"You have a caller, my lady," Lillian said to Nesta who had her gaze on a recent painting of hers.
These days, calls from Tessa were making her have less time for her distractions, and Tessa even provided bigger distractions.
"Who is it?" Nesta asked.
"Lord Bramford."
It felt like ages since she last saw him. Nesta briskly dropped the painting on her table, she left the studio to meet Lord Branford in the sitting room.
"Lady Weaver," Quinn said. "I'm sorry I left no prior knowledge of my arrival. I hope this is not the wrong time?"
Would anytime really ever be a wrong time for him? Look how he was in his dark blue outfit. How many ladies had he charmed today with his handsome features?
"Not at all, my lord," Nesta said and walked up to him, Quinn kissed her on both cheeks.
He was warm, and she wanted more. But she managed to still herself and offered him a seat.
"Would you like to take something?" Nesta asked, turning to her maid who stood resolutely behind the sofa. "Tea and cookies for Lord Branford."
Nesta turned to face him, and it seemed she just missed a look of protest. Well, he shouldn't say no to her. It's the smallest she could do compared to what he had done for her family.
"How are you, Lord Branford?" Nesta asked.
"Perfect," Quinn said. "What about you, my lady?"
Nesta made a side head gesture. "I just left your sister," she said and smiled, "and she did show me a good time, so I'll say I'm perfect too as well."
Quinn grinned. "That's great. Forgive me. I've had so much to do. But seeing we've not really spent time together since you came back to London, I had my sister look out for you. At least to distract you. The first chance I got to move about, I had to come here. I need some head clarity by the way."
Nesta frowned. "Head clarity? What has your mind clouded?"
"A problem, one I've been trying to put an end to for a while."
Nesta didn't know he had problems. Someone like Quinn could look at anything and have the thing go away, or prostrate before him. At least, he seemed to be that type of man.
"Is there any way that I may help?"
His grin broadened, warming her soul. God, she wished to run into his arm and press herself against him. His cologne for sure, that seductive scent she had earlier perceived would toy with her senses, but she was willing to be conquered. After all, she had been waiting for what did seem like a lifetime to her, and no one was coming her way. Now, he was here. Right in her very presence, and this singular man always seemed to fill the room with something that made her feel a certain uncomfortable wetness between her legs.
"Talking to you does the charm, my lady," Quinn said.
Nesta laughed. "You flatter."
"And no edge used on you is blunter. You are a vision, and you simply make problems go away."
Wish that could be said about her problems. She would have single-handedly elevated her father to heights unknown, and equally raised herself as well. But her return back to London hadn't been her doing, but that of this Lord.
Lillian arrived with the tray, she set it on a table between Nesta and Quinn. Nesta removed her gaze from what Lillian was doing, she locked her gaze with Quinn.
"Thank you, Lillian," Quinn said.
"Thank you, Lillian," Nesta said too.
"How is your father?" Quinn asked.
Ah, yes. Father. He was more enthusiastic about his company these days. According to him, he wanted to help London in the little way that he could.
"He left early to look for more workers," Nesta said. "His company is growing, thanks to you. Every day, he returns with a smile."
"I'm pleased things are going well for him," Quinn said. "Doesn't he have anyone he trusts to oversee his affairs?"
Not Father. He prefers being in the thick of it. "He does," she said. "But there's something about working that always seems to keep him focused. Of course he doesn't fail to rest and eat. He gives his men good wages and time to rest too as well. This way, he sees to it that no one is cheating or mishandling any of his workers."
"That's very thoughtful of him."
And it was then Nesta saw a want in Quinn's eyes. His gaze didn't travel through her body like other men's gaze. This one had power, confidence, and something else she couldn't begin to place her fingers on.
"Are you okay?" Quinn asked.
Oh no. He had noticed. Nesta forced her face into a smile. "I'm fine."
But was she really? She lowered her gaze from his eyes which held a flame, threatening to consume her, and she sipped from her cup of tea. No, she wasn't fine.
Quinn could see the look in her eyes, one that mirrored exactly his. He has to remind himself that she is a lady and could simply not do that to her, he tried to think of other decent things that could save them both from this unspoken desire. "Are you excited for the ball? It is going to be your first appearance in society after a long time." he asked her, finally finding a proper topic to talk about.
Nesta was glad for the change of topic because she could not promise herself not to act unladylike with the look of fire in his eyes and especially with her maid's absence to shield her from such acts. Thinking about his question, " I am not that excited, actually. But I would like to see the look on my so-called friend's face when they finally see me. Something Tessa has been taking care of since my arrival." She smiled when she thought of all Tessa's plan and arrangement to make sure she looks the best and give everybody the shock of their life. So far they have been able to keep her arrival in London a secret, only a few people are aware of it and she would like to keep it like that.
Quinn smiled at the thought of his sister, "Tessa can be quite extravagant sometimes and I am happy you two could get along." he said.
The two continued their conversation like they have always done back in Devonshire surprising each other of how they never seem to grow out of things to talk about.