LEATHER AND LACE

Chapter 7-Weddings

Franklin County, Virginia, April/May 1817

In mid April, Peyton came home from Martha Hudson's with news. He had asked her to marry him, and she had answered yes. Sam knew this was going to happen since Peyton had been talking to him about it nonstop in the workshop. Sam thought he'd finally get to the meet the elusive Finn Hudson; he wondered how Quinn would react to seeing him again.

Quinn's mother had also received word that Anne Palmer and David Harter were being married in 2 weeks. At suppertime, there was a feeling of excitement at the Fabray household.

Kate pouted through the meal.

"Please stop with the dour expression, Catherine," her mother said.

"I just wish James Martin would be so kind as to ask for my hand!" Sam about choked on a green bean. Quinn was just as shocked.

Thomas turned an odd shade of purple and asked her how old she was.

"Fifteen and almost one-half," she answered.

"Even if Mr. Martin were to ask me for your hand, I'd put my foot down, young lady, and the answer would be no! Not until your 18!"

That, of course, upset Kate and she ran to her room crying. Sam thought sometimes it might be best to eat alone in his cabin.

And then Quinn spoke up. "Eighteen, papa? Isn't that a little...old?"

Quinn questioning her father's acceptable age of marriage for his daughters commanded the entire table's attention, including Sam who again nearly choked on his food. Not only had Sam not really considered marriage, he still had not told Quinn or her father about his previous marriage.

"That goes for you, too, young lass!" Thomas said.

"Papa!" she cried and left the table for her room. Sam was blushing and staring down at his plate.

"You'll have to excuse my daughters, Mr. Evans. With all this talk of marriage, they appear to be a bit overdramatic," Mrs. Fabray said to Sam.

"Yes'm, I understand," he muttered. He excused himself and returned to his cabin.

xxxxx

In their bedchamber, Quinn asked Kate if she thought she and James Martin would be married eventually.

"I should think so; he said he loves me more than all the stars in the heavens," Kate whimpered.

"That's so beautiful, sister. I certainly hope he becomes your husband in the future. Maybe papa will change his mind?" Quinn wondered aloud, knowing in her heart that he most likely wouldn't. "Sam finally kissed me!"

"He did? When? What was it like?"

"Before my commencement ceremony, in the meadow down the way. It was a wondrous feeling, sister!" Quinn gushed.

"I agree!"

"Ma and pa were young once...they were married when she was 16 and he 18!" Quinn said.

"What about you? If Sam asked for your hand?" Kate asked her.

"Oh...I wouldn't know what to say! I've only known him a few months!"

"Come now, sister...I've seen the way he looks at you and when they return from a trip he barely stops the wagon before running to you!"

Quinn smiled to herself. She had noticed that herself.

"I think the supper conversation frightened him a bit; he nearly choked!" Quinn said, trying to contain a giggle.

"You two look so nice together, like you were meant to be," Kate told her. "What date do you think Martha Hudson will choose for her wedding to brother?"

"I'm not sure..." Quinn said quietly, the realization hitting her that she would most likely see Finn and Elizabeth Hudson at that wedding. It was the first time she had thought of him in months. Sam had a way of making her forget him.

Quinn and Kate found out the next day that their brother Peyton would be getting married on May 15, 1817. After supper that night, Quinn asked Sam if he'd sit on the front porch with her. They sat together on the porch swing, pushing it slowly.

"I'm sorry about last night's topic of conversation, Sam," Quinn began.

"I understand, Quinn," he said quietly.

They swung quietly for a bit longer and Quinn asked him, "Would you like to escort me to my aunt's wedding?" She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting on his answer. She had never been so forward with a boy before. She felt his hand slide into hers.

"It'd be my honor, Miss Quinn," he said, squeezing her hand gently.

He thought about the night before at the dining room table. Quinn had seemed flustered by her father's edict that no daughter of his would be married before 18. Sam had retreated to his cabin then and took his journal out to write.

The topic of mariage was brought up t'night at supper. I haven't even given mariage a thought but it made me realize that Quinn doesn't know about Liz. I didn't think I could feel the same way ab't another lady like I did for Liz but now Quinn is in my life and I find myself questoining that. Tis diff'rent though. With Liz, she felt more like a sister to me, it was easy, she was like an open book. With Quinn, it almost borders on passion, she's hard to read sometimes. Will I ever feel that famil'r with Quinn? I don't have an anwser now.

He did know that it was true that he wanted to get to know Quinn better. He thought his mother and late wife would approve of his choice.

xxxxx

It was the day of Anne Palmer's wedding, which was being held at Granny Palmer's house. Her house was located down the road from the Fabrays; Sam had never been there. It was a farmhouse, a lot like his grandmother Feazel's. As they were courting, he drove Quinn over there in her buckboard, just as Peyton picked up Martha Hudson and James Martin picked up Kate. This was the day that they were announcing to other family and friends that they shared a courtship. It was well known within the Fabray family that Sam and Quinn were, in fact, courting, but the general public was not yet aware.

Quinn wore a baby blue silk gown that usually Kate wore, but she let Kate wear her pale green dress. She was waiting on the front porch on Sam, twirling a matching parasol. He stopped the buggy and came around to walk her down off the porch and help her up into the small wagon.

When he got behind the reins, he asked, "Are you excited for your aunt?"

"Very much so. It's a perfect day for a wedding," she said, glancing at him. He wore his grandfather's suit that day because the woolen suit would've been too hot. She still thought he looked handsome, smiling back at her and tipping his hat.

At Granny Palmer's, he parked the buggy and helped Quinn out of it. They walked toward the guests gathered around seats in the side yard. She gripped his elbow, feeling the muscle bulge there. As they walked toward the crowd together, he could feel her skirts swishing against his legs. For some reason, he always thought of that as very intimate. As they walked together, he looked down at her tiny hand, dressed in a white lace glove, in the crook of his elbow and thought he could stay that way forever, with her by his side. That feeling came out of nowhere, he blinked, and tried to remember Quinn's relatives' names as she introduced him.

They took seats behind her parents and waited for the ceremony to begin. Anne had no one escort her down the aisle to David Harter. She wore the rose-colored gown she had worn at Christmastime when he proposed. David smiled at her as she made her way toward him. After the prayers and vows and exchanging of the rings, they kissed chastely and left the altar to return to the house where they'd receive their guests.

Sam turned to Quinn to find her quietly crying, dabbing at her eyes with a lacy handkerchief. He had been married at his cabin in Kentucky with only Elizabeth's family in attendance so an actual wedding ceremony really didn't get to him as it was obviously getting to her. He had learned early on to not question a crying female, so he held her hand and said, "That was a beautiful ceremony, don't you agree?"

She nodded, smiling. She was so happy for her aunt; she couldn't wait to talk to her privately about how she felt going through the wedding ceremony. As they made their way to the house, she found Kate and hugged her, both crying, as was Martha Hudson.

Sam walked along with Peyton and James Martin. "Boy, this sure brought on the waterworks, didn't it?" James said to the other two who nodded in agreement.

Finally, Quinn dried up her tears and got in line with Sam to offer congratulations to the newlyweds.

"It was just lovely, Anne. I'm so happy for you," Quinn told her aunt.

"Thank you, Quinny. It's so nice to see you and Sam here," she said, smiling.

Sam shook their hands and mumbled congratulations. He never knew what to say or do in these situations.

They moved on through the house and got little cups of punch and small plates of fruitcake and went back outside to sit in the shade.

"I've never been to a real wedding before," Sam told her.

"I haven't been to one since I was a little girl..." she said. "Martha Hudson sure is getting excited!" They both glanced over at Peyton and Martha and it appeared Martha was talking his ear off, undoubtedly about ideas for their upcoming nuptials.

"Shall I be your escort to that event, as well?" he asked, smiling.

"I would very much like that, Samuel," she said, returning the smile.

He took a chance and asked the next question. "Do you ever see yourself being married?"

It caught her off guard. "There was a time when I thought it was not the right choice for me. I could be persuaded, though," she said, playing coy. He wondered if she was referring to the time when she found out Finn had eloped with another girl.

They heard the fiddler warming up his instrument, the cue that dancing was about to begin.

"Shall we?" he asked. She nodded, and he stood up, helping her up. They returned their dishware to the kitchen and followed the fiddle and piano music.

They watched the newly married David and Anne Harter dance the first dance to the piano being played by Granny Palmer. Other couples joined in the dance. As they were courting now, Sam didn't have to ask Quinn for every dance; it was implied that he was her partner. She took his hand as he led her to a place to dance. It was a country version of the minuet, not as complicated as what was performed in high society. Sam actually enjoyed following the steps and gazing at her as they moved through the motions. Quinn enjoyed it, as well; Sam was a fine dancer and he never took his eyes off her.

After several more dances and mingling with the other guests, David and Anne were planning to leave for their wedding trip to Lynchburg to visit David's family. Quinn hugged Anne once more and Anne promised to write her. They left amidst cheers and waving. Quinn had to help with cleanup inside the home; the men put away chairs and tables that had been used outside.

The long day finally came to an end, and Sam drove Quinn back to her home.

"Thank you for escorting me, Mr. Evans," she said.

He smiled, removing his hat and bowing deeply. "My honor, Miss Quinn."

He walked her to the front door. Her parents were home and sitting on the porch swing.

"Thank you for a lovely day, Quinn," he said and kissed her chastely on the cheek and waited for her to enter the house. She was smiling as she did.

He turned to go back to the buckboard, but her parents stopped him.

"May we have a moment, Mr. Evans?" Miranda asked.

He felt the blush rise up his cheeks to his ears.

"Certainly, Missus Fabray," Sam said and sat down in a chair near them.

"Sam, what might your intentions be?" her father asked him.

"Sir?"

"Toward my Quinny...your intentions, boy..."

Sam cleared his throat. "I'd like to get to know her better, sir."

"We don't know much about you, though. Tell us about yourself," Thomas inquired.

"My mother was Elizabeth Feazel; she died 8 days after I was born," Sam began, desperately trying to think of a way to explain his previous marriage.

"And what year were you born?" Quinn's mother asked.

"1796, ma'am," he said.

"I believe I knew your mother, as a girl," she said. "She was a gentle soul, always questioning, beautiful blonde hair...you look much like her, Sam. I remember the boy she courted, your father I surmise. How in love they were." Sam, of course, had never heard anyone speak so candidly about his mother, even telling him he resembled her.

"Thank you, ma'am," he said quietly.

"Go on, son," her father said.

"I lived with the Feazels until I was 9 and then went to live with my pa in Stokes County, North Carolina. I joined the North Carolina Militia during the War of 1812 and served my full time there." He paused there, took a deep breath, and went on. "I met my first wife there and followed her family to Logan County, Kentucky, where we were married in June 1816. She died in August 1816 from fever, and I returned here, to live with grandmother Feazel."

He finally managed to say the words and waited for their reaction, gripping his hat in his hands.

"I'm so sorry to hear that, Sam," Miranda said softly.

"Thank you, ma'am. It was a difficult time for me," he mumbled, now tearing up. She reached over and touched him lightly on the hand and felt him trembling. She could sense the boy needed a mother.

"Does Quinny know about your late wife?" her father asked him. Sam shook his head no.

"I think you should tell her of your past, Samuel. It might make it easier to cope with," her mother said. "If you want to know her better, she needs to know you better, as well."

"Yes, ma'am," he mumbled. He was beginning to think Miranda Fabray was one of the smartest women he had ever met and for whatever reason it felt like she was on his side.

"So, DeWitt, who taught you carpentry, he was this woman's father?" Thomas asked him.

"Yes, sir."

"He must've thought quite highly of you, then."

Sam recalled the time when Mr. DeWitt and his father had to plan his wedding because Elizabeth kissed him and Mr. DeWitt wasn't too happy then. He came around, though, after Sam returned from his military duty.

"I s'pose so, sir," Sam answered.

"It is quite obvious that our Quinny is smitten with you, Samuel. You do need to speak to her, though, about what you told us tonight," her mother went on. "If you foresee your relationship with her progressing."

"Yes'm," he answered. No one else spoke so he took that as his cue he may leave. He stood up and wished them a goodnight and returned to his cabin.

"He's a sad boy, father," Miranda said to Thomas.

"That he is...except for when I see him with Quinny and his face lights up. He's very quiet on our trips and often writes in a journal. I think he'd make her a fine husband in the future, but he appears to feel guilt over his late wife, maybe because she died? maybe because he has feelings for Quinny?"

"I agree, father. If he confided in Quinny, I think she could help him through his grief. He does look just like his mother. Do you remember her?"

"Of course I remember her, mother! If I had not laid eyes on you first, I certainly would've requested her courtship!"

"She was a lovely girl and so in love with her husband, such a tragedy for Samuel, to never know her," Miranda said, shaking her a head a bit.

xxxxx

At his cabin, Sam lay in his bed, hands laced behind his head, ankles crossed, thoughts racing through his mind. Now that Quinn's parents knew about Elizabeth he knew they'd be expecting him to tell Quinn soon. That posed a problem...how would he even broach that subject? How would Quinn react? How would he feel knowing that she knew? He was thoroughly confused. He thought of the Bible verse, Psalm 27:14. His heart needed to heal before he could move forward with Quinn. He had finally put Elizabeth's picture away. The next step would have to be sharing that brief painful time of his life with Quinn.

xxxxx

The next two weeks were filled with wedding preparations for Peyton's nuptials to Martha Hudson. Quinn and Kate found themselves going with their mother most days to the Hudson residence where the wedding was to occur. Quinn and Kate's job in the days leading up to the wedding was working on her trousseau, including her dress, veil, garter, and other dresswear for other members of the wedding party. This wedding was going to be more of a lavish affair than the Harter wedding, mainly due to the Hudsons having more money at their disposal.

The day before the wedding, Quinn was occupied at the Hudson residence decorating every available surface and assisting Martha with anything she needed. Guests began arriving, the ones from farther away and who would be staying at the Hudson's after the ceremony. Quinn missed having Kate to talk to; she was helping in the kitchen. One of Quinn's chores was fashioning a bouquet of flowers for Martha to carry. She decided to go to the meadow Sam had taken her to and choose wildflowers for Martha to decide what she wanted. Wandering through all the flowers, choosing the prettiest ones she could find and putting them in her basket, she recalled the picnic with Sam there and how he had kissed her, not once but twice. The past two weeks they had barely seen one another, really only in passing, not even at suppertime hardly. It almost seemed to her that he was avoiding her.

Martha had also informed her that Finn would be present at the wedding; however, Elizabeth Hudson would not be present, due to her delicate condition. Quinn wasn't sure how to feel about that. Thankfully, Sam was escorting her to this wedding, as well.

Back at the Hudson residence, Quinn found Martha sitting quietly on the porch.

"Is everything okay, dear? You look...saddened," Quinn said, sitting down with her.

Martha picked up the basket and started going through the flowers.

"These are lovely, Quinn. I knew you'd choose the prettiest ones for me," she said quietly. "We can use the ones not in my bouquet around the house."

"Where is your smile? This should be a happy day for you!"

"It is, dear sister. How sweet it is that we'll finally be sisters! I'm going to miss living here, I believe," Martha told her. She had all brothers so gaining Quinn and Kate as sisters-in-law was ideal for her. Peyton had bought a small tract of land near the Fabrays with an old cabin on site that he and Sam had been working on to make ready as their residence.

"But you'll have your own home with Peyton! And I'm sure you can visit often! And you'll be living closer to me now!" Quinn tried to think of all the positives.

Martha had her bouquet in hand and smiled at Quinn. "Those are good things, yes. Let's go inside and I'll try my gown on again!"

Quinn giggled and followed her inside the house.

xxxxx

Sam had been avoiding Quinn. He was still trying to figure out how to talk to her about Elizabeth and he naturally assumed the best way to get past that was to just avoid it. He knew in his heart, though, that that was not the right thing to do. Maybe at the Hudson-Fabray wedding he'd find the nerve.

The night before the wedding, though, he had to participate in bachelor festivities with Peyton. And, much to his chagrin, Finn Hudson had arrived.

The young men gathered at the Fabray residence. Sam sat quietly, watching Finn Hudson interact with the others. He seemed like an affable guy, friendly, easy going. Sam wondered what his wife was like, the one he chose to elope with even after having the opportunity to court Quinn.

The spirits were flowing freely that evening and most of the young men were smoking pipes.

"I don't believe we've met," Sam said from behind Finn. Finn was standing at the buffet pouring himself a drink. Finn turned around and eyed Sam.

"No, I don't believe we have. Finn Hudson," Finn said, offering his hand.

Sam shook his hand. "Sam Evans. I work for Thomas Fabray."

"Ah, Mr. Fabray! A more jovial gentleman I've never met!" Finn exclaimed. He poured a second drink and handed it to Sam. Sam slowly sipped the bourbon, feeling the liquid heat up his insides and make him a little heady. "What do you do for Mr. Fabray?"

"Carpentry work."

"Oh! Peyton said he was apprenticing under one of the finest carpenters around! That must be you, fine sir! Very pleased to make your acquaintance," Finn said happily, shaking Sam's hand again.

Sam nodded. "And what do you do, Mr. Hudson?"

"Just odd jobs, here and there. Jack of all trades, master of none!" Sam thought Finn had possibly mastered being a drunk.

Peyton stumbled up to them, slinging an arm around both of their shoulders. "Finn! I see you've met my dear sister Quinn's suitor!" Sam looked at Finn to gauge his reaction to that news.

Finn stood there, swaying a bit, studying Sam. Finally, he said quietly, "Yes, I have."

The other young gentleman pulled Peyton away and to the piano where James Martin began playing a lively tune. Sometime later, Sam slipped away to his cabin quietly.

Slightly drunk, he wrote in his journal: Met the man who broke Quinn's heatr. I think we need each other to heal the chasms our hearts have suff'red.

xxxxx

Quinn and Kate had stayed at the Hudson house the night before the wedding, talking to Martha about her impending marriage to their older brother.

"Your cabin looks so pretty; Peyton and Sam have worked hard on it," Kate said.

"It'll be so odd sleeping somewhere that's not here...and, well, sleeping with a man," Martha said. The other two giggled.

"Peyton talks in his sleep; he'll prob'ley keep you awake until morning!" Quinn said, laughing.

Martha's eyes opened wide. "I'm a bit nervous about...the other thing."

"What other thing?" Kate asked innocently. Quinn had an idea of what Martha was talking about. She nudged Kate and whispered relations. "Ohhhh..." Kate said, still not understanding what that meant.

"Did you talk to your mother?" Quinn asked her.

"She just said Peyton would know what to do," Martha said, blushing.

"I don't know what to tell you, Martha dear. All I know is what I see the cats do..." Quinn said and Kate snorted, now catching up to what the conversation was about.

"I wish Aunt Anne was here; she'd tell us. What about Granny Palmer? She'd know, right?" Martha said, becoming flustered.

"She knows how to get the babies out, not sure if she knows how to get them up there!" Quinn said in a fit of giggles.

"You are rotten, Quinn Amelia!" Kate said.

"At some point, you and Peyton will prob'ley make a baby or two or six, so you'll have to figure it out eventually!"

"You mock me, Quinn Fabray! Someday, you'll be in the same position, I promise you!" Martha said, unable to not laugh at this point.

The girls gradually calmed down and made sure Martha's wedding outfit was ready for the next day, then crawled into her large bed to sleep.

xxxxx

The next morning started early for both households. Sam was glad he had left the bachelor festivities when he did; he had heard the other revelers making their way loudly to the cabins next to his in the middle of the night. After doing chores around the Fabray farm, he returned to his cabin and heated some water to take a quick bath before dressing for the wedding. After bathing, he ran a makeshift comb through his hair and put on his black suit. He rode to the Hudson household on Clyde.

The Hudson household was bursting at the seams with excitement the morning of Martha's wedding. Quinn and Kate and Martha's mother were helping her get dressed; she was wearing her nicest gown, a puffy white muslin gown that Quinn had painstakingly added embellishments to. Quinn was wearing her pale green silk gown but had reworked the neckline of the gown, lowering it significantly. She'd probably be admonished by her mother after the wedding but she wore it anyway. Kate was wearing the baby blue satin gown and gasped in shock when she saw Quinn's décolletage.

"Ma will be so angry!" she said to Quinn. "I'm sure Sam won't be, though!"

Quinn smiled at herself in the mirror. "Sister, put these green ribbons in my hair, please."

Kate stood behind Quinn, threading the ribbon through her hair.

"You have the prettiest hair, Quinny," Kate said. Her hair was also blonde but a much darker shade.

"Thank you, sister," Quinn said.

"Do you think Finn will speak to you today?" Kate asked her.

Quinn shrugged. "He has no reason to speak to me."

"How does this look, girls?" Martha said, turning slowly in her entire wedding outfit. The wedding was to begin shortly.

Quinn and Kate gasped. "Oh sister, you are a vision!" Quinn said, jumping up and squeezing Martha's hand, careful not to embrace her in her finery.

"Peyton will see you as an angel," Kate whispered.

"I think I'm ready," Martha said, her voice a little shaky.

"We'll go see if all your guests have arrived and escort Mrs. Hudson to her seat," Quinn said, taking Martha's mother's arm.

Quinn and Kate left Martha alone and took her mother to the winding staircase, downstairs to a sizable sitting room where the ceremony was taking place.

xxxxx

Sam rode up to the Hudson estate. It was quite a bit larger than the Fabray's residence, and people were spilling out of the house everywhere on the porch and on the lawn. He took Clyde to the stables and put him in a stall there. He returned to the front of the house, looking for Quinn or any familiar face.

He wandered into the home through groups of people, the air sparking with anticipation. And then he saw her, descending the stairs with her sister and another woman. He stopped where he was and swallowed hard. Her dress dropped low, from her collarbone to the fullness of the beginning of her breasts. He saw flashes of green in her hair, her eyes were shining, her smile bright. She had not spied him yet, focusing on the older woman that she and her sister were escorting.

He watched the trio go to a large room where most people had already gathered. Quinn and Kate took the older woman to a seat at the front of the group. Sam stood at the back, taking in the scene. Peyton was already at the front of the room with the preacher and next to him Finn Hudson. As Sam watched Finn, he noticed Finn was transfixed on something else, someone else…Quinn.

Sam removed his hat. Quinn took her place at the front of the room, being Martha's bridesmaid. He saw her glance across to her brother and smiled; she saw Finn and turned her gaze to the back of the room, waiting on Martha's entrance. Her eyes caught Sam's, and she smiled at him. He smiled his lopsided smile at her and all he could think of was being the lucky one who would be dancing with her later.

Granny Palmer was there and began playing the Wedding March on the piano. Sam turned to watch Martha and her father descend the stairs to enter the sitting room. He thought she looked very pretty. Peyton was grinning like a fool as Martha appeared at the back of the room. Sam noticed Finn's gaze was still focused on Quinn even though she was watching Martha enter.

The ceremony didn't last too long, a few prayers, their vows, they exchanged rings, and shared a kiss. They turned and left the sitting room to wait in the front hall for their guests. Then, Finn and Quinn met and he offered her his arm, as was custom. She sighed and placed her hand gently at his elbow, forcing a smile. She hated it, absolutely hatedhaving to be that close to him, touch him, to walk past Sam with him. Finn and Quinn joined the newlyweds. Sam let all the guests file past him before he got at the end of the line.

Slowly, the line of guests moved forward. Finn kept trying to speak to Quinn, but she would conveniently have something to say to every person. She finally saw Sam making his way toward them.

Finally at Peyton and Martha, he shook Peyton's hand, genuinely happy for his friend. He kissed Martha's hand lightly, congratulating them both. He knew from spending so many hours with Peyton recently how deeply he loved her. Next was Finn; he shook his hand quickly, not saying anything. And lastly, Quinn.

"Hello, Miss Quinn," he said deeply.

"Mr. Evans," she replied.

He picked up her right hand and bowed deeply in front of her, kissing the top of her hand, keeping his eyes on her. She sighed quietly when her lips touched her. He stood up straight, still holding her hand in his.

"You are lovely, Quinn," he said quietly.

"Thank you," she answered.

Finn cleared his throat, interrupting their moment. "I think the dancing is beginning soon."

Sam and Quinn noticed Peyton and Martha had left the hall, surely to sneak off and enjoy some privacy. Activity in the sitting room indicated the chairs were being moved to the perimeter of the room to make room for dancing.

"I'd like the first dance, if I may," Sam said, knowing she'd let him dance all the dances with her.

She smiled. "You may…"

"I need to find Mr. Fabray and ask him a question but I'll meet you shortly," Sam said, squeezing her hand and walking to the front porch to find Thomas.

xxxxx

Quinn sighed, watching Sam leave by way of the front door and she walked past Finn back to the sitting room. She went to the punch and poured herself a cup. She was happy to find it had not been spiked with alcohol at that point.

"Quinn?" She jumped at the voice right behind her. Finn had followed her quietly. "May I talk to you?"

"Finn, I don't think that's a good idea. I'm happy for you and your new wife. I'd ask you to be happy for me, as well," she said quietly.

"Quinn, I've missed you terribly," he mumbled. She couldn't believe what she was hearing; he was a married man with a child on the way. It infuriated her.

She turned to face him, setting her cup down.

"I have my own life, and I am stronger than you know…" she said to him.

Finn ignored her and then overstepped boundaries of decorum and grasped her upper arms tightly.

"Run away with me! Tonight Quinn! I've always wanted you!" he whispered urgently. She was shocked and speechless and angry that he had had the gall to touch her.

Sam had found Thomas quickly and returned to the house, stopping at the entrance of the sitting room seeing Finn grab Quinn by her arms, seeing her stunned expression. He walked toward them quickly, intent on finding out what was happening.