Always and Forever (6 page)

"Do you believe in heaven?" he asked.

"Yes. I believe that when we leave this world all those we lost are waiting for us."

"Pa. It will be good to see him again."

His breathing grew shallow, like that of a death rattle, and then his eyes widened in surprise as he looked at something that Quinn could not see. A moment later, he was gone. She watched as his soul left his body; saw as his eyes that moments ago were lit with life, dulled in death. Her tears fell in earnest then as she reached down to close his lids. She didn't hear the footfalls until someone came to kneel at her side and when she looked up she saw it was Thaddeus.

"Oh my God," he gasped.

"He wouldn't let me get help. He just wanted me to stay with him," Quinn offered softly. "He was just a boy."

Thaddeus put his arm around her shoulders, felt her body shaking in shock, and then noticed the blood on her hands and gown. He started to rise when he heard Archer calling his name.

"Over here, Arch."

Quinn wouldn't move though which had Thaddeus offering softly, "He's gone."

"I know but he shouldn't be left alone," she wept.

She didn't see as Archer hunched down next to her because her back was to him and her attention completely on Thaddeus.

"He wasn't alone, Quinn, you were with him," Thaddeus whispered.

"Yes, but he died. He was too young to die and he doesn't have family. What will happen to him?"

When the answer came, it was from behind her and when she turned her head, she saw Archer.

"I'll make sure he is laid to rest and if there is any one left behind that they are provided for."

Quinn held Archer's gaze before she nodded her head and then let Thaddeus pull her to her feet and escort her back to the castle.

Later in the day, everyone was gathered in the great hall for a drink before dinner but Quinn couldn't seem to get the vision of the boy out of her head. She realized in this time accidents happened often and due to the lack of modern technology and medicine, people died. But watching someone die was not easy. She was pulled from her melancholy thoughts when she heard Katherine callously talking about the accident.

"There are always deaths when building a home such as this. I just hope this inconvenience doesn't cause too much of a delay."

Disgust filled Quinn as she watched Katherine and Archer. They were sitting together but his back was to her so she had no idea how he had reacted to Katherine's hateful words. She suddenly had no desire to be in either of their company and so she stood.

"I've a headache. I'm going to retire for the evening."

Thaddeus started towards her but she stopped him with a raised hand and a smile.

"I'll be fine," she promised. "See you in the morning."

And without waiting for a reply she swept from the room and started up the stairs only to be stopped by a booming voice calling her name.

"Miss Shaughnessy." Archer called from the base of the staircase.

Quinn was so enraged by Katherine's heartless words that she didn't let Archer speak, but took a few steps down so she could address him eye to eye.

"I watched a young man die today, a boy who lost his life so that you can live in splendor. His blood on your stones may be an inconvenience to you and your lady friend but I'll be damned if I'll dishonor his memory by breaking bread with people so callous and cold as to be only concerned with how his death delays the completion of this."

She saw the flash of anger before he bit out, "And that is what you believe?"

"It's what your lady came right out and said and since you have linked yourself to her, it is a reasonable assumption that you share her opinions. Especially when you made no point to contradict her. If you don't share her views then I think, Lord Scarcliff, you may want to pick your friends better." And with that she dismissed him, turned, and fled up the stairs.

The following morning when Quinn once again woke in the 18th century, she conceded to herself that she was not dreaming. She was disappointed in the reality of Whispering Winds, namely that the head of the household wasn't what she had always pictured. She had romanticized the castle and all who lived here with its knight in shining armor and fair maiden, but to find the situation so vastly different was a let-down. On a more practical note, she needed to figure out what was happening to her, why she was sent here and how she was supposed to get home? She knew she would -- she had to -- but while she sought those answers she was going to try to learn as much as she could about this magical place.

There was still a mystery here, one that caused this beautiful castle to become a ghost town in the future, and solving that puzzle was just too much of a lure.

Sara entered with a tray of hot chocolate and thickly-sliced toast which Quinn devoured and then the tedious task of dressing ensued. An hour later, after much squeezing and pinching, Quinn was stepping out into the bright outdoors.

Thaddeus was working with Archer today and it was suggested to her that she join Katherine in the library. Right, like that was going to happen. She would rather face down an entire ship of pirates then spend any time voluntarily in that woman's presence. Maleficent from
Sleeping Beauty
could have been fashioned after Katherine, exquisite and evil to the core.

Instead, Quinn decided to visit the gardens and was delighted to see that there was a kitchen garden almost exactly where Quinn had envisioned one and it was filled with beautiful hardy plants and not a single weed. Mrs. Hamston ran a tight ship.

As she admired the meticulous garden, the sound of banging drew Quinn's attention and the image that filled her vision had her stopping and staring. Archer and Thaddeus were working with laborers to lift heavy stones into place. After yesterday's tragedy, this brought an uncontrollable wave of fear to her heart but she forced herself to get past it. This was how it was done, she assured herself, and after the accident everyone was sure to be more careful.

She studied Archer and Thaddeus who were dressed much like the other workers with white shirts unbuttoned at the collar and rolled at the sleeves, long-legged breeches, boots and their long hair pulled back from their faces -- but there was no denying the elegance and sophistication that they wore like a second skin.

She watched as they managed to lift a stone that had to weigh upwards a few hundred pounds into its place on the wall. She wondered how they would react if they saw the modern machines used in the future to build and what those machines would create.

Her gaze lingered a moment or two longer on Archer, his form clearly visible under the clothes that were sticking to his heated skin. He was gorgeous -- arrogant, autocratic and rude -- but gorgeous. On a sigh, she turned and started walking along the river's edge.

It felt very strange walking the same landscape she had three hundred years in the future. It was crazy to even consider the possibility that she had gone back in time. It was more probable that she was dreaming -- a very elaborate dream about the place that had consumed her thoughts for so long. What she had trouble reconciling was how did she find the castle that first day seven years before and why the feeling of nostalgia that swept over her causing her to stop so suddenly? She had seen Archer's ghost by the river's edge that day but how did she know what he would look like when she hadn't met him until she found herself in the past?

Quinn pulled her thoughts from that vexing conundrum as she continued to walk along the river bank; the sound of the water babbling over the rock bed was so peaceful. Lost in her thoughts, she had walked well beyond the castle and before her the landscape spread out endlessly.

Seeing the vast untouched land she could easily understand the early explorers need to discover what would happen if you ventured out too far into the unknown frontier. Would you eventually step off the edge of the Earth? And what was out there in that vast, beautiful landscape? It was tempting to keep walking and do a bit of exploring herself but she decided it would be more prudent to start back.

She hadn't gotten very far when she saw a massive black horse approaching. Atop it was the Lord and, if his blazing green eyes were any indication, he was pissed. He pulled the horse to a stop just before her and he looked down his aristocratic nose at her.

"Have you no concern for anyone but yourself?" he demanded.

"Excuse me?" Quinn responded ready to again battle this beautiful man.

"The entire household has spent the past hour looking for you," he roared. "You've been gone for almost four hours."

Oops. "I didn't realize I've been gone that long. I certainly didn't mean to worry anyone nor did I want anyone to take time from their busy schedules to look for me."

"I wonder if you gave any thought to anyone at all."

Quinn glared at him as her temper flared. "It must be nice to be so decided in your thinking to believe you know a person after so short an acquaintance."

He tilted his head and studied her for a moment before he noted, "I speak what I see."

"Interesting," she mocked. "And you do this in every aspect of your life and believe you are accurate in your opinions?"

She wouldn't have called it a smile but it was definitely a slight grin, as if he was amused by the whole conversation. "Indeed."

"Then you are exceedingly near-sighted, my Lord." And with that she turned around and started away from him.

"You're going in the wrong direction," he called after her.

I'm taking the long way," she yelled back.

Let me give you a ride," he shouted and there was definitely a note of humor in his tone.

She didn't even bother turning around as she called back to him, "No, thanks," missing the smile that curved his mouth.

That night drinks were served in Archer's solar and while he, Katherine and Thaddeus engaged in quiet conversation, Quinn studied the books on his shelf. She almost swooned when she spotted Shakespeare's First Folio, the first published collection of his works in 1623. Holy crap she just wanted to touch it and before she could stop herself: she did. Thaddeus' voice startled her.

"What are you doing, Miss Shaughnessy?" he teased. Quinn almost dropped the book as she turned around looking rather guilty.

"I just love Shakespeare," Quinn offered in way of explanation and noticed the look Katherine gave her, the one that doubted her claim.

Katherine was biting the inside of her mouth as she curled her hands into fists. Archer had never once looked at her with the interest he was showing Quinn. The one thing Archer absolutely detested was liars so maybe the approach was to prove Quinn a liar because honestly what in this day and age woman read Shakespeare? She was more than likely trying to impress the gentlemen by claiming knowledge on something they too enjoyed, but if questioned, Katherine was certain that Quinn wouldn't have the knowledge to back her claim.

"You have read Mr. Shakespeare's works?" Katherine asked acidly.

Quinn contemplated the other woman because she had the distinct impression that she was being tested. A smile touched her lips which pulled a frown on Katherine's mouth. Let the games begin, Quinn thought to herself before she replied, "Yes. I particularly like the
Tempest
; though not as popular as his other works, there's something about the Duke of Milan and his daughter Miranda. Are you familiar with the play, Miss Danvers?"

Quinn knew that this particular work of Shakespeare's -- in her time considered one of his greatest works -- didn't become popular until after the Restoration era in 1660 and even then it wasn't the full work but adaptations that were performed. It wasn't until the mid-19th century that the play was performed in its entirety. If Katherine was testing her knowledge, the only way for Quinn, as an 18th century woman, to know the story was if she read the play in this book where it was first published.

Katherine glared at Quinn in defeat before turning her attention to Archer.

"I'll take that as a 'no'," Quinn muttered but clearly not as softly as she thought because Archer speared her with a look from across the room. It wasn't arrogance or anger in his gaze, but in truth, she couldn't say exactly what she saw in his expression.

What the hell did he see in Katherine, oh he of speaking what I see? It only took Quinn about two minutes to realize that the woman was after Archer's money. Yes, she fancied herself in love with him but there was no doubt that she also coveted his wealth. How could Mr. Insightful not see that?

She realized she was still looking at him as she pondered his blind spot when it came to ethereal and bitchy Katherine and was about to look away when he leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs and just blatantly stared back. She couldn't help but ask, "How's the vision tonight, Lord Scarcliff?"

There was no mistaking the humor in his voice that matched his lop-sided grin. "Excellent, Miss Shaughnessy."

"Really? You're not blinded by the ethereal glow?" she chided.

It was surprise she saw on his face. But for only a second. "Not at all."

"Good because looks can be deceiving."

"What was that?" Thaddeus asked but before either could answer, Mr. Tilward announced that dinner was served.

Quinn swept by Archer but muttered as she passed, "Saved by the butler."

Archer's laughter echoed around the room.

The following morning Quinn spent the day touring through the castle. She reached the spiral stairs that led to the circular room that she was so fond of but when she reached the door she realized that the room was already occupied.

Her jaw dropped at the sight before her. Archer was in the middle of the room, bare from the waist up, his skin glistening from the sweat that beaded on his golden skin as he practiced his fencing. His opponent was in his head but the skill in which he handled the lethal-looking weapon was breathtaking, made more so because of the muscled body that bunched and corded in response to his movements.

It wasn't proper for her to be standing there watching him but she couldn't turn away, didn't want to turn away. He stopped suddenly and turned to her but she was completely frozen in place, not because of his beauty, but because deep down she felt as if she had been here with him before.