Reluctantly, I did as she instructed me to do. Her brows furrowed, indicating her displeasure.
“Quinn Elizabeth Soloman. Are you trying to cause a scene?”
With a shake of my head, I said, “I’m feeling rather tired this evening, Mother. May I excuse myself and retire to my chambers?”
“You most certainly will not. We have important guests. Do not think it slipped by my attention the note your abby gave you. Whatever you are planning, it will have to wait until after our guests have left.”
If I thou
ght I would get away with stomping my foot and pouting, I would have tried it. I knew my mother too well. She would simply ignore me and focus her attention on her guests. If there was one thing Mother was good at, it was entertaining her guests.
I scanned the room, desperate to escape. The corner of my mouth rose in a half smile when I saw Timothy Hues. When he caught my stare, he returned my innocent gesture with a wide grin, unaware that he was about to help me escape my mother’s watchful eye.
I crossed the room to him, making sure to greet my mother’s guests along the way. Mother was strict about one thing. Manners. She expected my utmost attention to them. Since I was a young child, she had told me to never draw unwanted attention to one’s self. It only fueled gossip.
“Ms. Quinn, you are looking lovely this evening,” Timothy gushed.
My gaze fell to the floor. “Why thank you, Mr. Hues.” Lifting my blue eyes to his, I delicately bit my bottom lip. It was not a gesture for a lady like myself to use, but I was desperate, and I knew Timothy desired to court me. I was about to do the unthinkable and flirt with a man I had no desire to court. Desperate times called for such actions.
I fluttered my eyelashes. “I could use some fresh air. You?”
He opened his mouth, but nothing came forth. Clearing his throat, he answered, “Yes, yes, of course.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I motioned for Ayana. She followed closely behind, yet gave us a bit of privacy as a companion would do. If I was courting Mr. Hues, she must have known the note caused me great concern.
“Let’s go out front and take a stroll; the exercise will do me wonders as I am feeling a bit… off,” I said, turning to my mother with a smile. She was likely to be happy to see me with a gentleman like Timothy Hues. After all, his family was from Boston and his father owned two banks.
The moment we stepped off the last step, I pulled out the letter Ayana had given me. “Timothy. I implore your help. It is very important.”
His expression turned grave. “Are you okay, my dear?”
My dear? He thinks one request for a stroll is enough to call me my dear? He is greatly mistaken.
I lifted my brow while tipping my head ever so slightly in a questioning manner. “I’m sorry, what did you call me?”
“I meant Quinn, of course. Are you okay, Quinn?”
This is what I get for flirting with the poor man. “Yes. But I must pay a visit to Mr. and Mrs. James Hathorne at once. Will you accompany me?”
Timothy gawked at me with wide eyes. “Now? Right this very moment, Quinn?”
“Yes, Timothy Hues. This very moment. If we hurry, we can make it there and back before dinner is served. But only if we hurry.”
“This is truly of importance?”
“Do you call me a liar, Mr. Hues?”
“No, I do no such thing. Please forgive me.”