Her control

Nesta paused and turned to face him. "Well, I don't think you're cruel. Bad maybe, but not cruel. And you know what I mean.

No one with an absence of certain graceful qualities would want to be near anyone like my dad.

For the past few weeks, I've seen him happier than he can ever be. He always had this melancholy look on his face like all was lost. I think it was because it affected me also.

Really, I was this close," she showed her index finger and her thumb, making them almost touch, "to giving up. But you came in.

Your partnership with my dad has revived him. Now, you also decided to start this season's ball, and we are your honored guests.

I don't see anything cruel about that. You're good, and I must say, I appreciate your effort. Thank you."

"You're welcome," Quinn said.

They resumed walking.

"I heard your father's love for a lady caused it," he said. "There were different stories flying around. And just so you know, I believed none."

Nesta said, "She was paid to act like she loved him. Then, she created the lie that he wanted to steal what her late husband had left her.

We were also her honored guests at one of her balls." She gave Quinn a strange look. "Hope that's not what you intend doing to us?"

"Your fears are warranted. But I haven't come to disgrace your family any further. I also have a thing against these lords and ladies.

So, I'm here to make sure your dad's honorable position returns, and also, to favor your luck now you're in the marriage market."

Nesta loved how he spoke with so much grace and with ease. Really, he was a true lord, or he acted as one, and she thought someone like him deserved more than just being an Earl.

"Are you ready to come to London?" Quinn asked her.

"Yes," Nesta said.

She wondered what everyone would say when they see her with this Prince in the guise of an Earl.

Quinn paused. "Can we head back? I would like to work a little before the morning is over. I will see you in the afternoon, if you'll have me."

He wasn't obligated to her. But she loved that he took her permission.

"Sure," Nesta said. "We can. And by the way, I missed this."

"So did I." She didn't see the devilish grin on his face.

****

"How did it go?" Preston said.

Quinn smiled as he sank into the sofa in his room. "Great." And he said no more.

Later that evening, Quinn found the opportunity he wanted as the Earl of Devonshire retired to bed.

In fact, Quinn thought the Earl was making these moves just to give him time with his daughter. Well, if even the Earl could see it on his face, then, he was surely doomed.

"Have you ever been in love before?" Quinn asked.

Nesta's expression told him that the question came as a surprise to her. He thought she looked beautiful with that curious look on.

"I can't say if I have been in love," Nesta said. "I don't know what it feels like. Custom demands that we keep ourselves for possible suitors.

I've admired a few in truth, and wished to kiss and lay with some. But to say if I was in love, I can't say.

Perhaps, my dad's case still has me a bit shaken and I don't know if love truly exists, or if it's only there to eventually betray us."

"Like you said, the Dowager was paid. I'm not sure how you found out that information, but—"

"My father told me. He later made his investigations, and he discovered all his enemies at court."

"Okay," Quinn said. "But you can't say your mom didn't love your dad, now can you say that?"

"No," she said.

"Then, I guess you know what love is."

Nesta gave a side head gesture and sipped from her glass of wine.

"Have you been kissed before?" Quinn asked.

Nesta smiled, forcing her face into a bland expression. She tapped her chest and cleared her throat. Quinn thought she probably had been kissed. Why was she delaying to answer?

"This would sound embarrassing, but—" Nesta looked at him and shook her head. "I've never had the luxury to be with a man except my dad, and you of course.

Any meets were done in public. Kisses could ruin a lady if someone heard a word of it. And so many ladies love to whisper like cats."

So she had never been kissed, and she's never been in love. Great. Then, she had never been with a man before.

This wasn't the first time Quinn was seeing Nesta. Of course, he couldn't tell Preston this, but the first time he had discovered Nesta, she was but a child of three.

He had watched and protected her from the shadows. Aside from her father's guards and her maid being around her, he too had stood guard over her from a distance.

She had something he wanted. He could have had her then, but he wanted her given to him. He wanted her permanently.

He wanted to make love to her, and partly, he was the reason no suitors came to see her. She was his and his alone.

However, what he didn't expect was to fall in love with her, and the sway she was beginning to have over him.

Anything she wanted, he wanted, and had this urge to do it, and it was then Quinn realized, in as much as she held the power he needed to be victorious against his enemies, she also had the power to control him.