Page 47 of Suddenly a (The St. Clairs 5)

Chapter Fifteen

Hudson knew itwas approaching nine o’clock but he’d still instructed his driver to head to Jeremy’s townhouse. He hoped to catch his brother before he went out for the latesttonevent. That is, if he and Catherine were attending. The older they’d gotten, the more the pair chose to remain home with their children. Or retire to their bedchamber. For an old married couple, Hudson had to admit the sparks still flew between the duke and his duchess.

Barton admitted him and said, “Their Graces will be leaving at any moment, Mr. St. Clair.”

“Thank you, Barton. I’ll wait in the foyer. I won’t keep them long.”

He wanted to share the success he’d met with in his latest business venture. It had taken longer to come to an agreement than he’d anticipated but he was pleased at the outcome. Now it was time to focus on Lady Mia. He’d deliberately haunted her workshop in the three weeks before the Season began, trying to get to know her and allow her to know him better. He’d even confided the circumstances of his birth, knowing full well he couldn’t ask her to marry him without revealing that information. It hadn’t seemed to bother her but Hudson also knew her aunt was now privy to that information from the way Lady Trentham had reacted the last time he’d seen her. He hoped the woman hadn’t poisoned her niece’s mind where Hudson was concerned.

He hoped Mia hadn’t formed any attachment in the five days he’d been gone from London. Perhaps he should have taken Luke’s advice and snatched her up before the Season began. Hudson kept waiting for the right moment, though. A marriage proposal was a big step and he didn’t want to blindside her with it. Time was running out, though, as far as the terms of the will went. He needed to quell his fears and ask for her hand. He’d decided he would approach it differently than other men might. Mia had already said she didn’t want a husband or children because they would interfere with her work. Hudson decided to present the proposal to her as a business arrangement, a marriage of convenience, with no obligation on her part to act as a true wife. If the time came when she was willing to come to his bed, he would be happy to have her there. For the present, he would simply tell her why a match between them would be advantageous and hope her aunt’s influence didn’t prevent it from occurring.

If it did? Hudson would give up the idea of claiming Meadowbrook. He wanted the estate—but he wanted Mia Sloane more. He would take her however he could get her. If she turned him down, he wouldn’t need a country estate.

He spied Jeremy and Catherine coming down the stairs, his brother distinguished in his black evening clothes, while Catherine was the epitome of what a duchess should look like with her simple, elegant gown and tasteful jewels.

“Hudson!” she cried. “We weren’t expecting you.”

“I was hoping to catch Jeremy before he left for whatever boring ball or rout might be held tonight.”

Catherine came to him and took his hand, surprising him. “Are you still interested in asking Lady Mia to be your wife?” she asked anxiously.

“Yes. Why?” His body tightened. “Has she formed—”

“No, nothing like that,” his sister-in-law quickly assured him. “It’s much worse. She is the greatest wallflower of this Season.”

“What? Lady Mia is a remarkable woman,” he declared. “Bright. Witty. Beautiful. I know she’s not much of a dancer but not every woman possesses that skill.”

Catherine squeezed his hand. “It’s not that, Hudson. Very few men are asking her to dance. The ones who are asking desperately need a large dowry.”

He realized what had happened. “It’s because of me, isn’t it?” he said bitterly. “Because I danced with her at Rutherford’s ball. Lady Mia is being punished by thetonfor associating with me.” Rage rippled through him at a system he was helpless against.

“I’m afraid so,” Catherine said.

“Do you think being a part of Polite Society matters to her?” Jeremy asked.

“No. She’s only going through the Season to please her aunt. Mia told me her work is her priority. That she doesn’t want a husband and children and hated the idea of being paraded on the Marriage Mart.” Hudson sighed. “I’ve gone by her workshop repeatedly, trying to give her the chance to get to know me. I’m not sure she’ll marry me, Jeremy.”

“Ask her,” his brother urged. “If she doesn’t wish to, you can look elsewhere.”

He shook his head, not bothering to hide his misery. “No. It’s Lady Mia or no one for me. If she turns down my proposal, I don’t mind Meadowbrook going to Delia.”

“When I see her tonight, I can invite her to tea tomorrow. You can come and ask her then,” Catherine suggested.

“I won’t have her standing alone tonight with no one asking her to dance,” Hudson declared. “Who is hosting?”

“The ball is at Lord and Lady Axelrod’s,” Catherine said hesitantly. “You won’t be able to attend without an invitation.”

“I won’t be attending,” he ground out. “I will merely be stopping by to claim Mia.”

He lifted Catherine’s hand and kissed it and left the townhouse. He told his driver to head for home with all haste. Unfortunately, they got caught up in a snarl of traffic. Impatient, Hudson got out and walked the remainder of the way home, telling his driver to get there as soon as possible. He washed and dressed in his evening wear, fury still clinging to him.

When he went outside, his driver had arrived and Hudson instructed him to get as close as possible to the Axelrod townhouse. Most of the social events in the city had started by now and they made good time. The carriage slowed and Hudson got out.

“Wait here. I won’t be long.”

He marched to his destination with determination. No one would keep him from Mia. No one. He entered and saw a crush of people in the foyer. A footman spied him and reached out a hand to accept his invitation. Hudson placed a guinea in the servant’s hand instead.

“I’m not invited—but I’m not staying. I came to get something. I’ll be in and out before you know it.” His tone brokered no nonsense.

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