Hello, one and all. My names is Niles Thornton, Baron Quinton. Feel free to call me Quin, since that's what everyone else does. I'll only grumble about the responsibilities that come with the title for a bit. You know, responsibilities such as acting like a respectable gent and doing as the ladies expect of me, that sort of thing.
My authoress, Miss Gayle, thought to do an interview with me today. I wasn't overly enamored of that idea, however. After all, she might ask me questions about things I am not overly fond of discussing--like my father--and I couldn't have that.
Besides, I'm Lord Quinton. I shouldn't have to do as she says. So I refused her suggestion of the interview and took matters into my own hands. I'm sure she'll thank me for it later. I mean, can we be serious for a moment? Who would want to read an interview with me, after all?
Precisely--no one.
Does anyone know where they keep the brandy in this place? I don't seem to see a sideboard, or even a glass for that matter. What sort of place doesn't have a good stock of brandy?
"Ahem. The ladies of Timeless Quills have placed all spirits under lock and key, just as I instructed them to do."
Jonas? Good God, who invited him today? Just because he's my best friend, he seems to think he can just barge into my non-interviews and get rid of the spirits.
"And why would you have done anything of that sort?" I ask on a groan.
"For the same reason I removed it all from Quinton Abbey." Jonas takes a seat and makes himself comfortable, despite the clenched fist forming in my right hand. "And don't worry, all of you lovely readers out there. Truly, he'll thank me for it later."
"I'll thank you to leave me in peace."
"I'm afraid I can't do that."
I punch the striped silk cushion on the sofa I'm seated upon, since it really wouldn't do to plant Jonas a facer with an audience watching us so closely. "And why not?"
"Lady Quinton wrote me," Jonas answers, as cool as you please.
Of course, Aurora and her penchant for writing would be at the root of the issue. I should have known it. Granted, some of her writings had been rather helpful..but still. I ought to insist she allow me to see any letters she's written before she sends them. If I'd done that, I could have prevented Jonas's current interruption.
"Did Miss Gayle know that you'd be interrupting her blog today?"
"Did Miss Gayle know that you intended to ignore her request for an interview and take matters into your own hands?" Jonas crosses his arms over his chest, assuming what I can only imagine is meant to be a menacing posture.
A knock sounds at the door, even as my fists are yet again forming.
Damnation, who else intends to interrupt me while I'm trying to deal with Miss Gayle's blog? And with no brandy, for Christ's sake. "Come!" I bark out, fully intent on sending whoever it is away without preamble.
But then my half-sister, Nia, comes through the door. "Aurora sent for me," she says, rushing inside...but then she halts suddenly when she sees Jonas. Her mouth opens and closes, like a fish forgetting it has gills and trying to breathe like a human.
Yet another missive my sweet wife has sent without informing me. "Why in God's name would she send for you?" I regret the harsh tone as soon as the words have left my mouth. It isn't Nia's fault Jonas has removed my access to brandy. "I apologize. Do you know why she sent for you?" This time, my tone is kinder though no less aggrieved.
But Nia's eyes flutter over to Jonas and away, and a harsh blush stains her cheeks. And then I know.
She's matchmaking again. "AURORA!!!"
My authoress, Miss Gayle, thought to do an interview with me today. I wasn't overly enamored of that idea, however. After all, she might ask me questions about things I am not overly fond of discussing--like my father--and I couldn't have that.
Besides, I'm Lord Quinton. I shouldn't have to do as she says. So I refused her suggestion of the interview and took matters into my own hands. I'm sure she'll thank me for it later. I mean, can we be serious for a moment? Who would want to read an interview with me, after all?
Precisely--no one.
Does anyone know where they keep the brandy in this place? I don't seem to see a sideboard, or even a glass for that matter. What sort of place doesn't have a good stock of brandy?
"Ahem. The ladies of Timeless Quills have placed all spirits under lock and key, just as I instructed them to do."
Jonas? Good God, who invited him today? Just because he's my best friend, he seems to think he can just barge into my non-interviews and get rid of the spirits.
"And why would you have done anything of that sort?" I ask on a groan.
"For the same reason I removed it all from Quinton Abbey." Jonas takes a seat and makes himself comfortable, despite the clenched fist forming in my right hand. "And don't worry, all of you lovely readers out there. Truly, he'll thank me for it later."
"I'll thank you to leave me in peace."
"I'm afraid I can't do that."
I punch the striped silk cushion on the sofa I'm seated upon, since it really wouldn't do to plant Jonas a facer with an audience watching us so closely. "And why not?"
"Lady Quinton wrote me," Jonas answers, as cool as you please.
Of course, Aurora and her penchant for writing would be at the root of the issue. I should have known it. Granted, some of her writings had been rather helpful..but still. I ought to insist she allow me to see any letters she's written before she sends them. If I'd done that, I could have prevented Jonas's current interruption.
"Did Miss Gayle know that you'd be interrupting her blog today?"
"Did Miss Gayle know that you intended to ignore her request for an interview and take matters into your own hands?" Jonas crosses his arms over his chest, assuming what I can only imagine is meant to be a menacing posture.
A knock sounds at the door, even as my fists are yet again forming.
Damnation, who else intends to interrupt me while I'm trying to deal with Miss Gayle's blog? And with no brandy, for Christ's sake. "Come!" I bark out, fully intent on sending whoever it is away without preamble.
But then my half-sister, Nia, comes through the door. "Aurora sent for me," she says, rushing inside...but then she halts suddenly when she sees Jonas. Her mouth opens and closes, like a fish forgetting it has gills and trying to breathe like a human.
Yet another missive my sweet wife has sent without informing me. "Why in God's name would she send for you?" I regret the harsh tone as soon as the words have left my mouth. It isn't Nia's fault Jonas has removed my access to brandy. "I apologize. Do you know why she sent for you?" This time, my tone is kinder though no less aggrieved.
But Nia's eyes flutter over to Jonas and away, and a harsh blush stains her cheeks. And then I know.
She's matchmaking again. "AURORA!!!"
**The authoress, Catherine Gayle, steps in before any more harm can be done.
If you'd like to get to know Quin, Aurora, Jonas, and Nia better, you can find them in TWICE A RAKE, the first book in my Lord Rotheby's Influence series. Nia and Jonas will have their own time in the spotlight sometime in the not too distant future. Be on the lookout for their story.
If you'd like to get to know Quin, Aurora, Jonas, and Nia better, you can find them in TWICE A RAKE, the first book in my Lord Rotheby's Influence series. Nia and Jonas will have their own time in the spotlight sometime in the not too distant future. Be on the lookout for their story.
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