An Affair so Right by Heather Boyd

Author:Heather Boyd [Boyd, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Heather Boyd

Chapter 16

Quinn startled from a deep, dreamless sleep at the unwelcome sound of pounding on the front door and Mrs. Dalton’s new pup launching into an excited bout of barking. Blinking sleep from his eyes, he stretched his arm out across the bed, expecting to encounter Theodora, only to find he was alone and her side of the bed was cold.

He sighed that she was gone too soon. He smoothed his bed quickly so it would not appear he’d had company during the night and sat up. He hadn’t felt Theodora leave him, but he would see her soon enough. There was a lingering fragrance of Theodora’s perfume in the room, and he breathed it deeply. Contentment trickled through him, and he fought the feeling.

He had the perfect arrangement, but should not grow used to it. Theodora was a remarkable lover and a dedicated secretary, too. He was glad she’d found her way to his bed. She was the perfect distraction. His thoughts did not linger on Adele or her betrayal once he had Theodora in his arms. His anger at his father had faded only a little. He had been used by people he trusted and he had survived the pain because of Theodora.

On reflection, he’d lost little from his life in parting ways with Adele Blakely’s, but he’d gained clarity.

Love and lust were quite different, and he only needed one in his life. Lust was simpler. Desire, when fulfilled so thoroughly, as his affair with Theodora proved, was enough.

He climbed out of bed feeling well rested, despite the fleeting moments of sleep he’d snatched between bouts of lovemaking last night, to open a window and take in the view outside.

As often happened, his eyes were drawn to the desolation across from his home. The Daltons’ residence had been reduced to nothing more than blacked brick and crumbling timbers.

Despite that tragedy, he was content in a way he’d never experienced before. There was nothing more he wanted in his life but for this secretive arrangement to continue for as long as possible. And when it did end, as he was sure it would, there were plenty of other women in London willing to invite him to their beds, he suspected.

A knock sounded on his door, breaking him from his thoughts. He snatched up a silk banyan and threw it over his nakedness, ready to face the challenges of a new day. “Come.”

Rodmell poked his head into the room, the sad expression on his face warning Quinn wasn’t going to like what he heard next. “My lord, forgive me for waking you, but a servant has come from Newberry House.”

A chill swept him that his father might have recovered. “What is it?”

“Lord Templeton has passed during the night,” Rodmell told him. “Lady Templeton has asked for you to come immediately.”

Quinn struggled with his feelings, relieved and unsettled by the sensation of satisfaction. “Please inform Miss Dalton of the situation, and tell her the dinner she was organizing must be delayed. Thank you, Rodmell.

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