Page 70 of Suddenly a (The St. Clairs 5)

Davidson—or someone in the solicitor’s office—had revealed to Mia the terms of his grandmother’s will.

She must have been crushed learning something so harsh. He didn’t know how he would make it up to her but he was determined to do so.

He knew she wouldn’t have gone to any of his family. While all the female St. Clairs would have rallied around her, Mia wouldn’t have wanted them to take sides against him, their blood relative. He doubted she would have turned to her aunt and uncle. Trentham would have taken her in without an ill word but her aunt might have held the marriage against her, reminding her niece how she’d thought it had been a mistake to marry so far beneath her.

Wherever she was now, Hudson knew where she would turn up.

The warehouse.

He paced the house as a caged tiger, waiting until dawn. Mia usually left for the warehouse at seven since she’d adopted his habit of rising early. Going to the stables, he began saddling his horse.

“Good morning, Mr. St. Clair. You’re up especially early today,” said George. “Will Mrs. St. Clair be leaving earlier for work than usual?”

The former valet took in Hudson’s disheveled appearance but didn’t remark upon it.

“No,” he said curtly. “You won’t be needed today, George.”

“Have you had a spat? Is it because she’s so messy and you’re very neat?”

Hudson thought of how he constantly went around picking up things after Mia and straightening items. Tears stung his eyes.

“No, George,” he confessed. “It’s much worse. I didn’t tell her something I should have before we wed. Now, it’s caught up to me. She’s... gone.”

“I see.” The servant hesitated and then said, “Whatever it is, Mr. St. Clair, you can work it out. You’ve been the best thing that’s happened to Mrs. St. Clair. Ever. I know. I watched her grow up. She needs you, sir, and from the looks of it, you need her, too.”

“I love her,” he said simply.

“Then go fight for her,” George told him. “You know where she’ll be.”

Hudson nodded and finished saddling his horse. He led it from the stables and mounted it, riding quickly through the city as it began waking to a new day.

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