Miss Goodhue Lives for a Night Read Online Free Page B

transformed into a haven, under which kisses could be stolen, and futures planned.
    Everyone thought they had a mild flirtation. That was all. Even his uncle commented on it once—“Miss Goodhue is enjoying her first summer out more that her father would wish, I think,” he’d mused. “Perhaps you should pay slightly less attention to her, lest she thinks you have intentions.”
    But Theo did have intentions toward her. He didn’t know what they were, precisely—only that he didn’t want to let her out of his sight. So when summer was coming to an end, and they were both desperately trying to hold on to one another, he made the half-joking suggestion that they just go to Gretna Green.
    â€œThen no one can keep up apart,” he’d said, smiling down at her. “Not even my professors.”
    â€œYes,” she’d said simply, throwing her arms around Theo’s neck, almost as if he’d just proposed marriage.
    Which, he’d shortly realized, he had.
    But as the realization settled into his bones, he knew that it was right. Because he was madly, entirely in love with Cecilia Goodhue. And he thought, as she looked up at him, planting kisses on his neck as she did, that she loved him.
    Too bad it had all turned out to be a lie.
    He’d spent ten years grateful that his uncle had pulled him out of that inn on the road to Gretna Green. Ten years building his life, a sober life, where no one would ever be able to take advantage of him again. Ten years, not letting himself think about the woman who sat across from him now, not wondering about where she was, or what she was doing.
    â€œLincolnshire,” he murmured to himself, shaking his head.
    â€œWhat was that?” she asked, tearing her gaze away from the window.
    â€œYou said you came from Lincolnshire. Is that where you live now?”
    â€œYes,” she said, blinking. “With my sister.”
    That was right, she had a sister. Whom he had not met, as she had just married a vicar, if he recalled correctly. So Cecilia Goodhue had spent the last ten years playing governess to her sister’s children, shamed into penance for her avarice in youth.
    That should have made him feel a small measure of revenge, of triumph. But somehow, it didn’t. It just made him feel like a decade was a long time to be in Lincolnshire.
    At that moment, the Earl of Ashby burst into the room, relieving Theo and Cecilia of any more awkward conversation.
    â€œG’morning!” Lord Ashby said, boisterously cheerful, even through the mouthful of food he was hastily shoving into his mouth. He was a young man, close to Theo’s own age, which was a bit of a novelty. In his experience most earls were doddery, but Ashby had a vitality in the morning envied by early birds and worms alike. “I’m terribly sorry to have you waiting, but it is horridly early. Although my Phoebe has been awake since dawn with the baby, and when Phoebe’s not there I hardly sleep to begin with.” He shrugged.
    â€œBut of course, sir,” Theo said, jumping to his feet and giving a short bow. The office had been informed of the birth of the heir to one of the largest estates in the country a month ago, and set up the legal paperwork necessary to ensure the succession. But Lord Ashby didn’t see an heir, it seemed. He saw a baby, and was happy. “My felicitations on your son.”
    â€œThank you,” the earl beamed. “You’re Hudson, correct?”
    â€œYes, sir. We met a few months ago.”
    â€œOf course—you came with that old buzzard Rowe for the annual review of all my holdings.”
    â€œYes, sir,” Theo said. “And I am gratified that you remembered me, but I have to ask—”
    â€œWhy did I ask you here?”
    Theo nodded.
    â€œBecause of her.” Lord Ashby inclined his head to where Cecilia had stood.
    A line of shock ran through Theo as his eyes flew to meet