Quinn devoted himself to the business of being an earl over the next few days, keeping those who would seek his company for their own gain at a distance, and his friends close. The gossip that he was off the market spread quickly and was met with considerable shock, much to his amusement.

There were a great many he met who claimed an acquaintance that had never existed, in a futile attempt to catch a glimpse of Theodora, who remained hard at work in the study and unavailable to meet with any callers.

Her reticence to socialize had the opposite effect than intended, though.

Their engagement became something of a quest for many matrons, who covertly attempted to determine if it was real or not by rather obvious means. A great many unmarried daughters were suddenly being introduced to him when he went out. He tried to keep his errands to a minimum to avoid the inevitable questioning.

Being at home had advantages he enjoyed.

Theodora was always there.

He could kiss her during the day, which she barely protested if he made it clear they wouldn’t be interrupted. He attuned his hours of work to align with hers, and rejoiced when the secretaries he’d inherited left them alone.

But his sister and new husband remained in London and expected his company, too. They believed Mama’s explanation that the engagement was false. Little did they know he was all too ready to make Theodora his wife, and if they suspected, they kept their thoughts well hidden.

“How did we bear it?” he asked of Felix Hastings as they rode through Hyde Park together early one morning, skirting women with no sense of self-preservation as they boldly approached on foot, waving handkerchiefs to get his attention. “How did we avoid marriage-minded misses for so long?”

“We were at sea, and the rakish reputations we encouraged made mothers rather protective of their offspring. I would say your carefully cultivated reputation as a rogue has been utterly discarded by all and sundry now.”

He grunted at that, casting a sour eye on Hastings, who rode through the park with a welcoming smile for everyone they met. Despite his marriage to Sally, Hastings continued to draw attention wherever he went, too. He seemed to relish his notoriety, while still revealing how much he adored his wife in every conversation.

“Are we going to ride, or talk about why you felt the need to drag me from my wife’s arms so early?” Hastings reined in, looking around them. “There’s no one in sight to hear us now. You look like a man with the weight of the world on your shoulders. Has there been any news of that man you thought you saw?”

“None yet.” He sighed. “Maybe I imagined it.”

Banks reported daily that he had no new information about Dennis Small. Quinn was starting to feel foolish. Thank heavens he’d never spoken of his suspicions to Theodora. Revealing his doubts had been decidedly unnecessary.

“Then what?”

He needed a friend to unburden himself too, and Hastings seemed the most qualified, having recently braved the alter. “It is about Theodora.”

“Miss Dalton?”

“I need your counsel.” He nodded. “She could be perfect.”

Hastings laughed. “There is no such thing as a perfect woman, unless you are speaking of my own darling wife.”

“You know what Mother has done to me.”

“Bound you to a sticky situation to help her save face.” Quinn nodded. “Very awkward, too. Sally is livid with Mother, and quite worried that you agreed to such a scheme. A false engagement could become an embarrassment.”

Quinn adjusted his grip on the reins. “I’m not upset with Mother. Not really. It suits me very well to be engaged right now. But I must admit, I am worried about Theodora’s motives for agreeing to it.”

Hastings sat forward, resting his hand on one knee. He looked very comfortable in the saddle now, when he’d never been born to it like Quinn, or even Sally. “This is all your mother’s doing. I’ve had some experience with her ways. A little tear here and there, and everyone bends over backward to make her happy. She convinced Miss Dalton to play along, and you must never let her forget it, or next time it could be a permanent marriage you face.”

“I am taking full advantage of Mother’s actions.”

Hastings laughed. “Helping to spread the rumors of your engagement, are you?”

“Yes. This situation with Theodora is vastly more complicated than even Mother knows.”

Hastings frowned. “How so?”

“I met Theodora when her home was destroyed, and because they had nothing, she and her mother moved in with me at my invitation.”

“I knew that. Very charitable of you.”

“The very first night, my connection to Theodora became more than I ever intended.”

Hastings’ eyes widened. “Are you saying you slept with her?”

“I could have. I turned her down the first time she offered to warm my bed.”

Hastings’ horse pranced a bit, and he had to work at calming the beast for a few minutes before speaking again.

“First time?” Hastings squinted at him. “Let me get this straight. Your new female secretary—a remarkably clever, managing beauty—actually wanted to warm your bed, and you said no to her?”

“It was the night of the fire. She wasn’t thinking straight.”

Hastings took a moment digest that. “I see, and now it seems you could become leg-shackled, you’ve developed a conscience about her. The fire was…weeks ago, yes?”

“She came to me again the night my father died, and I was very angry. Her comfort took my mind off what Father and Adele had done, how little they cared. I thought, ‘what harm can it do?’” He winced. “I didn’t say no that night…or ever again.”

He did not tell Hastings that he’d loved every moment of that first night with Theodora, and the ones that followed. He thought Hastings might realize soon enough.

Hastings scowled. “So, you feel honor bound to really offer for her?”

“No. And yes. Let me explain further,” he said quickly, then revealed all his mother had done, and Theodora’s private response to her actions.

“Dear God. She’s every bit as cunning as your mother,” Hastings whispered. “A good choice for a happy home life if it ever turned into a real marriage.”

Quinn thought so, too. He’d always known that the woman he married had to be able to stand her ground in a family like his. “I like her. I like her quite a bit more than I have let on to her. Mother’s mistake actually pleases me.”

Hastings took only a moment to understand. “You’re in love with her.”

He nodded. “I think so. The idea of never seeing Theodora each day is unpleasant. I feel very protective of her, and proud of how she’s dealt with the loss of her father. She is quite without equal.”

“That is love,” Hastings said quietly, eyes dancing with amusement at last. “I’m happy for you. Sally will be livid not to have seen it before I tell her when we get home.”

“Do not tell Sally anything. Not yet.”

“I’m not very good at keeping secrets from my wife. I actually promised I never would.”

“There may be nothing to tell in the end.” Quinn sighed. “Theodora has promised me many times that she has no interest in becoming a permanent part of my life, and repeated that conviction on the day this false engagement began. She’s never admitted to warmer feelings toward me beyond enjoying a good bedding. I’m not sure whether to hope or not.”

“Probably wise.” Hastings nodded. “She’s not an emotional creature like my Sally, or the rest of your family, for that matter. You’ll have a job to convince her you’re worth the inconvenience of keeping around outside the bedroom if pleasure is all she wants you for.”

“I know that, but how? Theodora is a remarkably capable woman. She doesn’t really need me, but I need her. Honestly, she could manage the estate business entirely without my involvement, and I dread the day she decides she’s had enough.”

“Perhaps you should let her know you consider her your equal, and a partner already, and don’t mind it in the least that she’s smarter than you are,” Hastings added, grinning. He sobered a moment later. “You have a lot on your plate managing this family, and more to come most likely down the years. You’ll be the next Duke of Rutherford much sooner than anyone imagined, not that I wish ill on the duke. Whoever you marry needs to be capable of running Newberry Park with you one day, too,” Hastings warned unnecessarily. “For all her positive qualities, your Theodora seems a bit stubborn to me. The trick will be convincing her that the challenges of binding her life to yours appeals. If you want her, I suggest you hold nothing back. Tell her how you feel, and even if she disagrees and still wants to end the engagement, hold fast and wait for her to come around. If she loves you, she will. Sally had given up on me, I think, but I won her back at the very last moment.”

“Father kept you away from Sally quite deliberately. There is nothing like that standing in my way.” Quinn smiled quickly. “When did you become so wise, anyway?”

“I’ve always known what I wanted. I needed Sally’s love, but your father got in between us for so long. Asking for her love again was not without a great risk of rejection.”

“I know.” Sally had been days away from marriage, he’d later heard. “I’m glad things turned out well for you both. You make my sister very happy. You gave up everything so she could continue to live at Newberry Park.”

“I set aside the distractions that were in the way to winning her back,” Hastings promised. “That is what you must do.”

Quinn had no great distractions that he could think of immediately. He had no mistress now—Theodora had dealt with Adele. There were no pursuits that took him beyond England or his estates. He was bound to the family, though. They depended on him to make their lives run smoothly. He would not let them down.

He had already made room for Theodora, but waited on her to realize it, too.