Page 20 of Suddenly a (The St. Clairs 5)

Chapter Seven

“Lady Mia! Wagonshave pulled up in front of Morris Park. A man named Willis says you’re expecting him.”

Relief swept through Mia as she glanced out the window. Mr. St. Clair had been a man of his word. It wasn’t even ten o’clock yet and here were three wagons sitting in the drive. She went outside and a man of about forty with graying hair and a ready smiled stepped forward.

“Lady Mia, I am Mr. Willis. I was sent by Mr. Garson, who is in charge of the St. Clair warehouse. He said I’m to pick up all of your inventions and return them to London.”

“Yes, that’s correct. Thank you for coming so quickly.”

“It was Mr. St. Clair’s doing, my lady. He was adamant that we be here this morning. In fact, I’m to get a steam engine and anything associated with it first. Once that wagon is packed, it’s to leave immediately and then the others will be loaded. More wagons will arrive shortly. These three merely made it out of London first.”

“Very well. If you can bring a wagon around to the stables, I’ll show you the engine Mr. St. Clair has made a priority.”

Once she had shown them the engine, two burly men lifted it and took it outside to the wagon, which also held empty boxes and packing material. She made a quick decision.

“My journals are just as important as this machine,” she said. “If I have them, I can recreate anything I’ve already built.”

“Are you worried something might fall from one of the wagons and be damaged?”

“Yes, Mr. Willis,” she said, although that wasn’t what was on her mind. Mia worried about Cousin Horatio showing up and keeping her devices out of spite. She assumed Mr. St. Clair had delivered both of her letters when he’d arrived in London yesterday afternoon. She expected her aunt and uncle to arrive sometime today or tomorrow. When her cousin and the new viscountess would make an appearance was what worried her.

“Where are these journals, my lady?” Willis asked.

“In the house. I’ll show you. If possible, I’d like them all packed up and taken in the first wagon with my steam engine.”

“I’m to follow any instructions you give, my lady,” Willis said affably. To the men, he said, “Bring the wagon back around to the front of the house again when the engine is secured.”

She had Mr. Willis and the remaining four men come inside. She walked them through the house, showing them what needed to be boxed and loaded into the wagons.

“Start with the drawing room first if you would,” she said. “After that, anything you see in the hallways. Then I’ll show you which rooms also hold various experiments and prototypes.”

Mia then led Mr. Willis to the study and indicated her journals. “I can pack these if you’ll bring me the boxes.”

“I’ll fetch them now,” he said and left the room.

She began making stacks of those on the desk and pulling other notebooks from the shelves. These notebooks contained her father’s life work—and hers. From the beginning, she’d recorded how she’d aided him and encouraged him to do the same. He never was one who enjoyed writing and told her to keep written records for him of all he did. His ideas. The names for his creations. The tests, where she recorded both failures and successes. Drawings of contraptions in different stages. Everything lay within these pages, especially her own work. When her father had slowed down mentally and struggled to even put sentences together, Mia knew it was vital for her to continue his work. The work became her own, which made these notebooks so precious to her.

Mr. Willis returned with the boxes and the two of them filled all of them. He returned for more empty ones and they finished placing all her journals into them. She watched him carry several out to the waiting wagon in the drive. He returned, along with the two other men, and within a few minutes, the wagon was filled.

“Go ahead and leave with this one now,” he instructed one of the men, telling the other to stay behind in order to help the others. “Mr. St. Clair is eager for this to reach London.”

“I’ll get it there in no time,” the driver promised as he climbed into the seat and took up the reins.

By now, four other wagons had pulled up as a second departed. They were large but Mia doubted they would be enough to take everything today. Mr. Willis echoed her same thoughts and assured her they would return tomorrow to load whatever didn’t leave today.

“Leave everything to us, my lady.”

“I’ll see to some refreshment for you and your men.” She only hoped Cook could scrounge up something. The larder was running perilously low.

Something caught her eye and she looked in the distance. A carriage approached. She recognized it as the one her aunt had come in a couple of weeks ago. Mia waited outside, despite the cold, and greeted her aunt and uncle when they stepped from the vehicle.

“Oh, my darling girl.” Aunt Fanny embraced her. “I know you are grieving for you father so.”

Mia was saddened by the loss of her father but not overly upset. She had seen how rapidly her father had gone downhill and had prepared herself for his loss.

“I will be fine, Aunt Fanny.” She looked to her uncle. “Uncle Trentham, it is good to see you.”

He gave her a hug and kissed the top of her head. “I am so sorry for your loss, Mia. I know how close you were with your father.” He looked about. “Might I ask what is going on? Is this Mr. St. Clair’s work?”

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