An Affair So Right (Rebel Hearts #4)(67)

“Of course I did.”

“Then this is no different,” Quinn promised as he linked their arms together.

He was probably right, but being suddenly engaged today, and being paraded about the house on Quinn’s arm like this, made her acutely conscious of her shortcomings. Her hair had been hurriedly redressed for dinner because she hadn’t noticed the late hour, and the only gowns she had to wear were dark and rather dreary creations. Dining formally amid the splendor of Lord Rutherford’s dining room had made her rather uncomfortable. She was in mourning and, given this engagement wasn’t real, it was difficult to feel anything but an imposter.

“Lord Templeton, might I have a word in private,” her mother asked him suddenly.

“Of course,” he said, a slightly worried expression dawning on his face.

“It won’t take long. Perhaps we could go in there.” Mama gestured to the drawing room and they disappeared, leaving Theodora and Lady Templeton behind.

“I wonder what that is about?” she asked the countess.

“I’ve no idea.” Lady Templeton replied, glancing up at the incessant barking made by her mother’s tiny companion somewhere above them. “She’s very pleased about the engagement. I told her everything, of course, and she agreed it was a sensible precaution all round to protect your reputation.”

Theodora winced inwardly. Mama hadn’t actually been pleased to hear that she’d agreed to a false engagement with Quinn. Mother had asked Theodora if she’d lost her mind entirely. Only after assuring her of the temporary nature of the engagement, the necessity of sparing Lady Templeton embarrassment, and their mutual agreement to end it once the season was well underway, had mother ceased protesting.

But she had reminded Theodora that once the engagement ended, they would have to move away immediately.

Quinn and Mama returned, quiet and unsmiling. “I am ready now,” Mama promised Lady Templeton.

“Mrs. Dalton and I are going to read together in the upstairs parlor tonight,” Lady Templeton explained, looping their arms together. “Would you care to join us, Miss Dalton?”

Theodora shook her head quickly. Despite the engagement, she was still Quinn’s secretary at heart. She couldn’t let herself forget what she was here to accomplish. “I have a few matters left to finish up today.”

Lady Templeton sighed, but her mother nodded. “I thought you might say that. Don’t work too late, and I will see you in the morning.” Mother kissed her cheek, and then quickly followed the countess to the staircase.

They all heard Soot barking and whining again.

“Soot has become quite worked up in your absence,” Lady Templeton remarked to her mother as they began their assent.

“She’s not used to being left alone yet.”

“Well, it’s early days. When Soot is a little older and grown more sedate, perhaps she could join us in the dining room,” Lady Templeton suggested.

“But not today,” Mother warned. “She’s much too fond of tugging on the hems of our gowns to make her company tolerable in a dining room.”

“Exactly,” Lady Templeton said with another sigh. “At this rate, you’ll need new gowns purchased before the season starts. A pity your daughter denied me the perfect excuse. I so want us to organize the perfect wedding for them.”

“Never mind that for now.”

The pair disappeared, and Theodora glanced at Quinn. “Should we be concerned at how well that pair are getting along?”

“Probably, but let’s put that off until tomorrow, or even later. Today has been eventful enough.” He steered her toward the study by taking her elbow, and then shut the door behind them. The room was lovely and quiet—and the click of the lock quite noticeable. The room was quite free of the other two secretaries, thankfully. Theodora sighed and dropped her shawl onto a chair. She had grown to love spending time alone in this room with Quinn at night.

“What did my mother ask you?”

“For the gems to be returned.” He sighed. “I will deliver them later.”

Theodora felt a chill sweep her skin. If mother had asked for the gems, she was ready to face the future. They could leave, purchase a home of their own, and Theodora might never have reason to see Quinn again. “I have the dinner arrangements ready for you to look over, if you have an interest in looking at them now,” she told him rather than think of that.

“Indeed, I do wish to see them. There will need to be further changes made,” Quinn warned.

“Oh?” Theodora handed her papers over, biting her lip as he moved to his desk, spread them out, and he studied the seating order she’d decided upon for his guests. She had believed she’d thought of everything. “What changes are needed?”

“Lord’s Calder and Deacon cannot sit together for any dinner,” he said. “If they do, the dinner will last until the next night. The pair can talk for hours without pause. You will need a seat at the table, too, remember, and please add another chair and place setting here,” he said, pointing to her sketch of the dining room.

“I—”

“Everyone would expect my betrothed to join me for dinner,” he said, smiling as he picked up the menu and perused her choices for the courses.

“Yes, of course.” She studied the seating plan, a little worried. The right place for her to sit of course would be beside her betrothed, but what about the empty chair he asked for? She reached for the guest list and compared the list to the chairs available. “We’re one guest name short for the number of places now. Who is missing?”