Miss Goodhue Lives for a Night by Kate Noble Read Free Book Online Page B

chest, and Theo watched as Colonel Birmingham’s eyebrows went up, like two hairy caterpillars retreating north. “Dire, you say? Well, then, er . . . please have a seat, my dear.”
    She reached out and clutched Birmingham’s arm, practically putting all her weight on him. “Oh, thank you sir! Your kindness is exactly what I’d hoped to find. You will be our savior, I know it!”
    â€œErm, yes,” Birmingham said gruffly, his mustache twitching. “Now, start at the beginning, my dear.”
    â€œIt has to do with my . . . brother.”
    â€œYour brother?”
    â€œYour brother?” Theo repeated.
    â€œYes, my brother. He’s in the army—but I don’t know which regiment. He . . . had a falling-out with our family, you see. And likely, he enlisted under a false name. He wrote a letter to my mother from Manchester, in which he said one day he would come home in a blue coat and then our father would see he was a man.”
    â€œHeadstrong fools.” Birmingham shook his head. “No doubt the army drummed that nonsense out of him.”
    â€œNo doubt.” Cecilia beamed at him. Theo barely contained an eye roll. “But now we desperately need to find him, because my father is not well, and our horrid uncle is trying to take over the farm. And my brother is the only one who can stop him . . .”
    She paused here to press a handkerchief to her eyes. Theo felt his bile and his admiration rising in equal measure. Because while he had to give her credit for creating a story that the colonel obviously was buying without question, it was unbelievable that the lie was so easily told.
    Then again, maybe it wasn’t unbelievable.
    â€œWe think he was with a regiment in Manchester, but was transferred to one in London. But we have no idea what name he might be using, what friends he can claim. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him—I’m not even certain I could draw him out of a crowd!”
    And with that she burst into crocodile tears.
    â€œThere, there, my dear,” Colonel Birmingham said. “Don’t cry. My new niece burst into tears just the other day and I nearly buckled—and she was happy! We’ll do everything we can, won’t we, Hudson?”
    Birmingham looked up at him with the most acute discomfort. His eyes pleading for Theo to save him from the weeping woman in front of him by any means necessary.
    â€œYes, of course we will,” Theo said. He sat next to her on the couch, and yanked her into his embrace as Birmingham sighed with relief.
    It took him less than a second to realize what he’d done. But he couldn’t let her go. She seemed to be as shocked as he, freezing in his arms. But then . . . she melted, and held close to him.
    â€œIt’s likely he’s in the horse artillery,” Theo said, trying to keep his mind on the proceedings. Cecilia lifted her eyes from his shirt to look up at him in surprise. “As he said he will wear a blue coat, and . . . associates of his have expressed a fondness for horses.”
    â€œHence why you came to Horse Guards,” Birmingham said. “We have paperwork on all recent transfers to the unit, of course, but if you suspect he has taken a different name, then I am afraid it is useless.”
    â€œHow many new transfers do you have?” Theo asked, feeling Cecilia’s hand tighten on his sleeve. She sat up straight, composing herself. But she did not let go of that sleeve.
    â€œA few dozen young men,” Birmingham answered.
    â€œAnd have any of them come from a regiment in Manchester?”
    â€œThey have come from all over,” Birmingham said. “But unfortunately, none are here today. They are all to report in a week’s time.”
    â€œA week’s time,” Cecilia said, biting her lip and turning her wet eyes up to the uncomfortable older man. Truth be