Free Miss Lacey's Love Letters by Caylen McQueen Page A

turned away from him. She hoped he did not see them glistening. "Farewell, Mr. Worthington."
    "Farewell..." When he stepped away from the carriage, his body felt numb. As soon as it started moving, he immediately regretted his shortcomings. She needed to go to London, but he should have made her promise to see him again. Why didn't he tell her how he felt? Valeria Woll had carved out his heart and taken it with her, and now he would never see her again. He did not realize how much he needed her until she was gone.
    Valeria turned to the window, trying to steal another glimpse of Noah before he disappeared from view. She had lost everything today. Her aunt. Her hope for the future. How was her heart ever supposed to recover from such a devastating thing?
    "Farewell, Noah Worthington," she repeated the words to an empty carriage. "Farewell, and... I love you."

Chapter Ten

    Almost a week had passed since Valeria left Steeridge, and Noah's heart still ached at the thought of her. He missed her company, but it was more than that. His feelings were deeper than he cared to admit.
    He sat by the fire, rereading his letters to Miss Lacey. Somehow, the words of a younger Noah Worthington were making him see the truth.
    Ever since we met, you are all I have been able to think about.
    That was exactly how he felt about Valeria. He tried to forget about her, but she had a permanent residence in his mind. When he finished reading the letter, it tossed it into the fire. The finger-like flames ensnared the old parchment. Within seconds, it was black and charred.
    Your lips were unlike anything I have ever experienced, and it will be a lucky man who gets to kiss them for the rest of your life.
    When he kissed her in the library, it had stirred his deadened heart. Noah thought he was incapable of feeling anything, but Valeria had proven him wrong.
    Again, he finished reading the letter and pitched it into the flames.
    Without you, I will never laugh or smile. You were my joy, and now I have none.
    Those words were too appropriate. Valeria made him laugh and smile for the first time in ages. Now that she was gone, he felt lost. Joyless.
    Before I met you, I had nothing. You have given me a reason to live, a reason to look forward to the days ahead. And I know, without a doubt, you have made me a better man than I was. You have brightened my life in more ways than you know. You are the solitary star in my moonless sky.
    He could have written those words to Valeria, for every bit of it applied to her.
    There was only one explanation for the way he felt. He needed to be honest with her, and more importantly, he needed to be honest with himself. As soon as the last letter was in the fire, he ran to his desk and reached for a quill.

    * * *

    "John!" Valeria sprang from the ground and gave chase. How could a boy of five outrun her? "John, get back here!"
    "Noooo!" John taunted her. "No, no, no, no, no!"
    When she finally caught up to him, she lifted him off his feet and twisted the stick from his hand. "John, you know you should not hit your sister!" She pointed at the wailing three-year-old. "Look! You made her cry!"
    "Baby!"
    "John! You're terrible!" Valeria tossed the stick, but she continued to hold him aloft. No matter how much he squirmed, she refused to let go of him. After the way he treated his sister, it was the least he deserved. "You owe her an apology!"
    "No!"
    "You're acting like a child!" Valeria squealed. "I thought you were a bigger man than this!"
    "Grrrr..." As he came closer to surrender, John's squirming ceased. He stared at his sister, whose red-rimmed eyes were glistening under her adorable mobcap. "Sorry."
    "Louder," Valeria insisted. "And more genuine, if you please."
    "I'm sorry, Mary."
    "Good." Valeria finally lowered him to his feet. "Good."
    She closed her eyes and sighed. The children were draining her energy so thoroughly, she was almost glad she would never have children of her own. Two days ago, she officially