Page 31 of Suddenly a (The St. Clairs 5)

Her words didn’t surprise him. Hudson knew Lady Mia to be very driven. It made perfect sense for her not to wed, especially since she would be able to live comfortably off the money she earned from working for his family. He couldn’t think of a man in thetonwho would think it appropriate to have an inventor for a wife. Yet it bothered him that she would never be able to explore the sensual nature he believed she possessed.

“Speaking of your work, your inventions—and notebooks—are in a secure area in our warehouse now. You’ll have plenty of space to work there if you wish. Might you be interested in signing another agreement? One that would give the St. Clairs exclusive rights to your creations?”

She worried her bottom lip, mulling it over. Hudson had to look away, afraid he would jerk her to him and kiss her again.

“I’m not ready to do so at this time. I do know all my inventions are taking up space, though. Might I be able to pay a monthly rent to house them and use the workspace?”

“That’s not necessary,” he assured her.

“Oh, I believe it is, Mr. St. Clair. I’d already planned to rent space to work in since I knew I couldn’t take over my aunt and uncle’s townhouse. Please. Let me pay you something.”

“What if we make the storage and workspace a part of the next contract? A benefit of you working with us during the three-year period?”

Lady Mia nodded. “That would be acceptable. It would allow me to save as much of my salary as I can and then lease space somewhere else afterward.”

He smiled. “Unless you decide to continue to sell your inventions to my family.”

She returned his smile and his heart beat in double time. “We’ll see.”

Hudson rose and she removed Nelson from her lap and did the same. He deliberately shook her hand although he wanted to kiss it. He released it quickly so that he didn’t use it to pull her toward him and kiss the life from her.

“Then I will see you at the contract signing, my lady. Until then.”

He left the townhouse and told his driver to go to Davidson’s office. In the carriage, Hudson tried to get a handle on his emotions. Lady Mia was proving to be far too tempting. It might be in both of their best interests if he stepped aside and allowed Matthew to deal with her in the future.

He leaned his head against the plush velvet cushion and closed his eyes.

And relived every moment of their kiss again.

*

Hudson sat nextto Laurel in the Eversleigh chapel, their hands linked.

Cor was dead.

Rationally, his head told him that was the case. His heart, though, yearned to be able to walk in on her as she read, stretched out on her chaise lounge, or sat at her desk to write one of her many letters. He wanted to be able to sit and have tea with her again. Tell her about what new ventures he was involved with and those he was considering. He wanted to ask her advice. Tell her a joke just to hear her laugh. None of that would ever happen again.

He’d spent the last two months at Eversleigh. Some of his time had been devoted to business. The majority, though, had been spent in his grandmother’s company. At first, they’d been able to play chess and discuss politics and business. As Cor grew weaker, he would sit and read to her and they would talk about family. At the heart of everything was family. Cor had impressed that upon Hudson time and time again. His closest friends—the people he trusted the most—were his brothers and sisters and their spouses. When Cor was finally bedridden, all talk had ceased and he’d merely sat at her bedside, holding her hand.

Until the last day.

Cor had rallied some. She was in great pain but never spoke of it. The doctor had prescribed morphine to be given to her periodically. On the morning that became her last, she refused to take any.

“It makes me groggy,” she complained. “I want a clear head.”

“You need it, Cor,” he’d admonished.

She gave one of her famous looks and Hudson had been silenced. He’d always thought his grandmother would make for a great prime minister or general. She didn’t suffer fools of any kind and was the smartest person he knew.

“I want to talk of family,” she’d finally said.

They had spent many hours talking about her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, a veritable army of people. All of them had gathered at Eversleigh in the last few days. The doctor had warned Jeremy the end was near and he had summoned the troops to Cor’s side. Only because it was so early in the morning did Hudson have her to himself. He’d spent the night in a chair next to her bed. Rachel had done the same but she was still fast asleep on the other side of the bed. Cor glanced at her granddaughter and then back to him.

“We spoke of this once,” she began. “We will once more before I go.”

Hudson brought her hand to his lips and pressed a fervent kiss upon her knuckles. “You aren’t going anywhere, Cor. I won’t let you.”

“Do you love me?” she asked, her eyes penetrating and inquisitive.

---