An Affair So Right (Rebel Hearts #4)(25)

“Another performance to perfect,” he winced, realizing he’d made that same excuse before. “I swear, Adele becomes more obsessed with each new role she plays.”

“Perhaps she does not like dinners.” Amy exchanged a worried glance with her husband. “A pity neither of us has any talent for performance, Harper. We might have arranged an amateur theatrical. She might have consented to coach us all in our parts. That could have been far more exciting than merely overindulging.”

Quinn cleared his throat, discomfited by the suggestion. Adele could be very demanding of those who acted opposite her. He had no talent for pretending, and Amy was the sensitive sort who took all criticism to heart. The pair would meet eventually, and he hoped Adele would accept his half-sister was as important to him as the real ones. “Once this play is over, things will be easier,” Quinn promised, determined that Amy not believe for one moment his mistress thought her career more important than meeting a shopkeeper’s wife.

There was a tap at the door, and Cabot stood to attend to the interruption and left them alone.

Quinn shifted Amy’s glass to a safer location than the edge of the table, just in case another wild swing of her hands might bump it. “So, you are happy here?” Quinn asked of Amy, once her husband was well out of earshot.

Amy glanced about with pride shining in her eyes. “Yes, this is a lovely home. Thank you for making it available for Harper to purchase.”

“He said you liked it best of all the properties he’d viewed. I could not let the man disappoint you,” he said, then winked. When he had met the pair, Harper had been promising to debauch Amy in the adjacent drawing room. What he’d missed hearing was the earlier marriage proposal, but a wedding had soon followed, and given the way they still smiled at each other, lifelong bliss seemed assured.

“He never has failed to live up to his promises to date,” Amy assured Quinn, and then glanced beyond his shoulder. Her smile faded. “What is it?”

“A messenger has come, Lord Maitland,” Cabot said as he rejoined them. “The woman claims it to be an urgent matter that cannot wait.”

Quinn turned and found Miss Dalton half hidden behind Harper Cabot’s larger frame.

He blinked in surprise to see her, shocked Theodora would make the trip into Town just to deliver him a message. That was more than Layton would ever have done. Layton would have sent a footman.

“Ah, meet my new secretary, Mrs. Cabot. May I present Miss Theodora Dalton? I’ve employed a woman to manage me, and so far, have no complaints.”

“It is not like you to ever complain,” Amy promised, as she wobbled to her feet and stretched out her hand politely. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Dalton. Forgive us for how you find us tonight. It has turned into something of a celebration.”

“I’m happy to meet you, Mrs. Cabot, but…”

Theodora’s gaze cut to his, and his stomach instantly knotted at her expression. “What is it, Dalton?” He took in her bearing, seeing the sadness in her eyes, and hesitation, and his breath caught.

“My lord, there has been a tragedy in your family.”

He stood quickly, all amusement gone. “My grandfather?”

“No, not the duke.” Theodora shook her head quickly. “I am so sorry to be the bearer of this news, but Lord Templeton has been struck down by a tragic affliction. He lives, but cannot move his arms and legs, or even speak.”

Quinn’s legs wobbled, and he grasped a chair back quickly to hold himself up.

No more punishments or demands.

Templeton might die.

And Quinn couldn’t find it in his heart to be sorry.

Misunderstanding his feelings, Miss Dalton hurried forward and grasped his arms tightly, staring up into his face with huge eyes full of concern. “Are you all right, my lord? Quinn?”

“Yes, I’m fine.” He licked his lips, and then patted Theodora’s shoulder. The hope for an end to his father, though, remained and grew. Quinn steadied himself using Miss Dalton’s shoulder, fighting the urge to rejoice out loud, to celebrate as he had at the end of the war against France.

He had been in battle against his father his entire life, striving to slip free of the yoke of family obligation and unreasonable demands without losing his freedom or his compassion.

That goal was so close, he could almost taste freedom.

He faced Amy to see how she had taken the news.

His half-sister held her hands to her lips, but her eyes were dry.

Cabot moved to support his wife. “You must go and take charge, Maitland. There will be much you need to do to aid Lord Templeton’s recovery.”

Quinn’s mouth dried with bitterness. Recovery was not what he wanted for his father, but he couldn’t say it out loud to anyone.

He walked to Amy and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I’m sorry to spoil your dinner, sister dear.”

Theodora Dalton gasped out loud, but he didn’t look at her or deny it. His concern was for Amy, who’d never met the man who’d kept her mother as his mistress for a time, and then deserted her once her belly was full.

Amy reached up to cup Quinn’s cheek. “Don’t think of me, Quinn. You have more important concerns now. Take care of yourself, and your mother and sisters. My heart goes out to them. They will need your strength very much.”