Quincy heard them lower their voices as they arrived outside his door.
“Fine,” she huffed.
“One thing first,” Christopher said.
“What?”
There was silence for several minutes and then Christopher checked to make sure Quinn was decent before he let Hannah through the door.
“Hi,” she said.
Quincy leaned forward. “Why?”
Hannah sat in the chair by the bed. “It’s a long story, Quinn.”
Quincy made a sweeping motion with his hand. “Where am I going to go?”
“I’ll tell you what I can, but if you want details, you’ll need to ask her.”
“Fair enough,” he said.
“In high school, she fell head over heels in love.” Hannah felt his forehead as she spoke. “His name was Logan and she met him during her senior year of high school.”
Quincy frowned. “Senior year?”
Hannah nodded. “In the modern world, we have schools that go past the age of thirteen. Public education is free and high school generally goes from the age of fourteen, to seventeen or eighteen. College is an option after that.” Hannah stalled.
Quincy squeezed his eyes shut. “Hannah, please.”
“He was unfaithful.”
Quincy tightened his jaw in an effort to stay quiet.
Hannah sighed. “She’s very wary of handsome men, and when you asked to court her, she just couldn’t open herself up. She’s scared to death of being hurt again, Quinn. So, she ran.”
“She shouldn’t have,” Quincy whispered.
“I’m sorry.” Hannah took a deep breath. “May I change your bandages now?”
Quincy cocked his head and studied her. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re a terrible liar, Hannah,” Quincy pointed out.
Hannah busied herself with gathering bandages. “It’s totally insignificant.”
“It’s not if you feel the need to hide it from me.”
“Your brother may have said something that scared her.”
“Christopher the Big interfering again,” he snapped as he pushed himself up from the mattress. “Get him for me please.”
Hannah shook her head and rushed to the bed. “Lie down, Quincy. It wasn’t Chris.”
“Jacob said something?” Quincy frowned. “What?”
Hannah patted his arm. “I’m sure he was just looking out for you. Nothing to worry about.”
“What did he say, Hannah?” Quincy ground out.
She reluctantly filled him in on the conversation and for the first time in his life, Quincy felt like killing his little brother.
“Get him for me.”
Hannah rubbed her forehead. “Can I change your bandages first?”
“No, Hannah. I’d like to speak to Jacob before you change my bandages.”
“Fine.” She wagged a finger at him. “But do not hit him. If you pull your stitches, your mother will have to put you back together, because I can’t sew worth a lick.”
Quincy raised an eyebrow but didn’t admit that her comment pinpointed exactly what he wanted to do to his brother. Hannah shuffled from the room and Jacob arrived a few minutes later. “Hannah said you wanted to see me.”
“What the hell were you thinking, Jake?”
“I had a feeling you’d hear about our conversation.” Jake ran his hands through his hair as he paced the room. “I find the circumstances suspicious, Quinn. Don’t you?”
“No, I don’t,” Quincy snapped. “And I’ll thank you to keep your opinions to yourself in the future.” After several minutes of back and forth curse words, Quincy took a deep breath and tried to calm his rage. “Jake. Victoria Carrington is going to be your sister-in-law, and you need to show her respect.”
“You’ve already proposed?” Jacob asked in shock.
“No. But I’m working on it.”
“You know nothing about her.”
Quincy pushed aside the pain as he shifted to a sitting position. “Sit down, Jake. I’ll tell you all about her.”
* * *
The entire family spent the day taking care of him. Quincy and Jacob resolved their conflict, although it took almost an hour, and Quincy wasn’t certain Jacob would drop the subject entirely. Mild-mannered though his brother might be, at times he could be like a dog with a bone.
In the meantime, his family made sure Quincy ate, and his bandages were checked almost obsessively. Hannah secretly gave him Advil every three hours and told him not to worry about Victoria. He joined everyone for dinner but was irritated to find Millicent Atwood sitting at the table.
“Quincy, you must be in so much pain,” Millie said once everyone was seated.
Quincy shook his head. “I’m fine.”
“Well, if you need anything, please let me know. I am at your service.”
He nodded.
“Where’s Victoria?” Gwen asked.
“She’s in Harrisburg with Christine,” Hannah answered.
Gwen frowned. “How odd.”
“Why did she leave?” Charity asked.
Hannah gave her a pointed look. “She wanted to see Sophie.”
Gwen lowered her fork. “I didn’t realize she knew her.”
“Gwen!” Christopher admonished.
His snap earned him a warning scowl from Andrew, but Gwen simply grinned at her husband and then turned to her brother. “Yes, Christopher?”
“Stop,” he warned.
She raised an eyebrow at him but took the hint. When dinner concluded, the group made their way to the parlor.
Before Quincy realized what was going on, Millicent had him cornered in the hallway. “Quincy, darling.” She placed her hand on his arm. “Tell me how you really are.”
“I’m fine, Millicent.” He stepped away from her with a snort. “Please remove your hand.”
Millicent folded her hands in front of her. “I’ll excuse your rudeness, due to your injury, Quincy, but just know that I’d do anything for you.”
He tried not to glare at her in disgust. “Millicent, I appreciate your concern, but it’s not necessary.”
“I care deeply for you,” she crooned. “You know that. Of course it’s necessary.”
“I’m quite tired. The injury and all. Would you please let my family know that I’m going to turn in?”
“Of course.”
He didn’t linger, rather turned and walked up the stairs. He knew Millicent would deliver the message and probably feel quite important, as though he had just shared a secret with her.
Quincy lay down on the bed with a sigh. He missed his rebel and the pain in his chest was almost worse than the throb in his shoulder. He was surprised by how quickly this tiny slip of a woman had taken hold of his heart.
He had to get her back. At any cost.
Just as Quincy suspected, Christopher came to check on him later that night. Quincy feigned sleep until he heard him leave the room and close the door, thankful his brother was so predictable.
Climbing slowly and painfully out of bed, he finished dressing, donning an extra shirt and one of Christopher’s heavy coats in case the night was cold. He also grabbed a pair of his heavy gloves and a warm hat, knowing the weather was not always predictable.
Earlier that day, he’d secretly packed food and extra clothing into saddlebags and hoped he could also leave the house without detection. His shoulder was killing him, but he had additional bandages and several of the pills Victoria left.
He waited thirty minutes before leaving his room, relieved that the house was quiet as he snuck out the back door. Finding one of Christopher’s grooms smoking a cigarette outside of the carriage house, he ordered him to saddle one of the horses.
“Yes suh. Is Mr. Butler comin’ with ya?”
“No. Just me,” Quincy said. “No one else will require your assistance tonight.”
The groom rushed to tack up one of the horses, and Quincy allowed him to assis
t him into the saddle. Despite his embarrassment, he thanked the groom and took off toward Harrisburg.
Riding throughout the night and most of the morning, he stopped only briefly to rest the horse and make sure his shoulder wasn’t bleeding. He knew he should have waited until the morning so that he could take the train, but he felt restless and needed to find Victoria.
Quincy made great time but arrived in Harrisburg hungry and in excruciating pain. Pausing briefly to look around, he determined he had a few miles to go to get to the Paxton’s home and going through the middle of town would be the fastest way.
“Quincy Butler?”
He turned when he heard his name. It was Richard Madden, Clayton’s brother.
“It is you.” Richard pulled his horse up beside him. “Are you all right? You don’t look well. Have you been in a tight scratch?”
“I’ve been better,” Quincy admitted.
“What are you doing here?” Richard leaned over the saddle horn. “Wait. Is this about the young woman staying with Dr. Paxton?”
Quincy didn’t comment.
“Ah. Well, she’s not there currently.”
“Excuse me?” Quincy panicked.
Richard nodded. “She’s with Jamie and Sophie at the Wades’. Michael’s butler, Daniel, will be able to assist, if the Wades are not at home.”
“Thank you, Richard.”
“My pleasure. Have a good day.” Tipping his hat, Richard turned his horse and went on his way.
Quincy let out a sigh of relief, thankful that he didn’t have to ride as far as Stephen’s.
ARRIVING AT THE Wades’ twenty minutes later, Quincy dismounted and made his way to the door. Pain shot through his shoulder and stars flashed behind his eyes as he leaned heavily against the doorframe and knocked. Their butler opened it and Quinn studied the man. “Daniel?”
“Yes suh.”
“I’m here to see Miss Carrington.”
“She’s currently out, sir.”
Quincy took a deep breath. “Where?”
“I’m certain I can’t say.”
“I’m certain you can,” he threatened as he pushed his way inside.
“Sir, they did not inform me where they were going.”
“Who would they have informed?” he rasped, his voice fading.
“I’ll enquire, sir,” Daniel said.
Quincy had to hold onto the stairway banister to stay upright as he watched Daniel walk away. Before Daniel returned, the front door opened and, hearing female giggling, he turned toward the sound.
“Gus?”
He dropped like a stone.
* * *
“Quincy!” Victoria cried in panic as she rushed to his side.
“Michael!” Sophie yelled for the doctor as she knelt down beside Victoria.
“Oh, you stupid, stupid man. What are you doing here?” Victoria felt his forehead.
Michael rushed into the foyer and shooed Victoria out of the way so he could examine Quincy.
“He was shot in the shoulder and had surgery the day before yesterday,” Victoria supplied as she stood.
“Daniel, help me move him into my office,” Michael instructed.
The men lifted Quincy and gingerly carried him down the hall. Victoria followed closely and wrapped her arms around her waist, in an effort not to direct, help, or interfere, as they laid Quincy gently on the table. She was grateful when Sophie wrapped her arm around her shoulders in support.
Victoria’s stomach ached and her heart twisted as she watched the doctor pull the bandage off. The thought of Quincy in pain or danger was entirely too much for her.
“Luckily, the wound isn’t infected, but it is bleeding,” Michael said.
Victoria stepped closer. “Did he pull any of the stitches?”
“Not completely, but he has re-injured himself.”
Quinn started to come to with a groan and Victoria rushed to stand by him. “Quincy?”
“I’ll change his bandages.” Michael moved to his desk. “He’ll need to rest, but I think he’ll be fine. Thankfully, the stitches are still intact.”
Michael tended to Quincy while Victoria stood with Sophie again. Victoria couldn’t stop herself from wringing her hands to keep from reaching out to assist the doctor. When Michael was done, Victoria asked for a few minutes alone with Quincy.
Michael nodded. “If you like.”
“Thank you.”
Sophie and Michael left the room and Victoria checked to make sure the doctor had done a decent job. Satisfied with his bandage and assessment of the damage, she narrowed her eyes and whispered, “What are you doing here, Gus?”
“You ran away,” he accused.
“That didn’t mean you should have followed. Especially in your condition.” Victoria squeezed his arm. “Your brother’s going to have a coronary.”
“I have a feeling he’ll figure out where I am as soon as he finds me gone.”
Victoria angrily wiped a tear away. “You should not have done this, Quincy.”
“And you should have ignored my brother. Jacob’s a half-wit who knows nothing.”
“I didn’t leave because of Jake.”
“I’m not Logan, Victoria.”
“Hannah.” She sighed. “Is nothing sacred?”
Quincy took her hand and kissed her palm. “I’m going to court you.”
“I can’t imagine why you’d want to,” she huffed.
“We’ll discuss it later.”
“Gus.”
“Rebel,” he said mimicking her tone, although he grinned to take the bite out of it.
She rolled her eyes. “You were bleeding and you pulled a few stitches. Let me help you to your room.”
“Not until you say yes.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “To what?”
“Victoria.”
“I can’t, Quinn.” She felt the prick of tears again. “I just can’t.”
He sat up. “You can. Don’t make your decision out of fear.”
His kiss was slow and—dare she think—filled with love. Emotion Victoria hadn’t felt in a very long time bubbled to the surface and she broke the kiss with a sob. “Stop, Gus.”
“Why are you crying, sweetheart?”
“You’re turning my life upside down,” she whispered.
He chuckled.
Victoria raised an eyebrow. “Why are you laughing?”
“I thought you might say that the fact you’ve been sent back in time was the culprit.” He slid back down on the table. “But if you’d like to blame me, that’s fine.”
She tried to stop a giggle, but a snort escaped.
“Listen to me,” he said as he pulled her closer. “I have never met anyone like you. You are beautiful, you’re smart, and you’re strong—”
“Oh, stop,” she interrupted.
“I plan to marry you, little rebel—”
“You do not!”
Quincy squeezed her hand. “Stop interrupting me!”
“Sorry,” she mumbled.
“As I was saying... I plan to marry you, but for the sake of your sensibilities, we’ll start with a courtship.”
“What about love, Quinn?”
“Oh, I plan to love you, as well.” He grinned. “Often.”
She blushed crimson. “I’m talking about real love.”
“Victoria, love is an action word for me. We have an obvious attraction to each other, but I’m not talking about that. When we decide to get married, I’ll love you forever.”
“What about friendship?”
He raised an eyebrow. “That’s what a courtship’s for, sweetheart. To get to know one another.”
“You have an answer for everything, don’t you?”
He nodded. “Only when it pertains to you.”
Victoria looked at him for several minutes. She had to admit the thought of not being with him was devastating.
Yes, devastating... really.
Victoria nodded. “Okay.”
“Yes?”
She laughed. “Yes, you may court me. But if you hurt me, Hannah will kill you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Come here.” He pulled her in for another kiss. This one was a little more urgent and Quinn was the one who broke it. “Sweetheart?”
“Hm?”
“I think I’m—”
He passed out.
“Quincy!”
Quincy’s hand went slack, and Victoria had to grab hold of his waist to keep him from sliding off the table. She leaned over and felt his forehead. No fever, but she was still concerned, so she called for Michael who rushed into the room immediately.
“He’s lost some blood, Victoria,” Michael said gently. “However, it’s nothing to be concerned about.” The doctor secured Quincy’s bandage. “We’ll settle him upstairs in one of the guest rooms. He’ll wake up soon enough.”
Quincy didn’t wake up for another two hours, and Victoria sat vigil next to his bed the entire time. Although Sophie came in a few times to check on her, Victoria refused to leave and eventually fell asleep where she sat, her head resting on her forearms, the heat from Quincy’s body warming her.
Quincy’s groan dragged her from her slumber and Victoria reached a hand out, grasping his arm as she stood and leaned over him. “Wake up, Gus. I’m here,” she whispered as she stroked his face gently.
Opening his eyes slowly, he smiled. “You look fretful, sweetheart.”
“Well, let’s see. You rode all night with gunshot wounds in your shoulder and thigh. Then you passed out in the doctor’s office, and it’s been over two hours since you were lucid. I think I have reason to be fretful.”
“If you hadn’t run away from me, I wouldn’t have had to pursue you, sweetheart.”
Her eyes filled with tears and she turned quickly to get him some Advil.
“Victoria.” He sighed. “Come here.”
“Just a second. I’m getting you some painkillers,” she said, a little overly cheerful.
“Little rebel. Now, please.” She paused briefly before stepping to the side of the bed. Taking her hand, he kissed her palm. “It was a bad jest. I’m sorry.”
“You’re still right.” She sat down gently next to him. “In my defense, however, I really didn’t think you would follow me.”
He cocked his head in question. “Oh? What did you think would happen?”
“I thought that if on the off-chance you came, it would be with Chris and Hannah, on the train like a normal human being. But, still, I really am sorry.”
The Rebel Bride (Civil War Brides Series, #5) Page 10
