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 justappeared, 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?"