Always and Forever (21 page)

"Evening." And then feeling a bit daring she added, "Fine night for the theatre."

"Agreed," Archer offered absently.

Quinn couldn't help but study Archer's profile. It was odd being in his presence and not having him notice her at all. In truth, it was kind of cool getting a chance to see him interact with his peers when he didn't realize she was watching.

At that moment a ruckus broke out between a gentleman and his not so lady-like lady. Quinn's attention was pulled from the drama when Archer offered, "Women are so trying aren't they? They really are only good for one thing and that doesn't require them leaving the bed chamber."

Quinn's head snapped in Archer's direction just as her temper flared. She didn't notice the look that Thaddeus was giving her. Since his jaw was practically touching the ground, it was clear that he saw right through Quinn's disguise. Archer continued on.

"I was talking to an actress who filled out the bodice of her dress deliciously. Not much upstairs, if you know what I mean, but she was certainly an eyeful. I should probably get her name; I bet she could teach me a thing or two in the bed chamber. All the fun and none of the headache. Once a woman thinks she's got you, she changes and starts sneaking around behind your back, lying to your face. Who needs that?"

Quinn was imagining the various ways she was going to kill Archer and then she saw it: the clenching of his jaw. Oh hell, she was busted. She started to take a step back when Archer's hand whipped out with lightning speed to wrap around her arm. Quinn accepted defeat, but not with grace, as she narrowed her eyes at him. "How did you know?"

He leaned forward so that their noses were almost touching. "Only you can make me burn with a touch, dearest Quinn. I knew it was you the second you ran into me."

"Damn it. I didn't think of that." Then she looked up suddenly. "But if I hadn't touched you would you have known?"

He reached out and tipped her hat and the look on his face made her stomach quiver with anticipation. "I would recognize those eyes anywhere."

After they returned to the townhouse, Quinn decided to retired for the evening. Her thoughts were on Katherine as she made her way upstairs. She was a two-bit actress that blackmailed Archer into marriage but based on her behavior around Archer, she had fallen in love with him at some point. This was not a surprise to Quinn since Archer was incredible. Was it possible that Katherine killed Connie Daniels, the woman masquerading as Archer's wife? At least the real Mrs. Scarcliff hadn't met with foul play. It was really very sad that Archer didn't get all that much time with his dearest Morgan before he lost her. Thankfully he did have Nickie, so a piece of her lived on.

But would a piece of Quinn live on after she left? She couldn't help wondering recently when she was going to be going back and would she have a chance to say good-bye before she did? She wanted to stay, wanted to be here with Archer and the others, but somehow she knew that really wasn't up to her. Thinking about never seeing him again, about returning to a time where he was gone and had been for a really long time, that was not something she could bring herself to do.

That night Quinn's sleep was restless and at one point she jerked awake. She jumped up from bed expecting to see someone when she heard her name whispered in her ear, but there was no one there. Suddenly her head hurt, a roaring pain that had white dots flashing before her vision. She wished they had Tylenol in the 18th century but they didn't so she forced herself to lie back down. She closed her eyes and before long was lost in sleep.

Whispering Winds; Quinn had really missed it here. After a month in London, Quinn was happy to be back and when Nickie came running from the house to greet the carriage, she felt the tears welling up. Quinn got down on her knees and threw her arms wide to catch him before wrapping him tightly in her embrace.

"You were gone too long," Nickie whined.

"We missed you every day," Quinn offered soothingly.

His little face seemed to brighten at that before he asked, "Did you bring me back anything?"

Quinn pulled the bag of sweets from her reticule and Nickie's eyes grew wide.

"For me?" he asked sweetly.

Quinn's heart broke a little realizing something so small could mean so much, that Nickie hadn't known the kind of love and attention he should have. Archer was clearly thinking the same thing when he knelt down next to his son.

"I have not done right by you, Nickie, and for that I am truly sorry. From now on, you come first. I love you, son."

Nickie's face scrunched up and as the first tear fell he threw himself into his father's arms.

"I love you, too."

Quinn watched and knew that whatever happened, these two were going to be okay. If the only thing she accomplished while in this time was bringing this father and son together then she had spent her time wisely.

Later, while Archer and Nickie went to visit Morgan's grave, Quinn walked along the river's edge. It was so beautiful here. Quinn remembered the first time she had seen Whispering Winds appearing like a mirage before her. It had taken her breath away as it still did, but how had she found it that first time? She had been led to it; there was no other way to describe it. Speaking of the unexplained, how was it that Archer had dreamt of her when he had never seen her? Maude's cryptic words played in her head:
There is powerful magic at work in that place and if someone knew where to look they may just stumble onto the adventure of a lifetime.
What the hell had she meant by that?

All of the sudden, her vision blurred, the castle faded from her view and all Quinn could see was a blurred image of blinking colors. She worried over her own sanity and whether this entire wondrous journey could simply be all in her mind. Then just as suddenly, her vision cleared and the castle once again stood clearly in the distance. The accompanying headache reminded her of her dream last night and it was a bit worrisome that for someone who never got headaches, she now had had two monster ones back to back. Was all of this just in her mind? She stopped herself from obsessing over her possible brain tumor and headed back to the castle.

Later at dinner, Quinn was still silently suffering from the headache. Her pain must have showed on her face because Archer moved from his place across from her and came to her side.

"What is it?"

"My head hurts. I need to lie down."

Archer pulled her chair out and lifted her into his arms. "Thad, could you tell Mrs. Hamston that Quinn's head is hurting. She may have something for it."

"Absolutely," Thaddeus replied.

Quinn closed her eyes and rested her head against Archer's chest. "I don't usually get head pains."

"You've been through quite a bit, love, you are more than likely just exhausted," Archer said softly.

"You're probably right. I must say I really do like you carrying me about."

He held her more tightly against him. "Not as much as I enjoy holding you."

Archer dismissed Sara when they entered Quinn's chamber and acted as her maid with the removing of her gown. He could tell that she was in great pain so he was very gentle with her, having a moment of regret that he couldn't spend the night worshiping her beautiful body. He lowered her night rail over her head watching as it fell in a wave of silk to the floor. He shifted the covers on her bed as Quinn climbed in then he pulled them up over her shoulders. Once she was comfortable, he settled on the edge of her bed.

"How's your head?" he asked.

"It hurts, a lot, but I'm a bit of a baby when it comes to headaches since I rarely get them," Quinn admitted.

"I wish there was something I could do for you."

"Maybe you could stay with me until I fall asleep?"

Archer brushed a rogue curl from her cheek and he smiled tenderly, "I would love to."

She was standing on the river bank looking up at the castle just as Archer and Nickie appeared. Nickie was riding his dad's shoulders and both of them were laughing. They waved when they spotted her before they started down to her. She moved to meet them but as soon as she took her first step she felt herself being pulled away. She saw their smiles fade as Archer took Nickie off his shoulders and started to run toward her. She knew he wasn't going to make it, that her hand wasn't going to feel the warmth and strength of his, that she would never see Nickie grow to a man, that she would never again be with the man she loved. Her hand reached out to his as a scream tore from her throat.

"Quinn!" Archer was at her side shaking her awake and when she realized it had just been a dream, she threw her arms around him.

"I was taken from you. You and Nickie were there but I couldn't reach you and I watched as you both faded away. I can't bear the thought of leaving you."

His arms came around her and held her tightly against him.

"Marry me, Quinn."

Quinn pulled back at that. "What?"

"Marry me. We may not get a lifetime but I want you as my wife. I want my ring on your finger; I want you to belong to me as I want nothing more than to belong to you. Marry me."

Pure joy settled over her and his perfect words had her answering with a quiet confident, "Yes."

It was only then that Quinn noticed that Archer was still dressed in his evening clothes. And though she somehow knew that he had spent the night watching over her, she asked anyway, "Didn't you sleep?"

He didn't reply and instead reached into his pocket. "I commissioned to have this made for you and when it was completed I found myself carrying it around waiting for the opportunity to give it to you."

He pulled out a small black box and opened the lid to reveal a ring of gold with an emerald resting in the center. Tears blurred Quinn's vision as she realized what she was looking at.

"I've seen this before." She looked up into the face of the man that she had crossed through time for and saw his look of confusion.

"This is what brought me to you. That day in the future when I saw you, this was lying in the grass in the spot where you disappeared. As soon as I touched it, I found myself here."

"How's that possible if I only just had it made?"

"I don't know but what if I touch it now and it takes me away from you?"

He cradled her cheek in his strong, warm hand. "It didn't take you away from me. It brought you back to me."

A smile spread over her face as his words hit home. "You're right." And without a single doubt she held out her hand to him so he could slip his ring onto her finger.

"It's beautiful," she whispered as she admired her hand.

"You're beautiful."

She wanted him, at that moment; she wanted him more than she wanted to take her next breath. And clearly he felt the same as he reached for the hem of her night rail and lifted the gown over her head.

"God, you are exquisite," he growled as he gently guided her back against the pillows, lowered himself on top of her and took her mouth in a hard, demanding kiss. She felt boneless and when he lifted his head, a wicked grin pulled at the corner of his mouth. "This is going to take a while." His hot mouth touched her neck, branding her, as he worked his way slowly and with great care to detail, down her body.