Page 12 of Suddenly a (The St. Clairs 5)

“Everything created and produced for the last three years has been mine,” she admitted.

“I will still do as I said. Have my solicitor draw up papers to that effect, giving my family sole ownership of the design and prototype and applying for the patent. You’ll be amply compensated. You will need to hire a solicitor to read over the agreement and see if you wish for any changes to be made to the language.”

Mia wondered how much that might cost.

“Because your situation has changed, Lady Mia, you will be able to sign the papers yourself. An unmarried woman of legal age may enter into an agreement and receive the amount in full guaranteed by the contract. We spoke briefly about the possibility of you and your father coming aboard to supervise production and make adjustments. I would still be interested in having your expertise and would be willing to pay for it.”

“Is there... I mean... would there be a way to receive an advance amount on this contract?” she asked.

“To pay your solicitor?” he asked, sympathy in his eyes.

“I have enough funds to do that,” she said stiffly, still wondering if she did. “However, my aunt would never agree for all of my inventions to be brought to her London home. I would like access to funds so that I might be able to rent a space to store my items. Hopefully, it would have room for me to also work on them and record the results of the experiments I conduct.”

He smiled. Her heart flipped over in her chest.

“That would be easy to arrange. In fact, my family has ample space in a warehouse we own. Instead of leasing it to you, our agreement could include providing you both work and storage space. A laboratory, of sorts.”

She looked at him leerily. “You’re saying you would pay for my device. Pay for me to tinker with it as it goes through production. Then also provide space for me to conduct my trials on inventions not even related to the prototype you’re purchasing.”

“Yes. Exactly. If everything goes well with your steam engine, I’m sure the St. Clairs would be interested in other creations of yours.”

Though sadness made her heart heavy, his words gave her hope that she would be able to continue her work. She could do so on a daily basis and still appease her aunt and attend whatever social functions were required at night. At least for a little while. Hopefully, Aunt Fanny would see how hopeless it would be to try and make a match for Mia after a full Season. By then, she could have her own money from the agreement with this man. Move into a few rooms to call her own. Live her life the way she wanted, not under duress, forced to become someone she wasn’t.

“That would be an offer I am happy to accept, Mr. St. Clair.” She frowned.

“I can easily arrange transport of everything here and have it brought to London immediately,” he offered, seeming to read her mind.

“Could you? I would appreciate it more than I can say.”

“I will speak to Mr. Davidson, our solicitor, the moment I reach London,” he promised. He paused. “I hate to leave you at such a difficult time, however. When are your aunt and uncle arriving?”

“At the first of the year. That’s in a handful of days.”

“Will you send word to them regarding your father’s death or wait for his funeral services and burial to take place when they arrive?” he inquired.

“Oh, we’ll bury Papa today,” she said, seeing surprise flicker across his handsome face. “Papa was not a religious man. He wouldn’t want some clergyman standing over his coffin, muttering nonsense about an afterlife. I’ll see him in the ground today, as he would have wished, and then begin boxing up everything for delivery to London.”

“You can take your time with that, Lady Mia,” he assured her. “We’re in no rush—”

“You may not be—but I most certainly am. The moment Cousin Horatio, Papa’s heir, is notified, he will descend upon Morris Park. He is a greedy, manipulative, unsavory man who bullied me when we were children. He won’t allow a single item to leave the property, even if he’ll only turn around and throw it out as rubbish. If I’m to keep my life’s work, I need it gone from the property as soon as possible.”

“I see.” St. Clair thought a moment. “May I send a few people down tomorrow from London? They could do the packing for you and load your equipment and prototypes into wagons for transport to our warehouse. Everything could be gone from Morris Park by this time tomorrow, on its way to the city.”

Relief swept through her. “You are an answer to a prayer, Mr. St. Clair. I most certainly would appreciate your help in that regard. That way I can go ahead and notify Cousin Horatio of Papa’s death.”

“Where does your cousin reside?”

“My understanding is that he’s in London. He was recently wed and we were told that his wife’s dowry included a London townhouse.”

“If you’d like to pen a note to him, I can take it with me and deliver it for you.”

She smiled at him gratefully, knowing she wouldn’t have to pay to have the message sent.

“I assume you’ll return to London with your aunt and uncle. Have your uncle recommend a solicitor to you. In fact, if you care to pen a letter to them, I can see it delivered to them, as well. In case you wanted to wait for the burial.”

“No, Papa didn’t get along well with Aunt Fanny. She is Mama’s sister and she’s all out of sorts with the way he raised me.” Mia sighed. “She thinks she’s going to remake me into someone who can be presented into society. I fear I am too unorthodox and far too old to have a Season but she is determined to launch me into theton.”

Something flared in his eyes. If she hadn’t been watching him closely, she would have missed it.

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