Page 9 of A Sonata for the Fiery Lady
“Are you lost?” Melisa then added.
He smiled at her as he nodded his head. “Indeed, Miss Melisa, it seems that I am. I’ve certainly lost track of time and distance,” Mr Quinn admitted.
“Have you been out all night, Mr Quinn?” Melisa asked, truly intrigued. Another sheepish smile came to his face as Melisa noticed him blush in the early morning light.
“I won’t lie and say that I haven’t. You see, I’m still grieving much over my father and even fear returning to our apartment. I know that I will be alone there and will dreadfully miss him,” Oliver confessed meekly.
Melisa felt for the man, never knowing such loss in her own life. A thought came to her then as she looped her arm with Mr Quinn’s, shocking him further.
“Let us stroll, then, through the park here,” Melisa said boldly, enjoying the reaction she could cause in the man. “It’s one of my favourite places in all of town because for a short while I can pretend I’m back home in the country. It’s a very peaceful place.”
“I’d be happy to escort you, Miss Melisa,” Mr Quinn reasoned, smiling pleasantly down at the lady.
They walked through the fog together at a leisure pace, moving through the park’s gate together as Melisa led them on a path that would wind through the entire park. She also knew of a bench that she often took to because not many people came that way, wanting to stick to the more open paths where they could easily be seen in all their finery. But Melisa didn’t care about being spotted in the park. She was simply on a mission to enjoy herself this morning, regardless of what consequences she might face later when her parents discovered what she’d been up to all morning.
“This is truly a beautiful place,” Mr Quinn agreed as they settled onto the bench that Melisa had led them to. They viewed all the flowering plants through the fog that seemed to surround them in a bubble, separating them from the rest of the world.
“When I was younger, my family resided in the country. My mother commissioned a large garden full of flowering plants. It was my favourite place in the world to roam the gardens, playing hide and seek with my nanny. I could spend all day out in the sun, long before it was something that was considered ladylike. I suppose, the older I got, the more rules society demanded I followed,” Melisa confessed, her arm still tucked into Mr Quinn’s. She felt so comfortable next to him, as though she could tell him anything and never have to worry about him sharing her secrets.
“That sounds wonderful, Miss Stanton. I have never been outside of London, so these parks are all I’ve ever seen of nature. But I very much like the idea of the country. It sounds more peaceful,” Mr Quinn replied as he gazed all around. Melisa smiled at him because he seemed to be at ease with her as well.
“If I could choose I’d spend all my days in the country and never have a reason to return to town,” Melisa admitted as she sighed. After a few minutes of silence, Melisa asked, “So, did you walk the entire night away, Mr Quinn?” She was very curious about him and enjoyed hearing him speak.
“Most of the night I did walk, Miss Melisa, but I also visited the gaming hell that my father had often frequented. He wasn’t a drunk or a gambler, mind you. He simply enjoyed the company of others and was very keen to hear gossip,” Mr Quinn said with a chuckle, the sound of his laughter like music to her ears.
“I had never been to one before,” Mr Quinn continued, “and I wanted to visit the one where he’d attend the most. Unfortunately, it was also the one where he’d been shot outside.”
Melisa gasped as she placed a hand over her mouth. “Are you to say, Mr Quinn, that your father was murdered?” she wondered in shock.
“Indeed, Miss Melisa. He was shot dead outside the gaming hell and no one seems to know who did it. I went to the very one he was killed outside of in hopes of discovering anything I could about who might have wanted my father dead. But I surely did not learn anything of value this night. Afterwards, I simply wandered, lost in thought,” Mr Quinn explained. Melisa watched him closely, wishing there was something she could do for the man.
In the distance, Melisa heard the call of a push-cart seller, calling out his food for the morning. Melisa pulled a few coins from her reticule and handed them to Mr Quinn. “Would you go and fetch us some breakfast?” she asked.
He smiled down at her as he took the few coins and set off for the push-cart. As he left, Melisa realized that she missed him and the warmth of his body next to hers. She eagerly watched the path he had taken, hoping that he would return quickly and fill her with that sensation of warmth again. She couldn’t even contain her smile as he returned, fresh bread and cheese in hand. He handed the change to her, but she refused to take it.
“Keep it, Mr Quinn. I appreciate your service to me in fetching our breakfast and keeping me company,” Melisa explained. Mr Quinn simply nodded as he pocketed the change and broke the bread and cheese for them to share. For Melisa, it was a very simple meal. She was used to all sorts of foods to sample in the morning, but she reasoned that this was a very normal breakfast for Mr Quinn. She didn’t complain as she enjoyed sharing a meal with her new friend.
“Now that your father has passed, Mr Quinn, what do you think you’ll do?” Melisa asked after they had finished eating, enjoying companionable silence and viewing all of the nature around them.
She listened as he sighed deeply and crossed his arms. “I suppose that I will continue as I’ve always done. I enjoy performing for others, even if I’m just a pianist for hire. But I’ve thought about finding a roommate in order to ensure I can make the rent payment each month,” Mr Quinn explained.
Melisa nodded her head in sympathy because she couldn’t fathom having to work to pay a rental agreement. She had felt no stress of personal finances because her father was wealthy enough to afford all that they needed with ease. She tried to imagine herself rising early every morning to work and wondered if she could ever live such a life when she was used to everything she needed being given to her with just a simple order. She looked at Mr Quinn then, who had been watching her the entire time she’d thought deeply.
A blush ran over Melisa as she looked deeply into his warm eyes, her eyes drifting to his lips as she wondered what it would be like to kiss him. She thought of the Duke last night ravishing that young lady with his mouth and hands, and she couldn’t help wondering what that would feel like if she was to experience such a thing from Mr Quinn. She looked away from him, afraid of where her mind was leading her as she took several deep, steadying breaths.
The fog was clearing around them, more of town coming into view. Melisa knew that her time with Mr Quinn was coming to an end; that soon other families would be frequenting the park, and they would surely be discovered. Many would spread gossip quickly about Melisa after being spotted walking alone with another man the night after her engagement ball. So, Melisa quickly took a calling card from her reticule and wrote a note on the back of it in pencil. She carefully handed it to Mr Quinn, hoping that the graphite wouldn’t smudge.
“This is the name of a magistrate my father has worked closely with in the past when dealing with any matters of the law. A few years ago, a servant stole precious things from my father and he needed to press charges. This was the magistrate my father worked with. Seek him out for an appointment and see if he can help you too with the murder of your father,” Melisa explained as she watched Mr Quinn handle the card carefully. She saw tears coming to his eyes and couldn’t help herself as she raised her hand to his face and wiped the tears away. Mr Quinn raised his hand and held her hand to his face, causing Melisa’s heart to beat faster.
“Thank you so much, Miss Melisa. This means the world to me,” Mr Quinn said as he dropped his hand, Melisa putting her hand back in her lap though it was still warm from where she’d touched him. She’d never been this bold in her life, but she didn’t regret her actions one bit.
“I should be going now,” Melisa said as she stood, opening up her parasol above her head, hoping to shield her face as she made her way home. She dipped her head towards Mr Quinn and went to leave but was surprised when he reached out and stopped her, grabbing her free hand in his.
“Can I see you again?” Mr Quinn asked, his eyes full of pleading. Melisa didn’t withdraw her hand as she let him hold it, a smile coming to her face.
“I would like that very much, Mr Quinn. Let us meet here again tomorrow, the early morning perfect for such meetings,” Melisa agreed, missing the feeling of Mr Quinn’s touch as he let her hand go. “And perhaps you could help me in return.”
Mr Quinn’s brows furrowed as he regarded her. “And what could I possibly help thee with, Miss Melisa?” he asked.
