Quinn tugged on his cravat, bitterly disappointed by the interruption. Damn, but his mother had the very worst timing imaginable sometimes. He’d been so close to achieving his goal of diverting Theodora from work that afternoon. She had been more than a little excited by their conversation. Her eyes had so filled with lust, he’d barely held back. But she was right. He had to be responsible. He didn’t want anyone to know about their intimacy. He didn’t want there to be a reason for them to stop.

He found the Countess of Templeton standing in his drawing room, dressed in a pretty blue day gown that brought out the mischief in her eyes. Quinn kissed his mother’s cheek when it was offered. “What are you doing here, Mama?”

“I am escaping the bleak despair of Newberry House. It is intolerable, and I’ve driven poor Lenore to leave London already,” she said with a weary sigh. “I couldn’t stand to remain there alone another moment, so I came to see you instead.”

He gazed upon his mother’s miserable face, largely unsurprised by the news that Cousin Lenore had cut her visit short due to Father’s illness, and then kissed the top of her silvered hair. He and mama were of the same mind with regards to Templeton. It was very hard to weep over his father’s illness. “Tea?”

“Please, and your company, too,” she begged. “Have you been keeping busy?”

Quinn was happy to oblige her, and sat next to her on the chaise. Mama rarely demanded his company so directly. “I’ve been reviewing the properties I own. I’ve only just returned, in fact.”

“I wish I’d known. I might have enjoyed coming with you.”

He laughed softly. “Mama, you hate scrambling in and out of carriages all day long.”

“I could have watched from inside,” Mama protested before sighing. “But you’re right. I would have hated waiting.”

Quinn reached over and squeezed his mother’s hand. “He will get better, or he won’t, when he decides.”

She closed her eyes. “I know.”

“And there is nothing you can do,” he assured her. “No good will come from upsetting yourself.”

“I know that too.” She sighed and turned her face away. “I went to see him this morning.”

“Mama,” Quinn protested. “You know he cannot answer you.”

“I told him how I feel about him now.” She sucked in a sharp breath before continuing. “I wanted him to know the pain and humiliation he’s caused me cannot be forgiven. What he did to you with that woman was disgusting.”

Quinn hugged his mother tightly against him. “I hardly think about it, and nor should you.”

“How did you stop? I close my eyes and imagine him…”

How had he curbed his anger? He’d allowed Theodora to divert him.

“I bury myself in work.” He considered how to help his mother, and smiled. “Perhaps you’d like to join me upstairs in my study while we discuss rent day collections?”

“That is exactly what I need. Serious conversation that has nothing to do with ailments or medicinals. I am quite lost on the topic.” Mama beamed at him and stood. “How is that woman you hired working out? Such an unconventional arrangement you have with her. Lenore was quite impressed with her manners, and so was I. What was her name again?”

Ah, this must be the true purpose of the visit. Mother had probably memorized Theodora’s name, and everything else she knew about his secretary so far, but still wanted more information. Mother had likely come to interrogate Theodora about her still being here, and when she’d be leaving. The prospect of that wasn’t desirable. Not after last night. “Her name is Miss Theodora Dalton. She’s managing me very well.”

“Someone needs to.”

He smiled. “But I do have one favor to ask of you before we go up.”

“Anything.”

“When Mr. Dalton died, he had his wife’s necklace about his own neck.” Mama gasped. “The stones were recovered, but when I tried to return them to Mrs. Dalton, she became quite upset and would not take them back.”

“Oh,” Mother whispered. “I do understand why she wouldn’t.”

“I’ve put them away for safekeeping. I suppose I must wait for Mrs. Dalton to ask for them back, but the thing is, I don’t believe she told her daughter they are wealthy still.”

“Do you fear to distress the daughter with the news of where the stones were found?”

“I do indeed.” Quinn scratched his head. “Her mother took the news very hard, bursting into tears again, and hasn’t spoken very much at all since. However, Miss Dalton is a very different sort of female to her mother.”

“She doesn’t like to cry,” Mama mused. “She seemed quite bookish and unemotional to me.”

“She is emotional but dislikes anyone to see her that way, I think,” Quinn confessed. “I’d like for us not to be the reason she would become upset.”

Mama stretched up and patted his cheek. “I do understand. I will say nothing of the stones or her leaving because they do have funds. If I have the chance, I will see if I can get Mrs. Dalton to talk about her situation a little.”

“Gently, Mama.”

“Of course. I am always the soul of discretion, and compassionate.”

Having Mother’s help would be a blessing. Quinn was a little out of his depth when it came to an inconsolable loss like Mrs. Dalton had suffered. “Come upstairs with me. Miss Dalton was working when I came down. Perhaps her mother has joined her there.”

He sent the butler off to amend the order for tea being delivered upstairs to his study and took his mother’s arm to lead her up the staircase. He hoped Theodora did not mind the interruption.

He knocked on the doorframe before entering the study, noting Theodora had been frowning at a journal on her desk before looking up and smiling warmly. That smile slipped a little as his mother came into view, and she hurried to her feet.

“Miss Dalton, I’m sure you remember Lady Templeton.”

Theodora hastily curtsied. “My lady.”

“Ah, there you are at last.” Mama hurried across the room and took Theodora’s hands in hers. She leaned forward and kissed both his secretary’s cheeks with rather startling familiarity. Mama drew back, grinning. “He’s not dead yet, if that is why you frown so.”

Theodora visibly relaxed, even as she extracted her hands. “That is good news.”

“I know. Black does not become me.” Mama tilted her head to the side, assessing Theodora with a sly expression. “On you, however, it is a rather arresting color.”

Theodora glanced Quinn’s way. “Ah, thank you. Mama and I have only a few simple gowns we need. Lord Maitland has been very generous to pay for them.”

“Well, since the alternative is having you running around in a state of undress, I can understand why.” The corner of Mama’s lips quirked up. “Although, being a man, he may not mind that sort of thing.”

Theodora inclined her head. “Of course.”

Quinn was impressed that Theodora wasn’t blushing already. Mama really did like to tease family and their friends. “Why don’t you sit, Mother.”

“Oh, very well. Miss Dalton, come sit by me.” Since Mama caught Theodora’s elbow and dragged her before Quinn’s desk, Theodora was given no choice in the matter. “You’ve done something different with this room,” Mama noted, glancing about the chamber and giving a nod of approval. “Much better. Now, tell me how your mother does, my dear girl. I was so hoping to make her acquaintance today.”

Subtlety was not always his mother’s stock in trade.

Theodora smiled quickly. “I am afraid Mama is not in good spirits again this afternoon and has returned to her bedchamber to rest.”

Mama reached for Theodora’s hand. “They were a love match, I understand?”

“They were.” Theodora’s smile grew brittle. “So in each other’s pocket, they carried each other’s handkerchiefs quite often.”

Mama’s smile dimmed as Theodora clenched her jaw and her eyes grew bright with unshed tears. He gave his mother a warning look. She’d promised not to upset Theodora.

Mama patted Theodora’s hand. “That must have been lovely. I remember my parents only a little now. Lenore is the only family I have left to connect me to the past.”

This time Theodora squeezed Mama’s hand, and Quinn was quite touched. “Family holds us together. You have the love of your daughters to sustain you, I understand.”

“Indeed.”

“And a few undeserving sons, too, I suspect,” Quinn threw in to make them laugh.

His levity had the desired effect, and Mother wagged her finger at him. “Impudent sons, too.” She wiggled her fingers toward Theodora’s desk. “What were you doing over there, Miss Dalton, before I interrupted you?”

Theodora glanced Quinn’s way, a question in her eyes.

“There’s no point keeping secrets from my mother. She’s here for the distraction of sticking her nose into other people’s business. Currently, mine will do.”

“You see!” Mama cried out. “Impertinent, wretched child.”

He grinned when Theodora laughed out loud.

“Hardly a child, my lady,” Theodora suggested, with a quick smile for him. “I was attempting to create a reference book for Lord Maitland. A journal of sorts, to hold important events he should never forget. Birthdays, marriages, and the like. They can be quite invaluable for someone with as large a family as yours. I was just leafing through a previous appointment book of his to see what I can find written in there.”

“How clever of you. My son always forgets someone.”

“I was away for many occasions, Mama, and the dates did not stick in my mind.”

“But your career in the navy is over now, and you are back where you belong in society. The family needs you,” she promised. Mama turned to Theodora again. “Perhaps I could assist you and fill in any gaps.”

Theodora nodded. “I should not like to impose, but your help would make the task go much more smoothly. Thank you.”

With a new pursuit to distract her attention, Mama shifted into the chair beside Theodora’s desk, and they began to natter amongst themselves without his participation.

After a time, he cleared his throat. “So, you’ve no wish for my conversation now, Mama?”

Mama shooed him away. “Oh, you can go back to whatever you were doing before I arrived.”

No chance of that. He’d been seducing Theodora, but revealing that to his mother wasn’t in his best interests. Not if he didn’t want to be lectured on the perils of unwise romantic pursuits. He was feeling too good without Mama getting in his ear and ruining his mood with her dire warnings.

The problem with Theodora—and it was his problem alone, and not hers—was that she was too pretty and clever to be viewed as an ordinary, dull secretary. She was nothing like his last one. Quinn was better organized. He knew where to find his important papers. What had once seemed an insurmountable task, coming to grips with his affairs after a prolonged absence and loss of a valuable employee, had been managed by a mere slip of a woman in a few short days.

A determined, unorthodox and exciting woman that she was.

Since he was no longer needed, Quinn returned to his desk to make notes on the repairs he wished completed on his properties, even as he kept an eye on the informality developing between his secretary and mother. Having them become better acquainted hadn’t ever occurred to him as a possibility.

“My dear, it was a lucky day when my son took you in,” Mama noted, beaming at the woman across from her.

Quinn jerked his head up. What the devil was Mama doing, saying such a thing? It wasn’t luck. Mama knew that.

Theodora sighed, straightening the papers before her. “It was the worst day of my life, my lady. I don’t know how I survived it, or why. My only regret is that I may never learn how the fire started.”

“It was an unfortunate accident, my dear.” Mama leaned forward. “Everyone who matters believes it was. No matter how careful we are, there is always a chance tragedy will strike down someone close to us.”

“I know but still, what was said afterward…” Theodora started.

“Were the ramblings of a dying man,” Quinn interjected quickly. “You and your mother were lucky to have escaped at all. No one believes otherwise, I swear to you.”

Mother caught Theodora’s hand. “Nothing can change what happened. You can only look to the future. That is reason enough to be glad to have you here. Many men would have turned you away, but I raised my son to look for the potential in everyone. This is exactly the place you and your mother need to be right now. He would never push you out until you were ready or take advantage.”

Oh, hell. Quinn was most definitely taking advantage, but then again, so was Theodora taking advantage of him. They were using each other to feel better. To forget the pain in their hearts.

He didn’t want anything to upset the applecart.

He leaned back in his chair, listening without comment as their chatter veered to her mother and their future travels.

“In time, I will have sufficient funds to move on,” Theodora promised.

“Now, you must not rush things on that score,” his mother advised. “If I might offer some advice, allow your mama time to grieve before making serious decisions about where you will live next. This will be a lonely time for her. Do not make it worse by tearing her away from familiar surroundings.”

Quinn marveled at his mother. She had neatly presented a very compelling reason for Theodora and her mother to stay on here. She had made it sound like the most natural thing in the world for the two ladies to remain as his houseguests indefinitely. He’d cheer, if he wouldn’t have had to then explain why he did so to his own mother.

“I suppose I could remain in London a while longer than strictly necessary,” Theodora said slowly, “but I’m afraid Lord Maitland only employed me on trial. I may have no choice in the matter but to move on.”

“The trial is over,” he said, butting in. “The position is yours for as long as you want it, Miss Dalton.”

Quinn received the most beautiful smile in return for his statement. It seemed Theodora was hoping he’d offer permanence. But it was alarming that the smile was mirrored on his mother’s face, too, when she looked at him, one brow raised expectantly.

He stood, feeling decidedly exposed. He did not want his mother considering his employment of Theodora Dalton too closely. “If you ladies will excuse me, I must speak with the stable master.”

“Of course. Would you mind if I remain for dinner?” Mama asked. “Newberry House is quite dreary at night without Lenore.”

“I’ll inform the housekeeper to set an extra place,” he agreed, concerned that his mother was grasping at any excuse not to be alone.

“Perhaps by then, Mrs. Dalton might be persuaded to join us,” Mama remarked. “I long to hear of her travels abroad.”

“Mama is fascinated by other people’s travels,” he reassured Theodora as he stood to leave. He stopped by his mother’s chair and winked. Theodora would have seen, but he had to do something to thank Mama. With her help, he’d have Mrs. Dalton’s gems returned in no time, and the future decided eventually. “I’ll make a point of inviting Mrs. Dalton down to meet you, and after dinner, I will escort you home, too.”