“Why do they more often offer services?” he asked, glancing down with a crease between his brows.
“No. Why do you focus on them?”
“For a few reasons, but the biggest is my mother. While I would not share this with most people, you’ve met her. Did Beth tell you why she needs a nurse?”
“Not really,” she said. “’Twas not her place to share.”
“She is losing her memory. Rather like the elderly, but much earlier, and ’tis worsening.”
“Oh, Evan. I am sorry. That must be terrible for you as well as her.”
“I worry what would have happened to her when my father died, without me to take over the earldom and to help manage her care. Women have very few paths to financial independence and very few ways to learn the skills needed for some of those paths.”
“Wouldn’t other family have taken her in?”
He shook his head. “Not in my family. Without me in the picture, my second cousin would have gotten the title and the entailment and would have not only thrown my mother out on the street but likely have gone through the estate in a matter of months. He still could if I die.”
“That is terrible.” She shook her head, remembering him mentioning that cousin when she had first asked about his family. She assumed he’d circumvent that by marrying eventually. Hating the idea of him marrying, she returned to his previous statement. “But ’tis ever so forward-thinking of you to help women where you can.”
She debated bringing up the School of Enlightenment but knew that was not allowed. Still, the school could benefit from Evan’s help, and she thought he would find it a worthy investment.
Chapter Eleven
The second northern apothecary was inferior, just as Althea had suspected. They quickly returned to the guesthouse, and Althea ordered baths for her and Beth for an hour from then. She heard Evan doing the same as she ascended the stairs.
After a short rest with a cup of tea, she lowered herself into the warm water in the hip tub the staff had brought. Her maid had found her favorite shampoo and soap from the luggage. Althea turned the bar in her hand, rubbing and sniffing it to ensure the quality was everything she remembered, in light of the products she’d seen earlier.
Reassured, she washed quickly, then leaned over the tub so her maid could wash and rinse her hair.
As her maid finished securing her dress, a knock sounded. Her maid answered the door, returning with a note. As Althea unfolded it, another knock came.
The door opened before she could respond, and Beth’s face appeared. “Cuz? How was your day?”
Althea shook her head at her cousin as she entered without waiting for an invitation.
“Quite productive, thank you. We walked so much.” On the verge of asking Beth about her day, Althea remembered the note in her hand. She scanned it. “Oh. After the four of us dine this evening, Evan would like to discuss my expansion plans further, in order to determine what we do tomorrow. Do you mind? Would you like to join us?”
Beth threw herself on Althea’s bed. “Thank you, no. I don’t mind at all. I am sure I can entertain myself.” She smiled.
Fighting the urge to roll her eyes, Althea frowned at her cousin’s failing attempt to look innocent. “I am serious, Beth. No scandals. No employees complaining to management and getting us thrown out. Behave. ’Tis only a few days. Surely you can control yourself.”
Although, the more Althea thought about it, remembering her dilemma of wanting and not wanting Evan to knock, the more she began to understand Beth’s penchant for trouble. The pursuit of that level of ecstasy could indeed eclipse one’s good sense.
No. Keep business and pleasure separate.
But she could not help the thrill that accompanied every thought of Evan’s price for each piece of advice. She shivered, wondering how many tips he would provide and where it would lead them. She chose a burnt orange gown, ignoring the internal voice that said it reminded her of his hair. Finding a scarf, she tossed it around her neck with the ends trailing down her dress and pretended her nipples poking through her dress were from cold.
They had supper in the private dining room upstairs at the pub next door, with only one of the few wooden tables in the room set for four. Evan and Robert both wore plain black jackets and trousers, unlike their colorful ballroom attire. Beth chose a mauve gown that flattered her, as always sporting a decidedly lower neckline than Althea.
After dinner, she and Evan remained in the room while Beth and Robert made exaggerated yawns as they left, leaving Althea to realize she really ought to have asked Beth for more details about her day out. She wondered if either she or Evan would hear noises from a neighboring room later.
Or both of us if we’re in the same place. No! Focus.
She turned her attention to Evan. “My lor—Evan. What did you think of the various shops, given your knowledge of investments?”
He sat back, whisky glass perched on his leg in one hand. “Ah, we’ll get right down to it, eh? I shall warn you, I have had a superb idea, and it will not come cheap. Are you prepared for a steeper price?”
Gads. He’s making me agree aloud, so I cannot say I was coerced.She could not bring herself to care. In fact, she wasn’t sure which she wanted more—the advice or the tariff.
