“Will you tell me where we are going now?”
Evan rapped on the roof to start the carriage. Once they were underway, he shook his head and replied, “I want to show you something. ’Tis about a two-hour ride. Will you tell me more about your expansion while we travel?”
This is what I wanted. To share my successes with him. He is asking all the right questions and—thinking of his declaration of love the day before—saying all the right things. Dare I hope? Dare I trust?
Beth’s criticism rang in her ears, as did her subsequent wonderings. Was Evan the key to her future happiness? She could not fathom falling in love with anyone else. She’d been in lust with him since her first orgasm and in love with him since his first tip for her shop, if she were honest.
This was not the soothing warm milk of care and respect for her husband, nor was it the baffled affection she felt for Beth. Those were candle flickers compared to the conflagration that was her adoration for Evan. But despite Beth’s assurances, she worried that if he did not feel the same, did not put her first, that very inferno would consume her independence and leave her in a similar position to when Thomas died.
Her inner critic argued.You shan’t be in a similar position. You have educated yourself. And Evan has helped you, not taken that away. You will not lose what you have built. And he brought gifts!
She groaned silently. Her inner critic sounded a lot like her cousin.
He watched her expectantly, mayhap hopefully.
“Sales have already exceeded our projections.” Althea was happy to brag. “They did so in the second month, in both stores. We had to reinvest our profits to obtain more inventory quickly, and I worked with the shampoo-makers to build their business. I asked Charlotte whether we should open a second shop in London to garner more customers, but she likes our current location too much. Instead, we shall evaluate Brighton in the spring when the roads are better.”
Evan raised his brows, a smile blooming. “Excellent. Using the same model?”
Althea’s shoulder rose noncommittally. “Mayhap. If profits continue as they are, we could afford a joint venture in a new space with Emily, rather than trying to forge another relationship with the need to vet quality of goods as well as management. ’Twill also depend on competition there, available spaces, and rents, as you know.”
He nodded.
“Then we may consider another store in London, but under a different name, with less expensive products, to reach the next tier of customer.”
“Hmm.”
She frowned. “What?”
“What did Charlotte think of that?”
“She suggested it in lieu of a second location of my store. But mentioned we’d need to evaluate profit margins.” She continued to frown at him, knowing his tells. His tactful hum was his way of remaining neutral until asked. “Why?”
“I do not want to interfere in your business relationship with Charlotte. Nor would I dare to question her approach. But I shall be interested to see—if permitted—the profit analysis.”
“And? I know you are considering another dimension. Please, I should like to know your thoughts. I’ve—I’ve missed sharing ideas with you these past weeks.”
He grinned and relented. “I suppose I wonder if you’ll be happy working with inferior goods. If you can bring yourself to be as passionate selling them as you can when you are confident that the product you are offering is the best available.”
“Huh.” She hadn’t thought of that.
“Charlotte is likely looking at it from a numbers perspective. And the profitability may well be there. But I am looking at it from an overall business perspective. Your enthusiasm goes a long way in driving sales. Well, that and your ardent interest in observing people.” He winked.
Althea blushed and looked away.
“While we are on the subject of your shop or shops…” He took a breath. “I know I made a poor showing of myself the other day. One thing that I did not have a chance to say is that I had my solicitor draw up papers to ensure your stores remain yours, should we marry.”
She opened her mouth to speak, although completely at a loss as to what to say. He hadn’t actually proposed again, had he? Had she missed it somehow?
Evan continued before she could form words. “But before we get to that, let me show you the reason I’ve brought you here.” He nodded out the window.
She peered around. The front gate of the School of Enlightenment was swinging open for their carriage.
Chapter Twenty
Althea turned back to him.
Before she could ask anything, Evan said, “Please bear with me for a few minutes. I shall attempt to explain.”
