Eleanor reeled a little, the ground shifting under her as it had done on the stairs earlier that very day.
“That can’t be true.”
Marcia sipped her tea sedately. “I think you know it is, dearest. And now, one question remains.”
“What? What question?”
Marcia met her eye steadily.
“What are you going to do about it?”
Eleanor blinked, absorbing the question. The answer came to her with a shocking suddenness, and her heart sunk into her boots. There was really only one answer, and she hadn’t realized just how disappointing that answer would be until it was laid out before here, flat and dull and frank.
“Nothing,” she answered quietly. “I am going to do nothing.”
Marcia’s face fell. “But, Eleanor…”
“No, Marcia. Listen to me now. You’ve dragged this out of me, but let me tell you that Lord Henry is our business partner. He’s looking far beyond aMiss Fairfaxfor his wife, and certainly would never settle for a woman as shop-soiled as I.”
“That’s hardly fair.”
“That is life, Marcia.”
“But…”
“But there are no buts. Let’s not discuss it again. Now. More tea?”
Chapter Sixteen
“Not the pink-and-green today, Edward,” Henry said sharply. “I’m trying to be a businessman.”
That was the wrong way of saying it. Henry was nottrying to bea businessman. Hewasa businessman, he only needed to act like it, and look like it. Easy enough.
Edward’s face fell, and he silently put away the silk pink-and-green waistcoat he’d taken out of the wardrobe so hopefully. It was doubtless a gift from William, whose tastes ran to exotic things like colourful waistcoats and unnecessarily jeweled cravat pins.
Henry inspected his reflection in the mirror. Good, good, he looked neat and put-together. He’d chosen a deep green velvet suit, alittleshowy but not too much, and intended to pair it with a dark yellow-brown waistcoat.
Today was his first full day in the office. He would tour the business with Mr. Fairfax once again, this time with the aim of suggesting and implementing more radical changes. He would go through paperwork and ledgers with Eleanor afterwards.
Miss Fairfax,he corrected himself sternly. It was important to be polite and formal in these matters.
He was sure that, with time, Eleanor would get used to his presence as a partner in the business. He’d show her that he had no intention of forcing her out. He’d make it clear that they werepartners, not rivals.
He could manage it, he was sure. She’d grow to like him. Henry had won over uncertain and suspicious business partners in the past, and he was sure he could do it again.
He might not be as open-hearted and charming as Alexander, but he could make people like him. If he applied himself, of course.
I can manage it,Henry told himself firmly, smoothing down his waistcoat and tweaking the folds of his knotted cravat.I’ll prove to her that I can be trusted. It’ll just take a little time. Together, we can revive the business, I’m sure of it.
“You look very handsome, your lordship,” Edward announced, breaking into Henry’s thoughts. “Ladies will turn their heads as you walk down the street, I’m sure.”
Henry smiled wryly. “I don’t need all the ladies to turn their heads at me, Edward.”
Just the one lady.
It was a fine, clear morning, and Henry was glad he’d chosen to walk. Apparently, many other people thought the same – he passed several acquaintances on the road to the Fairfax offices, and a number of empty hackney cabs trundled unhappily past, looking for customers.
The sky was clear and blue – rare for this part of London – and the sun shone down on the cobbles. For once, there were no awful smells drifting around. Henry almost felt inclined to loiter on his walk.
