years. Would prison have changed him? Probably not. In order to change, you had to see the error of your ways, to repent and want to be better. But Brett was unrepentant, his conscience clear.
Of course, no one would take her seriously; Gabe was right in that as well. Without fresh evidence, the case would remain closed, just another file collecting dust in an out-of-the-way cabinet until enough time had passed and it was moved to some basement archive, where it would never see the light of day again.
Quinn sighed heavily. She needed expert advice. She had to know if she had a legal leg to stand on. She’d promised Gabe she wouldn’t go to the police, but she hadn’t promised she wouldn’t consult Drew Camden. Drew had helped her find her twin when everyone else thought Jo had dropped off the face of the earth, and he had been able to make inroads into finding Daisy before Jo had abruptly decided to abort the search. Drew was clever, determined, and most importantly discreet, and, being a retired police detective, would know exactly how to proceed and what evidence would stand up in court.
The bedroom door opened, and Gabe came in. He undressed quickly and got into bed. Realizing she was still awake, he pulled her into his arms, and Quinn melted into him, thinking he wanted to resolve their differences the old-fashioned way, but Gabe didn’t respond to her obvious willingness. His gaze was troubled, his breathing ragged. He was still upset.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I’m so sorry for everything I said. You were right; we can’t ignore this. We don’t have enough to involve the police, but we can speak to Drew. He’ll advise us. I’ll stand by you, Quinn, no matter where this takes us.”
“I’m sorry too,” Quinn said softly. “Now, shut up and make love to me.”
Their joining was urgent and intense, the feelings that had been simmering for the past few hours finally boiling over in a culmination of love, forgiveness, and mutual acknowledgment that nothing would ever truly be the same. This day had changed everything, regardless of the eventual outcome. Like Adam and Eve, they’d taken a bite of the apple and now possessed knowledge they could no longer ignore that could lead to their expulsion from paradise. And their life had been paradise before she went and cocked it all up, Quinn thought bitterly. She’d brought the serpent into their lives.
Unable to rest even after Gabe had finally dropped off to sleep, Quinn reached for the ring, desperate to escape a reality she couldn’t have imagined only twenty-four hours ago.
Chapter 31
November 1777
New York City
The ride into New York City took several hours, but Jocelyn didn’t mind. She was warm and snug in Hannah’s cloak, her hair kept out of the grip of the playful wind by a linen cap. They’d left before the sun had come up, but Jocelyn had been more than ready to go, glad no one would see them on the road at such an early hour. She had no desire to fuel the gossip that had spread like a forest fire over the past few weeks, the nasty insinuations fanned by Lydia Blackwell and based on her unfounded belief that Jocelyn was making a play for Derek. Derek seemed unperturbed, no doubt pleased by Lydia’s jealousy, nor did he ever address the rumors at home, not even when Ben had brought up the subject over supper last night.
Jocelyn found Ben’s anger more telling than anything he might have said to her outright. He resented her name being bandied about in relation to his brother, who’d been nothing but chivalrous and respectful since their conversation in the barn, keeping her secrets as if they were his own. Ben hadn’t spoken to her of his feelings again, but the intensity of his gaze when he looked at her and his constant attempts at getting her alone had become wearying. She’d said nothing to encourage him, but he took her every smile and comment as a sign of interest and repaid her friendly gestures with romantic overtures. He’d left a bouquet of late-blooming roses in a jug by her bed and had sewed her a handsome leather purse, which hung empty from her bedpost since Jocelyn had nothing of her own to put in it. Ben was kind, solicitous, and respectful, but the intensity of his feelings terrified Jocelyn, more so because she didn’t return them.
“Do you normally go into