Suddenly a St. Clair (The St. Clairs Book 5)

by Alexa Aston

  She tolerated another dance lesson after luncheon. The dance master kept telling her to feel the music but she had no idea what he was talking about. She constantly stepped on his toes or turned the wrong direction in the reels. It didn’t help that Aunt Fanny watched the lessons, which only made Mia more self-conscious.

  When the lesson ended, she thanked him and left to change gowns for her tea. She couldn’t decide which one to wear and went back to the music room to ask her aunt. Unfortunately, she overheard her instructor telling Aunt Fanny that Mia was just this side of hopeless.

  “I don’t care,” her aunt declared. “We must keep at it. She will have balls to attend. She doesn’t have to be perfect. Just good enough not to embarrass herself. She’s a very pretty girl. Surely, gentlemen will overlook a few mashed toes.”

  Mia hurried away, worried even more now about attending her first ball. It was to be at Lord and Lady Rutherford’s townhouse. Aunt Fanny said it was tradition that the Rutherfords always hosted the first event of each Season. She’d been friends with the previous Earl and Countess of Rutherford but did not know their son, Aubrey, who had inherited the title while she and Trentham were abroad.

  She wondered if Mr. St. Clair would attend the ball—or any of the social events. Something told her that balls were not high on his list of priorities. He seemed much too practical and far too busy to engage in such frivolous activities.

  Opening her wardrobe, she finally decided on a gown of sky blue. She dressed her own hair in a simple knot, captured low on her nape. Looking at her reflection in a small hand mirror, Mia wished that she had her mother’s locket to wear. It would have been the perfect complement to the gown. She retrieved a shawl and wrapped it about her since a chill was still in the March air and then proceeded downstairs, where she saw her aunt was also leaving for tea with friends. Mia told Aunt Fanny goodbye and then went to her own carriage, where George awaited her.

  By the time she arrived at the Merrick residence, she was a bundle of nerves. She thought she’d had a rapport with the marchioness yesterday. Now, she wasn’t so sure. She’d never really been around other females and didn’t know what they would talk about. She did her best to tamp down her nerves as George helped her from the carriage.

  “Enjoy your tea, my lady,” he said, giving her an encouraging smile.

  She was escorted upstairs, her mouth dry as she forced herself to put one foot in front of the other. The butler announced her and Lady Merrick came and greeted her.

  “I’m so glad you agreed to come to tea today,” she said with enthusiasm. “I’ve asked a few others to join us.”

  Dread filled Mia, despite the marchioness’ good cheer. It was one thing to discuss her invention with yesterday’s group of men and quite another to talk to ladies at tea today.

  “Come, let me show you some of my designs.”

  Within minutes, she was lost in Lady Merrick’s sketchbooks. The woman had a talent for creating all kinds of gardens. Formal. Whimsical. Mia caught her hostess’ excitement as she flipped through the sketchbook and explained different projects she’d worked on.

  “You are as much an inventor as I am,” she declared.

  “I’d like to think what I create brings happiness to others,” Lady Merrick confided. “Thank you for letting me share my work with you. I’d love to hear more about other devices you are working on.”

  The butler entered and announced the other guests. Mia was a little nervous but looking at Lady Merrick’s sketchbook had calmed her.

  Two women came forward and Mia rose for the introductions.

  “Lady Mia Sloane, I’d like you meet two wonderful friends.” She indicated a petite blond with green eyes. “This is Lady Alford, my closest friend. She is the sister of the Duchess of Everton’s and she is like a sister to me.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Alford,” Mia said, thinking the woman very different from her tall, auburn-haired sister. She supposed each favored a different parent.

  “And this is Lady Merrifield. You met her husband at yesterday’s meeting, as well as Lord Alford.”

  “I’m delighted to meet you, Lady Merrifield. Your husband is very charming.”

  The dark-haired beauty smiled, her blue-gray eyes lighting up. “He certainly charmed me. I’m so glad we have this opportunity to meet. Oliver was full of talk about your steam engine.”

  Lady Alford laughed. “So was Alex. You made quite an impression upon him. I am glad I also get to become acquainted with you.”

  “Come, let’s sit. The tea cart will be arriving now that you’re here.”

  As they talked over sandwiches and tea, Mia realized how much she liked these women. They were unpretentious and easy to know, just as the Duchesses of Everton and Linfield had been yesterday. Perhaps making friends wasn’t as hard as she’d thought it would be.

  “Are you interested in reading?” Lady Alford asked.

  “I haven’t done much,” she admitted. “My work keeps me busy.”

  “I want to invite you to a book club,” Lady Alford said. “All three of us belong to it. I know you met Catherine and Laurel yesterday. They, too, are members. We’re meeting tomorrow morning at ten o’clock at Evie’s Bookstore.”

  “The bookstore is owned by my sister-in-law, Lady Mayfield,” the marchioness said. “Even though you haven’t read the book we will discuss, you should come and see what it’s like.”

  Although it would cut into her work time, Mia said, “I’d be delighted to.”

  “Hopefully, you’ll have time to stay afterward and have luncheon with us,” Lady Merrifield added. “Evie’s Tearoom is known for quality food.”

  “Did I hear Evie’s mentioned?” a voice called out.

  Mia’s heart skipped a beat as she saw Mr. St. Clair crossing the drawing room, a white box in his hand.

  “What are you doing here, Hudson?” Lady Merrick asked as he came and kissed her cheek.

  “I thought I would drop by for tea and stopped at the tearoom to bring you some fruit tarts. I didn’t realize you would be entertaining guests.”

  He sat in a chair next to Mia and opened the box. “Would you care for a tart, Lady Mia? I have two different kinds. Mrs. Baker thought the cherry ones turned out best, while Mrs. Stinch favored the apple ones.” Mischief lit his eyes. “I’d take one of each if I were you.”

  She felt her cheeks heat and quickly took one, not knowing what kind it was. “One will suffice, Mr. St. Clair.”

  He offered the box to the rest of the guests and everyone took a tart. After biting into hers, Mia realized how good it was and murmured her approval.

  “See?” Lady Merrifield said. “You must stay for luncheon tomorrow, if only to try another tart.”

  “Are you going to the famous book club?” Mr. St. Clair asked.

  “I have been invited to attend tomorrow’s meeting.”

  “It’s full of St. Clairs and all their friends. I think you’ll enjoy it.”

  They finished their tarts and Lady Alford said she needed to get home. They said their goodbyes, extracting Mia’s promise to come to the meeting tomorrow, and then Mr. St. Clair escorted her downstairs. The other two ladies waved goodbye and went to a waiting carriage. She frowned. George wasn’t there. Only an odd-looking vehicle stood there.

  “If you’re looking for George, I dismissed him,” Mr. St. Clair said.

  “What?”

  “I saw no point in him waiting around when I could return you to your aunt’s.”

  “In that?”

  He laughed. “Yes. That, is a curricle. Here, let me board first and I’ll help you up.”

  He climbed up easily and bent forward, holding his hands out. “Come here.”

  She moved closer and he caught her by the waist, lifting her as if she weighed nothing. He eased her to the seat and then released her, sitting beside her and taking up the reins. The bench was quite small and the entire length of her left side pressed against his right. Those tingles shot throug
h her as the horses took off, her body rubbing against his. It made her grow warm all over, despite the cool wind that blew.

  “Did you enjoy tea today?” he asked.

  “Very much. Your sister is an excellent hostess. I appreciated getting to see her designs. And Lady Alford and Lady Merrick were so friendly. Just as your sisters were yesterday.” She paused. “You have a lovely family, Mr. St. Clair.”

  “I am quite fortunate to have supportive siblings.”

  Mia thought it a bit odd to say supportive. Maybe he meant they supported the investments he made on their behalves.

  “I suppose we won’t be able to meet tomorrow morning to discuss what you’ve been working on since you committed to attending the book club.”

  “Oh, no! I am so sorry. I had forgotten our appointment. I’m not used to meeting with people. I suppose I should start noting my engagements, especially with the Season almost upon us. I will write to Lady Alford and tell her I cannot come tomorrow.”

  “Why don’t you merely switch things around?” he suggested. “Work tomorrow afternoon so that you can spend the morning with your new friends.”

  “I suppose I could.” She didn’t know what Aunt Fanny would think of the change in schedule but she knew it would please her aunt that she had been invited to attend the book club. “Would you be free sometime tomorrow afternoon, Mr. St. Clair?”

  “I will always make time for you, Lady Mia.”

  A shiver went through her. His voice was husky and low. The heat he radiated was immense and, suddenly, she thought she might burst into flames.

  “Would two o’clock be convenient?”

  “Yes. Come by my workshop then,” she replied, her voice unsteady.

  They reached their destination and Mia saw her aunt’s carriage had just pulled up. She hoped Aunt Fanny’s teatime had been as pleasant as the one she’d experienced.

  Mr. St. Clair leaped from the curricle and then held out his hands to her. They captured her waist and he brought her to the ground. She saw Aunt Fanny standing on the sidewalk, a wintry look in her eyes.

  “Let me return you to your aunt.”

  He escorted her to where Aunt Fanny was.

  “How do you do, Lady Trentham? I am returning your niece from tea at my sister’s.”

  Her aunt regarded him in stony silence. She sensed a change in him. His eyes became hooded.

  “Please give Lord Trentham my best,” he said crisply. “I wish you ladies a good day.”

  Mia watched him leave and then turned to her aunt.

  “Not here,” Aunt Fanny hissed and walked away.

  She followed, wondering what was wrong. Then she realized her mistake.

  Her aunt took her into a small sitting room and closed the door. Mia decided to address the issue first.

  “Please, Aunt Fanny, don’t blame Mr. St. Clair. I should have remembered the rule about being chaperoned while in a gentleman’s company.” Even if she thought it was silly for a grown woman to need one.

  “Mr. St. Clair is not appropriate company,” her aunt snapped.

  “What do you mean?”

  Her aunt began to pace, which was totally out of character for her.

  “I understand you must see him occasionally for business matters but I don’t want you seeing him outside those circumstances. He is not accepted by Polite Society.”

  “I don’t know what you mean,” Mia protested. “Every gentleman at yesterday’s meeting treated him with respect. Ask Uncle Trentham. He’ll tell you. And when we stayed for tea, his family couldn’t have been lovelier to him.”

  Aunt Fanny stopped and took Mia’s shoulders. “He is illegitimate, Mia. The bastard son of a duke. While it’s kind of his family to ignore that fact, the rest of society doesn’t. Being seen in his company will only taint your reputation to a point beyond repair.”

  “That makes no sense. You were delighted when I told you about meeting his twin sister, the Duchess of Linfield.”

  “That’s different,” her aunt snapped. “Even though she is a by-blow, she had the sense to wed a duke. A duke—and even his duchess—can be forgiven anything by the ton.”

  “That’s outrageous. Her Grace is perfect company for me but her brother isn’t?”

  “Her bastard brother isn’t. I’m telling you now, Mia, you are not to see him again outside of the scope of this agreement you’ve signed. It would ruin all your chances at making a good match.”

  Mia saw arguing with her aunt would do no good and left the room without another word.

  She was an adult of twenty-five years. No one could tell her whom to keep company with, not even Aunt Fanny. If Mia wanted to see Mr. St. Clair in any capacity, she bloody well would. She neither wanted nor needed society’s approval. She would live her life the way she chose.

  Consequences be damned.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Mia fought the panic that continued to plague her as the carriage rolled through the streets of London. She smoothed the ball gown of softest moss green that she wore. Her hands, covered in gloves, were sweating. Her heart beat erratically.

  “Are you excited for your first ball?” her uncle asked.

  “Yes, I am,” she said.

  She was—and she wasn’t. The wasn’t part included everything about a ball. Too many people. Dancing. Been paraded about on what Lady Linfield had confided to her was known as the Marriage Mart. She worried that no one would ask her to dance and if they did, she would trample their toes so badly that they might be maimed for life.

  What she was looking forward to was seeing Hudson St. Clair in his evening clothes. Hoping he would seek her out and ask her to dance with him. Look into her eyes and tell her how much he admired her.

  She had seen him numerous times over the last three weeks. He came by the warehouse, sometimes for a planned appointment and other times unannounced, just to see what she might be working on. George, showing a valet’s discretion, gave them a wide berth, staying on the far side of the room and organizing things or leaving altogether.

  It wasn’t right. The more she’d gotten to know Mr. St. Clair, the more she respected him. He was a very intelligent man, always busy, always full of new ideas. The fact that society treated him so terribly because of what his father had done was reprehensible. Even her aunt, who was the kindest of souls, would choose to ignore him if he attended an event during the Season.

  Mia knew he would be here tonight, though. Because she had asked. She had become much braver and was able to converse with him without clamming up. His presence still made her heart race terribly but she would tamp down the feelings and talk with him. Really talk. She believed he had shared things with her that he’d never spoken about with anyone. It made her feel they had something special.

  He had come out last week and told her he was a by-blow. It was when she had asked if he would attend the ball at Lord and Lady Rutherford’s, an event which was the traditional opening of the new Season. He’d grown thoughtful and then looked deeply into her eyes, sharing that he was the illegitimate son of the previous Duke of Everton. Because of that, he wasn’t invited to many social events. His family and select friends ignored the gossip and included him when they hosted occasions but he told her he wasn’t truly welcomed at them by the other guests.

  “Then why do you go?” she’d asked.

  “Because it’s important to my family that I attend,” he’d replied. “St. Clairs always stand together.”

  Mia saw that family meant a great deal to him and now understood why he was proud of his family’s support of him. He’d shared that Lord Rutherford had been a childhood playmate of the Duke of Everton, which was the only reason he’d received an invitation to tonight’s event. She was grateful he would be present at her first ball.

  The carriage slowed and then came to a halt. The door opened and the footman told them they were as close as they could get.

  “A little walking never hurt anyone,” Uncle Trentham said cheerfully, offering his ar
ms to Mia and Aunt Fanny as they set off for the Rutherfords’ townhouse.

  When they arrived, she took in the lavish foyer and grand staircase. They joined the receiving line and she was thankful Lady Rutherford remembered meeting her at the book club a few weeks ago.

  “I hope you are considering joining the group,” the countess said. “I think an inventor would bring such an interesting point of view to what we read.”

  Lord Rutherford chuckled. “I think my wife enjoys eating at the tearoom as much as she does attending the book group. How is production going on your steam engine, Lady Mia?”

  “Everything is on schedule, my lord.”

  “Excellent news. I hope to tour the factory soon.”

  “Must you bring up your work at a ball?” her aunt hissed as they moved away from the couple.

  “Lord Rutherford asked about it, Aunt Fanny. I wasn’t going to be rude and ignore his question. Ah, good evening, Lady Stanley.”

  Lady Stanley was Lord Rutherford’s sister and someone else she had met in the book club. They exchanged a few pleasantries and Mia and her aunt and uncle were introduced to Lord Stanley. The earl knew of Uncle Trentham’s diplomatic service and they chatted about it briefly before moving on.

  They entered the ballroom and she thought it was as if walking into a beautiful woodland, with greenery and what turned out to be false trees, though they looked real to her. Candles twinkled in the branches and it looked as though stars appeared in a night sky above them.

  “My, London balls have certain changed since we last attended one, Trentham,” her aunt observed.

  “Lady Merrick was responsible for the design,” Mia told them. “There she is.”

  She steered her relatives in the direction of Lord and Lady Merrick, who stood with the Duke and Duchess of Linfield. Both women greeted her warmly, as did their husbands. She couldn’t help but think how accepted Mr. St. Clair’s twin was because she was a duchess and how ostracized he was at most social events. Her aunt fawned over both women, excessively complimenting Lady Merrick on the decorations in the ballroom.