ARRIVING AT THE Wades’ twenty minutes later, Quincy dismounted and made his way to the door. Pain shot through his shoulder and stars flashed behind his eyes as he leaned heavily against the doorframe and knocked. Their butler opened it and Quinn studied the man. “Daniel?”

“Yes suh.”

“I’m here to see Miss Carrington.”

“She’s currently out, sir.”

Quincy took a deep breath. “Where?”

“I’m certain I can’t say.”

“I’m certain you can,” he threatened as he pushed his way inside.

“Sir, they did not inform me where they were going.”

“Who would they have informed?” he rasped, his voice fading.

“I’ll enquire, sir,” Daniel said.

Quincy had to hold onto the stairway banister to stay upright as he watched Daniel walk away. Before Daniel returned, the front door opened and, hearing female giggling, he turned toward the sound.

“Gus?”

He dropped like a stone.

* * *

“Quincy!” Victoria cried in panic as she rushed to his side.

“Michael!” Sophie yelled for the doctor as she knelt down beside Victoria.

“Oh, you stupid, stupid man. What are you doing here?” Victoria felt his forehead.

Michael rushed into the foyer and shooed Victoria out of the way so he could examine Quincy.

“He was shot in the shoulder and had surgery the day before yesterday,” Victoria supplied as she stood.

“Daniel, help me move him into my office,” Michael instructed.

The men lifted Quincy and gingerly carried him down the hall. Victoria followed closely and wrapped her arms around her waist, in an effort not to direct, help, or interfere, as they laid Quincy gently on the table. She was grateful when Sophie wrapped her arm around her shoulders in support.

Victoria’s stomach ached and her heart twisted as she watched the doctor pull the bandage off. The thought of Quincy in pain or danger was entirely too much for her.

“Luckily, the wound isn’t infected, but it is bleeding,” Michael said.

Victoria stepped closer. “Did he pull any of the stitches?”

“Not completely, but he has re-injured himself.”

Quinn started to come to with a groan and Victoria rushed to stand by him. “Quincy?”

“I’ll change his bandages.” Michael moved to his desk. “He’ll need to rest, but I think he’ll be fine. Thankfully, the stitches are still intact.”

Michael tended to Quincy while Victoria stood with Sophie again. Victoria couldn’t stop herself from wringing her hands to keep from reaching out to assist the doctor. When Michael was done, Victoria asked for a few minutes alone with Quincy.

Michael nodded. “If you like.”

“Thank you.”

Sophie and Michael left the room and Victoria checked to make sure the doctor had done a decent job. Satisfied with his bandage and assessment of the damage, she narrowed her eyes and whispered, “What are you doing here, Gus?”

“You ran away,” he accused.

“That didn’t mean you should have followed. Especially in your condition.” Victoria squeezed his arm. “Your brother’s going to have a coronary.”

“I have a feeling he’ll figure out where I am as soon as he finds me gone.”

Victoria angrily wiped a tear away. “You should not have done this, Quincy.”

“And you should have ignored my brother. Jacob’s a half-wit who knows nothing.”

“I didn’t leave because of Jake.”

“I’m not Logan, Victoria.”

“Hannah.” She sighed. “Is nothing sacred?”

Quincy took her hand and kissed her palm. “I’m going to court you.”

“I can’t imagine why you’d want to,” she huffed.

“We’ll discuss it later.”

“Gus.”

“Rebel,” he said mimicking her tone, although he grinned to take the bite out of it.

She rolled her eyes. “You were bleeding and you pulled a few stitches. Let me help you to your room.”

“Not until you say yes.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “To what?”

“Victoria.”

“I can’t, Quinn.” She felt the prick of tears again. “I just can’t.”

He sat up. “You can. Don’t make your decision out of fear.”

His kiss was slow and—dare she think—filled with love. Emotion Victoria hadn’t felt in a very long time bubbled to the surface and she broke the kiss with a sob. “Stop, Gus.”

“Why are you crying, sweetheart?”

“You’re turning my life upside down,” she whispered.

He chuckled.

Victoria raised an eyebrow. “Why are you laughing?”

“I thought you might say that the fact you’ve been sent back in time was the culprit.” He slid back down on the table. “But if you’d like to blame me, that’s fine.”

She tried to stop a giggle, but a snort escaped.

“Listen to me,” he said as he pulled her closer. “I have never met anyone like you. You are beautiful, you’re smart, and you’re strong—”

“Oh, stop,” she interrupted.

“I plan to marry you, little rebel—”

“You do not!”

Quincy squeezed her hand. “Stop interrupting me!”

“Sorry,” she mumbled.

“As I was saying... I plan to marry you, but for the sake of your sensibilities, we’ll start with a courtship.”

“What about love, Quinn?”

“Oh, I plan to love you, as well.” He grinned. “Often.”

She blushed crimson. “I’m talking about real love.”

“Victoria, love is an action word for me. We have an obvious attraction to each other, but I’m not talking about that. When we decide to get married, I’ll love you forever.”

“What about friendship?”

He raised an eyebrow. “That’s what a courtship’s for, sweetheart. To get to know one another.”

“You have an answer for everything, don’t you?”

He nodded. “Only when it pertains to you.”

Victoria looked at him for several minutes. She had to admit the thought of not being with him was devastating.

Yes, devastating... really.

Victoria nodded. “Okay.”

“Yes?”

She laughed. “Yes, you may court me. But if you hurt me, Hannah will kill you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Come here.” He pulled her in for another kiss. This one was a little more urgent and Quinn was the one who broke it. “Sweetheart?”

“Hm?”

“I think I’m—”

He passed out.

“Quincy!”

Quincy’s hand went slack, and Victoria had to grab hold of his waist to keep him from sliding off the table. She leaned over and felt his forehead. No fever, but she was still concerned, so she called for Michael who rushed into the room immediately.

“He’s lost some blood, Victoria,” Michael said gently. “However, it’s nothing to be concerned about.” The doctor secured Quincy’s bandage. “We’ll settle him upstairs in one of the guest rooms. He’ll wake up soon enough.”

Quincy didn’t wake up for another two hours, and Victoria sat vigil next to his bed the entire time. Although Sophie came in a few times to check on her, Victoria refused to leave and eventually fell asleep where she sat, her head resting on her forearms, the heat from Quincy’s body warming her.

Quincy’s groan dragged her from her slumber and Victoria reached a hand out, grasping his arm as she stood and leaned over him. “Wake up, Gus. I’m here,” she whispered as she stroked his face gently.

Opening his eyes slowly, he smiled. “You look fretful, sweetheart.”

“Well, let’s see. You rode all night with gunshot wounds in your shoulder and thigh. Then you passed out in the doctor’s office, and it’s been over two hours since you were lucid. I think I have reason to be fretful.”

“If you hadn’t run away from me, I wouldn’t have had to pursue you, sweetheart.”

Her eyes filled with tears and she turned quickly to get him some Advil.

“Victoria.” He sighed. “Come here.”

“Just a second. I’m getting you some painkillers,” she said, a little overly cheerful.

“Little rebel. Now, please.” She paused briefly before stepping to the side of the bed. Taking her hand, he kissed her palm. “It was a bad jest. I’m sorry.”

“You’re still right.” She sat down gently next to him. “In my defense, however, I really didn’t think you would follow me.”

He cocked his head in question. “Oh? What did you think would happen?”

“I thought that if on the off-chance you came, it would be with Chris and Hannah, on the train like a normal human being. But, still, I really am sorry.”

“What will you give me to assuage your guilt?”

She grinned as she held her hand open. “Drugs?”

He frowned as he took the pills from her. “Not quite what I had in mind.”

“Well, what did you have in mind, then?”

He lowered his voice. “Come closer and I’ll tell you.”

Leaning toward him as though to acquiesce, she quickly stood instead. “You need some water for those pills.”

Quincy raised an eyebrow at her and she grinned back at him as she poured water into a glass.

“I need help to sit up,” he said with a pathetic air.

Victoria set the water on the end table and crossed her arms. “You just rode overnight with a hole in your shoulder and you expect me to believe you need help to sit up?”

“Yes. I have run out of energy and can’t do it without you.”

“Riiight.” She helped him sit up, but before she knew it, he grasped her around the waist with his good arm and pulled her onto his lap. “I knew it, you sneak.”

“You knew but still allowed it to happen,” he pointed out with a chuckle.

She started to argue but was stopped by him pulling her close and kissing the breath out of her. She pushed at his shoulder. “If you continue to kiss me like that, I’ll get pregnant and then you’ll have to marry me.”

Quincy laughed. “Where did you hear that?”

“It’s something my mother told me when I was little. I was almost fourteen before I learned the truth,” she admitted. “After that, I kissed a lot.”

“Oh?” The flexing of his jaw revealed she may have said too much. “How much is a lot?”

She waved her hand dismissively. “Well, maybe not a lot.”

“How many, Victoria?”

“Not many.” Backpedaling, she tried to climb off his lap.

“Victoria,” he growled.

“What?” His stare unnerved her. “Two guys! Lots of kissing, admittedly, but only two guys.” Hearing him sigh, she turned on him. “Don’t even! How many girls have you kissed—or other things?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Other things?”

She tried to push away from him, but he tightened his arm around her. “Let me go.”

“Explain ‘other things,’ Victoria.”

She shook her head. “No.”

“No?”

“I don’t actually want to know the answer.” Victoria covered her ears with her hands. “Forget I asked. Let me go.”

Relaxing his arm, he let her escape. “One day you’ll trust me with all of your betrayals, little rebel.”

Victoria shrugged. “How’s your shoulder?”

“It’s much better.”

“Good. Are you hungry? I’ll make you a tray.”

Quincy nodded. “Yes, thank you.”

“I’ll be back in a bit.”

He gently grabbed her arm. “Little rebel?”

“Hm?”

“I’ll never hurt you,” he said earnestly.

“We’ll see.” She went downstairs to prepare a tray and found Jacob, Christopher, and Hannah in the parlor. “Well, hi. I probably shouldn’t be surprised, should I?”

“How is he?” Christopher stood.

“Ornery. But he seems fine.”

“Did he ruin all the progress?” Hannah asked.

Victoria shook her head. “He did lose some blood, but Dr. Wade examined him and said it was nothing to worry about. Quinn’s upstairs and awake. I was going to get him a tray, but you can go up if you like.”

Victoria gave Christopher and Jacob directions to Quincy’s room, but Jacob stalled.

“Miss Carrington? May I have a word?”

“Victoria, please,” she said.

“Victoria. I want to apologize for my conduct.” Jacob frowned. “I would hate to think you left because of my ability to stick my foot in my mouth.”

Victoria sighed. “I accept your apology, but truly, my leaving had nothing to do with you. You should go and see Quincy.”

Jacob nodded and made his way upstairs. Victoria followed Hannah into the kitchen to prepare a tray for Quincy.

“Are you staying here?” Victoria asked.

Hannah shook her head. “No, we’re going to stay next door, at the Maddens’. Clay and Emma are still in D.C., so their half of the house is empty. There’s plenty of room for you too. Richard is rambling around his side alone, and I think he might like the company... at least until he marries Charity.”

“Gwen’s friend?”

“Yes. They’re newly engaged.” Hannah washed and dried her hands. “How are you, lovey?”

“Confused.”                                                   

“They’re a different breed of men, don’t you think?”

“You can say that again,” Victoria grumbled.

Hannah sliced a loaf of bread and laid the pieces on the tray. “Actually, Gwen’s much the same, so perhaps it’s just the Butlers in general.”

Victoria retrieved a pitcher of cold tea from the pantry. “In what way?”

“They never give up. You should have seen Chris when we first met. He said he immediately knew I’d be his wife, and we were engaged within a week.”

Victoria gasped. “Who are you and what have you done with my Hannah?”

“I know, right?” Hannah’s gaze turned dreamy as she told the story. “Christopher was very patient with me, which I’d never experienced before. I had the freedom to be myself with him.”

Victoria nibbled a piece of apple. “I have never seen this side of you.”

“I don’t know how to explain it, other than he’s my person.” Hannah laid some meat on the bread and turned to face Victoria. “You know? I can trust him with anything and know that he’ll never betray that trust.”

Victoria let out a quiet snort. “You can’t know that, Hannah. It’s a really nice thought, but even the best of people let you down.”

Hannah smiled. “I know that your parents did a bit of a mind-bend on you about a lot of things, but I really do think you can trust Quincy.”

“We’ll see.”

Hannah giggled. “Yes, you will see. You can count on that. The Butlers aren’t easily scared away.”

Victoria sighed. “He’s just so intense.”

“They all are. Don’t be scared off by that, though. It’s what makes them so loyal.”

“Okay. I’ll give him a chance.”

Hannah hugged her. “That’s all he’s asking for. You should have seen what Gwen put Andrew through before they got married.”

“That doesn’t bode well, Hannah.”

“Of course it does!” Hannah lifted the tray. “Now, let’s get your man some food.”

“He’s not my man.”

Hannah laughed. “Oh, yes, he is. Whether you’re willing to accept it or not, my friend, he’s your man.”

* * *

Upstairs, Quincy was trying to calm his brother down. He could see Christopher’s anger written in the tight features of his face.

“What the hell were you thinking? You could have died running off half-cocked like that.”

“You’d have done the same thing and you know it. I’m surprised you didn’t figure it out,” Quincy retorted.

Christopher crossed his arms with a drawn-out sigh. “We knew you’d do something, I just didn’t think you’d put yourself in danger.”

Quincy shook his head. “I wasn’t in danger.”

“Yes, the fact that you passed out and are laid up in bed is evidence of that,” Jacob interjected.

“You don’t get a say in this one, Jake,” Quincy snapped.

A knock at the door brought Victoria with a tray. She frowned. “Everything okay?”

Quincy sat up and waved her in. “Yes, everything’s fine. Christopher was just leaving to check on his very pregnant wife. Weren’t you, Chris?”

Christopher pushed away from the bureau he had been leaning against. “Yes, I was. However, I’ll be back shortly.”

Victoria rolled her eyes. “Don’t rush away on my account.”

Christopher grunted. “Come on Jake; let’s leave him alone for a while.”

They left the room and Victoria brought the food over to Quinn. “You both make that same noise in the back of your throats.”

“We do?”

“Yes, you do, Mr. Obtuse.” Laying the tray on the bed, she settled her hands on her hips. “I brought a few things up. I wasn’t sure what you’d be in the mood for. I brought iced tea in case you want something other than water. Um, what else? I found an orange—”

“Victoria?”

“Hm?”

“Thank you.” He held his hand out to her. “Will you join me, please?”

She shook her head. “No, I’m fine, Quincy.”

“Have you eaten, sweetheart?”

“I’m not particularly hungry.” She clasped her hands in front of her. “Seriously, I’m fine.”

“Seriously, nothing, Victoria. You need to eat. Why don’t we push the food to the middle of the bed and you join me? The tray will be our chaperone.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “I’ll behave. I promise.”

“Okay.”

Repositioning the tray, she carefully climbed onto the bed from the other side. They ate quickly and after Victoria cleaned up, she gave Quincy another two Advil. “You should rest now, Gus.”

Quincy groaned. “I’m not tired.”

Victoria sat next to him and stroked his beard. “But you did pass out and stay that way for several hours.”

“I was simply sleeping. I’m fine.” He kissed her palm.

“Why don’t you sleep for a little while and then perhaps join us for dinner? I was going back to the Paxton’s tonight for dinner, but I’m sure they’ll understand.”

Quincy frowned. “You’re not going anywhere tonight, Victoria.”

She slowly pulled her hand out of his. “Excuse me?”

“Chris and Hannah are staying at the Maddens’ and so will you, after you have dinner with me.”

Victoria snorted and stood. “The pain must have gone to your head.”

He cocked his head and stared up at her. “Victoria, you’re going to spend your time with me.”

“No, actually, I’m not.” She crossed her arms and glared at him. “I’ve made arrangements to stay with Christine, and I think I should keep my word.”

“I was under the impression you were staying with Hannah.”

“Well, you were misinformed,” she snapped.

Quincy picked at the quilt. “Christine will understand.”

“I will stay where, and with whom, I want to. You don’t have a say in that.”

He waved his hand. “You’re being peevish.”

“And you’re being a dictator. You don’t own me, Quincy Butler.”

Quincy took a deep breath, realizing his mistake immediately. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. That was not my intention. I just want you close to me and Stephen lives quite a bit farther from here than I like.” Holding a hand out to her, he asked, “May I rephrase?”

Victoria shrugged. “You can try.”

“Would you please stay with my brother and sister-in-law at the Maddens’? It would be nice to have you close.”

She took his hand and smiled. “Why, yes, Quincy. I’d be happy to stay with Hannah, provided it isn’t an imposition for Richard.”

Quincy grinned. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now, get some rest. I need to make sure Hannah has room for me.” Gathering the tray, she turned to leave him.

“No kiss goodnight?”

She glanced at him over her shoulder. “It’s not nighttime.”

“Valid argument, however, I would still like to kiss you.”

Victoria paused, but in the end, put the tray down and moved over to the bed. When she leaned over to kiss him on the cheek, he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her onto his lap.

“I really should learn, shouldn’t I?”

Quincy chuckled. “Yes, you should.”

He kissed her slowly and Victoria sighed against his mouth as the kiss grew heated. “It should be illegal to kiss that well.” She stroked his face. “Even with that beard.”

“You don’t like my beard?”

“It’s fine, Gus.” She wrinkled her nose. “Just a bit scratchy sometimes.”

He kissed her again. “You make me want to forget my manners.”

She giggled. “What manners?”

“The ones that keep you clothed.”

“Well, they don’t seem to keep you clothed.”

He chuckled, then ran his fingers gently down her cheek. “I wonder, beautiful Victoria, if you know your worth.”

Her eyes widened. “My worth?”

“Yes, your worth. Your beauty, your humor, your character. I could go on for hours.”

“You haven’t known me long enough to go on for hours,” she said.

“That doesn’t negate your worth though, does it? If I can see such depth in you in a few days, imagine what I will see in a lifetime.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “Stop, Quinn. You’re being silly.”

“Am I?” He gently kissed her again. “You’re beautiful, little rebel, and I don’t just mean physically.”

She pushed at his shoulder. “I better get these dishes downstairs and you should rest.”

He shook his head. “I don’t need to rest.”

“I’m not having this argument with you again.” She made her way to the bureau. “You need to rest.”

“All right, sweetheart. You may escape. But don’t think we won’t continue this conversation at a later date.”

She stuck her tongue out at him and rushed out the door.