Bad Side

"Why do you like evening hours so much?" Nesta asked. "It's practically the only hours I get to see you."

As expected, Quinn replied, "Business dealings. Forgive me if you feel neglected, my lady. I have to attend to letters from Castleberry, and fix certain business affairs. Sometimes, I work late into the night, and other times, I'm merely fortunate.

No matter how busy I am during the day, I can never act to be too busy for you around this hour."

"I thought so. Are you always this busy? Sorry for the odd questions. I just need to know you."

"During the day, yes. But I'm used to this life, so you can say I'm nocturnal."

"Nice. Anyway, I am not, and I have to go to bed before my maid checks up on me and finds me absent." Nesta stood and looked at lord Bramford.

"If you need more time with me, you can always make time during the day. I'll be happy to accommodate you. But if you're busy as you say, then, I totally understand.

Besides, I know what this life requires of me, and it won't be proper to be seen out this late with you."

"I understand. You look lovely by the way," Quinn said.

"Thank you. Guess you'll stay up for a while?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow. Hopefully, we can have a little time to talk before you return to business."

Nesta bid him goodnight, and he bid her goodnight also.

He stood to kiss her hand, then she felt his gaze upon her as she began ascending the stairs back to her room.

**********

"The only way to keep it a secret from her is not to marry her," Preston said to his lord, and Quinn gave him an angry look. "Forgive me for speaking out of turn."

Quinn said. "I seek solutions, and this is your suggestion?"

"You misunderstand me, my lord. Let me explain myself. My point is, your background and where you're from gives you a lot of privileges not afforded others like you.

As long as you're single, you're not obligated to anyone, and you can roam around without discovery.

Many who are like you, especially those who are married, if you observe, they wed their kind. Or, they wed a human and they later turn them into what they are.

That way, they preserve the union, their love, and a bind that can never be shared with anyone else. Do you wish to turn her?"

Quinn sighed and leaned back against his sofa.

"I don't know what it would do to her. So, I'm not thinking of it. However, I have other plans. And it my aim to see it through."

*********

Nesta stepped down from her carriage. Lillian came out of the carriage too and came to stand by her side.

Nesta had a satisfactory grin on her face as she peeled off her glove.

Then Lillian said, "Here he comes."

Nesta looked up to see Lord Bramford standing in the shadow of the manor with his man, Preston by his side, and both men had their eyes trained on her.

She walked up to Quinn, curtsied, and said, "No working today?"

"I said to keep the less important things for the night," Quinn said. "I would love to spend time with you now if you're not so busy."

"Sure," Nesta said.

Quinn set his arm and Nesta took it with a gloved hand, and together, they walked in the light of the sun.

"Where have you returned from?" Quinn asked.

"I went to see the tailor," Nesta said, wondering if she should tell him the reason for her visit to the tailor.

Well, it was obvious. At least, she thought it was.

"You enjoyed your time there?"

"Not like I'm enjoying it with you."

Quinn used his free arm to take her hand and bring it to his mouth. He kissed it, Nesta relished the warmth that travel through her when he did that.

Being so close to him was doing things to her she didn't think it proper to point out. She cherished the feel, the joy of his company, and the occasional silence that transpired between them.

"Do you think we've run out of things to say?" Nesta asked. She noted his lips curl into a smile.

"One can never run out of things to say with you," he said. "For one, I could subscribe to adoring you, or saying some of the sweet things I think about you."

"Sweet things," she said with a grin. "What about bitter things? Surely, everyone possesses the bitter and the sweet."

"If you have it, I haven't seen it."

"You're being too modest, lord Bramford. A gentleman maybe, but don't even you have a bad side."

"The worst."

Nesta laughed. "Tell me about it."

She watched his expression, she knew he was forming words in his thoughts.

She wondered what he wanted to say. Would it be convincing?

"I think I'm sometimes cruel," Quinn said.

"Cruel? Why would you say that?"

"My dealings with people, I guess. Business and all."

"That's your bad side?"

"Absolutely," he said.

Nesta tried to suppress her laugh, but failed. "You're hilarious, lord Bramford.

I thought you were going to say that you were bad."

"I am."