After they finished eating, they all clustered in the drawing room once again. At some point, she noticed that Quinn and Lucien had slipped out for a few minutes, but when he returned, and she asked him what he’d spoken to her brother about, he’d just smiled and told her not to worry.
But she did worry. She didn’t want things taken care of behind closed doors by the men. This was exactly what she’d been trying to avoid.
The evening seemed interminable, but at last, Quinn was ready to take his leave. When she said she wanted to see him out by herself, no one protested. She supposed they all figured the horse was already out of the barn.
They walked into the deserted foyer, and she paused by the front door. “Good night, Quinn.”
He looked down into her eyes, and she could tell he was troubled as well. “Are you having second thoughts?”
She immediately shook her head. The last thing she wanted was for him to think she didn’t want him. She’d agreed to this for the sole reason that she did want him. But she’d be a fool not to be worried. “I want to marry you, Quinn. It’s just that everything is moving so fast.”
He drew her into his arms and held her tightly, saying nothing for several long moments. At last, he sighed and pulled away. “I know, princess. I’m sorry that it has to be this way.”
“When will I see you again?” she asked softly. “I’d really like to be alone with you so that we can talk all of this out. Now that we’re engaged, do you think it’s all right for me to come to your house?”
He shook his head. “Once the announcement is made public, my house might be watched by reporters. There will be a frenzy of interest in the scandal of a lady marrying a police inspector. Especially since we were caught together in a compromising situation.”
She groaned. “I hadn’t even thought of that. But you’re probably right. It might get worse before it gets better.”
“Chin up,” he told her softly. “It will get better. We’ll find our way through this.”
She nodded, wanting to believe him. Standing on her tiptoes, she pressed a sweet kiss to his cheek. “I’ll see you soon, my handsome fiancé.”
He grinned. “Good night, my beautiful fiancée.”
* * *
AS SOON AS QUINN LEFT, Allison went in search of Lucien. She had to know what Quinn and her brother had talked about. She also wanted to tell Lucien that she didn’t need him to demand that Quinn sign some sort of prenuptial agreement. The more she thought about it, the more certain she became that Quinn would never take advantage of her in that way.
She found her oldest brother talking quietly with his wife, and she sank down beside him, all the stress and emotion of the evening finally catching up to her. She felt exhausted and wished she could just crawl into bed and sleep for a week.
“Are you happy?” Serenity asked, smiling gently. “I like Inspector O’Brien very much.”
“As do I,” Lucien said unexpectedly. “I couldn’t be more pleased. He’s a good man, and I think he’ll do right by you, Allison.”
She nodded, blinking away a surprising wash of tears. “I am happy. Perhaps this isn’t the way I’d have chosen my marriage to come about, but it’s always been Quinn for me. He’s the one I want if I must have anyone.”
Serenity laughed. “I think I understand what you’re saying.” She shared a loving look with Lucien. “It was always Lucien for me, too. When I thought I couldn’t have him, I didn’t want anyone else.”
Lucien smiled. “I felt the same.” He turned back to Allison. “I wish you all the happiness that Serenity and I have found together.”
Their obvious love for each other was almost hard to look at. What must it be like to feel that comfortable with another human being? She wanted to believe that she and Quinn could have that too. She felt it every time she was with him, but the only way to know for certain was to be with him all the time, without all the rules and restrictions that had been thrown between them.
Feeling as though this conversation had gotten completely off course, she tried to bring it back to the matter at hand. “I don’t want you to make Quinn sign any sort of prenuptial agreement,” she said in a rush. “I know that I’ve made my feelings about retaining control of my money clear, but I trust Quinn. He would never do to me what I’ve feared other men would do.”
Lucien laughed a bit and leaned back in his chair. “Before he left, he told me that he wanted nothing more than to sign one so that he could put your mind at ease. That’s when I knew for certain that he would be a good husband to you, Allison. He doesn’t care about the money. He just wants to make you happy.”
Her heart swelled with something she was afraid to even put a name to. Her faith in him had been well warranted.
“Let’s talk about something more interesting.” Serenity leaned forward, her eyes gleaming. “What are you going to wear to your wedding?”