Page 4 of Starlight Night (The St. Clairs 5.50)

He left the townhouse, not bothering the call for the carriage since traffic had been thick on the way home. They were only a few blocks from Evie’s and he could walk there and back more quickly than if he had the horses brought around again.

Minutes later, he turned the corner and stopped. A little girl stood in front of the largest display window, staring hungrily into the window, as if she wished to gobble up every book inside. As he approached, he saw her blue cloak was of good quality and it concerned him that she was alone at night. Though Mayfair was a safe part of town, he needed to make certain she found her way home. Hopefully, she’d merely wandered a short distance from her mother or father.

“It’s pretty, isn’t it?” he asked as he approached.

She wheeled to face him. He was a large, tall man and probably had frightened her. She looked to be only five or six years old, with large, blue eyes and golden-blond hair. Up close, he thought her too thin, as if she didn’t eat enough. Worry filled him, especially when he observed how quickly she assessed him. The look in her eyes was that of an old soul, one who had seen much.

The girl balled her fists as if she were ready to fight him. Luke held his arms wide, palms open, trying to prove to her that he was no threat.

“My wife owns this bookstore,” he told the child. “Her name is Caroline. I am Luke.”

Though she remained wary of him, her fingers relaxed, and he asked, “Do you like to read books?”

She shrugged and then said, “I’ve never had one.”

Luke’s heart broke hearing those words. Books had been his escape from a father who ignored him.

“I can’t imagine not having books in my life,” he shared. “I’ve traveled all over the world, thanks to reading. Been on adventures to the Far East and Africa. Books have been a friend to me and my entire family.”

He saw the longing on her face and said, “It will be Christmas soon. How about I give you an early present? You could pick out any book you see in the window and it will be yours.”

Her eyes hardened, shocking him. No child should have lived a life that put that kind of look on her face.

“What do you want for it?” she demanded.

“Nothing at all. I’m offering it to you in the spirit of Christmas.”

Her defiance softened. The yearning on her face tore at him. He reached out to take her hand and panic seized her.

“No!” she shouted and ran so swiftly she blended into the dark before he could react.

Pity filled Luke. Though the girl had been dressed decently and appeared to be innocent, instinct told him she was a child of the streets and survived by her wits alone. He wondered if she’d ever had a loving parent in her life. A father or mother who had once kept her safe and warm. Knowing he could do nothing for her now, he unlocked the door and went inside, easily finding where Caroline had left her reticule in Walton’s office. Though tempted to peruse the book, especially if it had pictures, he left it inside the reticule and locked up before walking home. The entire way, he kept an eye out for the blond waif but never saw her. He doubted he ever would again.

They arrived at the Everton townhome and went straight to the drawing room, not bothering with the formality of being announced since they were family. As they entered, it didn’t surprise him to catch his brother and sister-in-law engaged in a passionate embrace. He closed the door, giving Caroline a knowing look, and then loudly cleared his throat.

Jeremy broke the kiss. A blush spread across his wife’s cheeks. Jeremy and Catherine were known by thetonfor their fondness for kissing and he asked playfully, “Do you two ever stop?”

Jeremy grinned. “No. Do you?”

Luke laughed. He was happy he and his siblings had found love with their soulmates. Before Caroline, his existence had been a series of empty affairs with mistresses and bored, married wives. Gratitude filled him, knowing how satisfying life was with his beautiful, intelligent wife and their three children. He slipped an arm about Caroline’s waist and pulled her close.

Over dinner, the two couples discussed tomorrow’s reading and what Rachel might have planned for them at Christmas. When dinner ended and it came time for the men to share a glass of port while the ladies retired to the drawing room, Luke made a point of mentioning they wanted to make an early night of it, only to have his brother burst out laughing.

“An early night? You and Caroline probably won’t sleep until dawn,” Jeremy teased.

Luke shrugged nonchalantly. “With our three staying with you tonight, we need to get as much rest as we can, while we can.”

“You’re not hiding anything from us, Brother. Go ahead. Go home. Read the wicked book.”

“You know about that?” he asked.

Catherine laughed. “Where do you think Rachel learned about it?” She gave him a knowing smile.

“Your Grace!” he scolded mockingly. “And here Caroline and I looked up to you as the epitome of propriety.”

Jeremy wrapped his arms around Catherine. “She may look demure as a lamb but my Catherine is a tigress in—”

“Jeremy!” Catherine squeaked. “Enough.” She looked to Caroline for help. “Would you please take your St. Clair home? It’s time we separated these two.”

“With pleasure. Come along, Luke,” Caroline said, slipping her arm through the crook of his. “We’ve got reading to do. Especially since the children will remain with His Grace tonight.”

Jeremy roared with laughter. “That’s it. Leave us with bedlam here. Nine children under our roof. Oh, well, what’s a few more? After we hit four, I barely notice new additions.”

Luke escorted Caroline home and after trying some very interesting things from the book, he finally nestled her in his arms, enjoying the feel of the warm woman who made every day more interesting than the one before. As he drifted off to sleep, though, his last thoughts were of the small child he’d seen peering into Evie’s window, knowing she would never have the happiness he had, wishing he could change just one life for the better.

---