Page 73 of Suddenly a (The St. Clairs 5)

She stiffened, not ready to be hit with more painful news, wondering what else her husband had hidden from her. Still, if they were to be open with one another, she needed to hear what he had to say. Mia determined whatever it was, they would see it through. Together.

“I’m not sure you’ll be happy with me. If you aren’t, I’ll abandon my plans.”

She raised her head, staring deep into his eyes, their bodies still joined.

“I wanted to hurt your cousin as much as he hurt you. You were defenseless and he took everything away from you. I’ve being planning my revenge on him ever since the day I rode away from Morris Park, seeing he burned your creations. I wanted to ruin him, then and there.”

The vehemence of his words startled her. “The only thing Cousin Horatio kept that meant anything to me was a locket that Mama gave me. It’s all right, Hudson. I have you. We have each other. Please,” she begged. “I don’t want you caught up in some scheme on my behalf. I don’t care anything about him or his awful wife. Whatever you’ve done, can it be undone?”

He kissed her brow. “It can. Actually, I won’t act upon it.”

“Good,” she said firmly. “Revenge is not something I care for.”

“He’ll do himself in, at any rate.”

“What had you planned to do?” Mia asked.

“He was in heavy debt before he wed Lady Hortense. She apparently paid those off. Instead of counting his blessings and staying away from the gaming tables, Morrison has returned with a vengeance. He has suffered heavy losses at three gaming hells that I know of. I bought all of his markers from those houses, giving them half of what was owed to them, and was going to wait for the right time to call them in. They were smart enough to know they might never see a farthing and took my money without question.”

“I will pay you back,” she said solemnly. “You bought his debts on my behalf.”

Hudson kissed her. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to. It’s a point of pride.”

He grinned. “I suppose I could sell them to you.”

“Oh? Are we involved in a negotiation?” she asked, not bothering to hide her own smile.

He kissed the tip of her nose. “You could work off the markers. A little each night. Or a lot, depending upon our mood.”

Mia chuckled. “Hudson St. Clair, that almost sounds as if you’re blackmailing me.”

“No. Merely giving you a way to pay for the markers. I believe we can think of all kinds of ways for you to collect them from me. Perhaps I might even look at that famous family book and see if that gives me any ideas on how you can work off this debt.” He sighed. “It might take years before you do.”

She ran her fingers through his hair. “Never has a debtor been so ready to pay a debt,” she proclaimed happily.

“Then we better go home so you can get started.”

Hudson tapped on the carriage’s roof, signaling George to return home.

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