Miss Goodhue Lives for a Night Read Online Free PDF Page A

Cecilia’s. She looked just as nonplussed as he. Could he possibly know  . . . ? “Her?”
    â€œYes. Miss Goodhue, I presume.” Lord Ashby went over to Cecilia, taking her hand before she could so much as curtsy. “A pleasure to meet you, although I wish it were under better circumstances. But John and Leticia say you need help, and I—and Mr. Hudson—are here to provide it.”
    â€œTh-thank you,” she replied.
    â€œThe details in John’s letter were sketchy, at best,” Lord Ashby said, sitting, and inviting everyone else to do so as well. “He only mentioned a cousin from Manchester had run off to London.”
    â€œIs that what this is about?” Theo said, leaning back in his seat.
    She nodded.
    â€œAnd that is why I asked specifically for you,” Lord Ashby told him. “I thought an attorney would be best suited to this. When we first met, you mentioned you had relatives in Manchester. I assume you spent some time there. I thought perhaps you might know the family.”
    â€œOh . . .” Theo said, glancing again at Cecilia. “I . . . that is to say, my uncle, Sir Lockwood is—”
    â€œIt is my cousin Eleanor,” Cecilia said, jumping in before Theo could make any further awkward explanations. “She has run off to join a young man, a soldier. But we don’t know his regiment—or indeed, his name. We only have the letters the young man sent her, telling her to come to him.”
    â€œDo you have those letters?” Lord Ashby asked. “I do not wish to pry, only that it would be helpful if—”
    â€œYes I do. My aunt sent them to me when I told her I was coming to London.”
    She made to reach for her pocket, but then realized she was still absurdly holding a potted plant.
    â€œOh, I almost forgot. I’m to deliver this to you. I have the instructions for it.”
    â€œIt’s a plant.” Lord Ashby said, taking it. “Does it need instructions?”
    â€œAccording to Margaret Babcock, yes. And it’s to be placed in your keeping for Dr. Gray. I believe there was explanation about it in another one of Mr. Turner’s letters—”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Theo interrupted, impatient. “But can we move this along, please? I assume time is of the essence.”
    â€œYes,” Cecilia replied, blushing. Then she drew out not a packet of letters, but a pair of spectacles, proceeding to balance them on the bridge of her nose.
    â€œYou wear glasses?” he could not stop himself from asking.
    â€œYes,” she answered, startled. Then, blushing, “For reading. Now.”
    While she rummaged in a different pocket, he could not help but stare at those little wire frames, making her appear owlish and . . . older.
    Damn, but they were both older.
    â€œHere they are,” she said, pulling out a letter from a packet and eyeing the first few lines. “The letters. And the one from my uncle, informing us of Eleanor’s disappearance.”
    Lord Ashby set the plant aside and took the letters. He perused the one on top in silence. Then, wordlessly, he handed it to Theo before he began reading the next.
    â€œOh, but—” Cecilia said, reaching for the letter.
    Lord Ashby’s hand paused in midair. His eyes came up. “Miss Goodhue, I asked Mr. Hudson here because he has my full faith and trust. He’ll be able to help you. He won’t betray your confidence.”
    â€œI . . .” She let out a long sigh and removed her glasses to rub her eyes. “All right.”
    Theo took the letter. Read it. Then read the others as the earl finished with them. They told a story he knew all too well. Young love, heady and overwhelming. At least from the letters it seemed like it was on both sides. Unfortunately the letters were peppered with endearments, darling s and my love s in place of proper