Page 74 of Suddenly a (The St. Clairs 5)

Chapter Twenty-Three

They arrived home.Hudson gave Mia a last kiss before George opened the carriage door. Mia noted the sheepish look on the driver’s face.

“I would do it all again, Mrs. St. Clair,” George said. “You and Mr. St. Clair belong together.”

Hudson grinned. “You have a job for life as far as I’m concerned, George.” He took her hand. “We won’t be needing you the rest of the day.”

“Wait,” she said. “Aren’t we supposed to meet Lord Bromwell at three o’clock this afternoon?”

“Blast! I’d already forgotten.” He raised their joined hands and kissed her fingers. “I’ll pay for the house if you promise to hire all the servants, not just Annie.” Hudson looked to George. “We’re buying a house. I still don’t think that I need a valet but you’re welcome to that job. Or any you’d like. Butler. Maid. Cook.”

George chuckled. “While I’m flattered, Mr. St. Clair, my preference is to remain as Mrs. St. Clair’s assistant. I have come to find her work fascinating. That is, if you still wish me to serve in that capacity.”

“Of course, I do,” she replied. “In fact, we may need to hire another person. An assistant to you. We’ll have room here to expand, relocating everything from the warehouse.”

George looked incredibly pleased. “When will things need to be moved? I can arrange that for you.”

She looked at Hudson. “What do you think?”

“I think the sooner, the better. The house will be ours by the end of the day. Tomorrow morning, we could start shifting things around. I’m sure we can borrow some of the family’s servants to help move any furniture from here that we want to keep.”

“Then I will leave now and arrange for workers at the warehouse to move Mrs. St. Clair’s machines at noon tomorrow,” George said. “That will give you a chance for some room to be freed up here. I’ll be back to take you to your afternoon appointment.”

“Oh, George, would you retrieve my trunks from the boardinghouse?”

“I can do that and will settle the bill, as well.”

The servant climbed back into the driver’s seat and took up the reins as Hudson led Mia inside. Once the door was closed, he swept her into his arms and took her to bed.

“It’s never too soon to begin working off your debt, Mrs. St. Clair.”

She spent several memorable hours chipping away at it.

“I suppose I should be grateful that my cousin has amassed so much debt,” she told Hudson after a last session of lovemaking. “Will you tear up a marker each time I work some of it off?” she teased.

Hudson laughed. “At the rate we’re going, you’ll have it paid off far too fast to satisfy me.”

“Good. Then once I become a habit to you, I won’t be so easily shaken.”

His gaze penetrated hers. “You are a habit of a lifetime, my love. One I will never grow tired of. I love you so much.”

His searing kiss spoke of his love and Mia was happy to return it, pouring all her love for him into another kiss.

By the time George returned, they were dressed and ready to leave. The meeting with Lord Bromwell and his solicitor went smoothly and the viscount handed over the keys.

“I hope you’ll enjoy the place,” Bromwell said.

“We plan to,” Hudson assured him.

As her husband led her outside, he asked, “Would you like to go see our house, Mrs. St. Clair?”

“I would, indeed, Mr. St. Clair.”

When they arrived, Mia said, “We should tell our new neighbors that we’re moving in tomorrow. Why don’t you go see Laurel and I’ll tell Caroline?”

“Agreed.”

Mia found Caroline and Luke at tea and shared the good news.

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