopped her.

  "Instead of running, will you take a walk with me tomorrow morning?"

  She knew she should say 'no' because of the look in his eyes and she tried, really she did, but when she answered it wasn't 'no' that left her lips.

  "Yes." And before another word could be spoken, she slipped from the room.

  Sleep didn't come easily for Quinn since she spent the entire night replaying her time with Archer in the music room -- remembering the look on his face. He wanted her -- there was no doubt about that -- but he was already pledged to another and even though it wasn't a love match, Archer was an honorable man and had to stand by his choice.