Read Miss Lacey's Love Letters for Free Online Page A

enough."
    "For what it's worth," Valeria began, "I am sorry about Miss Lacey. Truly sorry."
    "Not a day goes by when I am not sorry about what happened. I wish there was a way to go back, a way to prevent her accident." Noah looked down at his scuffed boots and sighed. "But life goes on, even when you want it to end."
    Valeria could feel tears burning behind her eyes. Apparently, twenty years had done nothing to dull the ache of his heart. "That's so sad, Mr. Worthington."
    "Enough of that. If it's possible, I would rather not speak of the letters again." Noah turned to his butler. "Argus, if you don't mind showing them to the dining room? I think we should have an early supper."
    "Rrrrr..." Noah didn't flinch when his butler growled at him. "If I must..."
    As the butler led them to the dining room, Lydia whispered, "I like him better today."
    "As do I," Valeria agreed. "He seems much more amiable. Perhaps we caught him in a bad mood before?"
    "Either that, or we caught him in uncommonly good spirits today."
    Several minutes later, Noah joined them in the dining room. To Valeria's surprise, he actually looked like a gentleman. He had made an effort to comb his hair, he had tied a cravat, and he was wearing a dark green greatcoat. It must have been a bit old, because it fit snugly against his shoulders, but he looked much less roguish than before. Valeria did not know which version she preferred: the gentleman or the rogue.
    "You cleaned up nicely," Lydia praised him.
    "Thank you. I tried to make an effort." Noah tried to disarm her with a smile, but the crease between Lydia's eyes would not budge.
    "Please tell me that awful Argus won't be the one preparing our food!" Lydia whimpered. "I don't think I could stomach the thought!"
    "No," Noah's answer was accompanied by a chuckle. "I am sure I would not want to eat anything that was touched by Argus' hands. I do have a cook. And a maid."
    "I think it would be difficult to be a recluse with servants lingering around," Lydia said.
    "Then perhaps I am only a partial recluse." He chuckled again. "I do not try to avoid people so much as I try to avoid social situations."
    "Such as this?" Lydia asked.
    "No. I am happy to have your company tonight," Noah assured them. "I only hope I am not too late to make a good impression."
    Within minutes, a middle-aged maid presented them with a bowl of soup. Valeria was pleasantly surprised by the taste.
    "This is quite good."
    "I am glad you like it, Miss Woll. This soup is one of my favorites."
    "We don't have a cook. Not yet. Believe it or not, I do all of my own cooking."
    "Really? And are you a good cook?"
    "I would like to think I have some talent, but I am afraid I can't make anything as delightful as this." Her mouth tingled every time the silky broth touched her tongue.
    When he saw Lydia's grimace, he asked. "Is something wrong, Mrs. Langley? Is the soup not to your liking?"
    "I like it well enough," Lydia was quick to reply. In truth, her pain had returned, but she did not want to say anything to spoil the conversation. If Mr. Worthington and her niece were getting along, she did not want to interrupt them.
    "You know, I was not always a recluse."
    "Really, Mr. Worthington?" Valeria pressed.
    He nodded. "Shortly after Abigail's death, I took some time to do some traveling. I thought it would make me forget my despair."
    "Did it?"
    "Not exactly, although my travels provided me with many welcome distractions."
    After taking a few more sips of her soup, Valeria asked, "Where did you travel?"
    "Africa. Egypt, and the Nile River,"
    "Oh, that sounds very exotic! Did you see the Pyramids?"
    "Yes. The Pyramids and the Sphinx." When he saw Valeria's eyes light up, Noah smiled. He had lived too long without companionship. To speak to someone who was genuinely interested in his life was a welcome change. "As you venture deeper into the African wilds, you see all sorts of strange fauna. Once, I got chased by a wildebeest. They're much more