Robert and Thomas held silent.
“And, yes, I know the two of you are amongthosepeople.”
They waited.
Bill finally turned. “Bentley will probably not gamble anytime soon. I hear he is expecting three major shipments to arrive this week.”
Robert nodded. “That’s what we’re hearing through our father’s company as well. Bentley has even reached out to see if he can rent warehouse space for a few days.”
“So for now you will focus on Broxley, who will probably be in here again tonight.”
Thomas stepped forward. “What is his current debt?”
“He owes the house seventy-five thousand pounds.”
Robert let out a low whistle. “And you’ve let that ride?”
Bill gave a wry grin. “He owns an estate east of London, near Maidstone. A country house that’s been abandoned for several years. The tenants still work the land but Broxley visits maybe once a year to collect what they owe him. No management of the property. It’s worth around a hundred thousand.”
Thomas twisted the cane in his left hand. “When did you plan to call it in?”
“I’ve been dropping hints for almost a month. He knows it’s coming.”
Robert nodded. “One of the reasons he’s so desperate to snag an heiress.”
Bill returned to his desk. “Not many of this year’s debutantes carry a dowry that large.”
Looking at Thomas, Robert spoke, “That’s why your little confrontation with him at White’s hit so hard. The idea that Rose would destroy his efforts must have pushed him close to panic.”
Before Thomas could answer, Bill said, “I understand that earned you a reprimand from White’s.”
Thomas glanced down at the cane. “They warned me that threatening other members on the premises would not be tolerated.”
“What will they do if they find out you ruined one of their wealthiest members?”
“Some things are worth the risk.”
Bill coughed a laugh and Robert leaned forward, grinning. “I told you he was in love.”
“Can we focus on the objective?”
Bill held up a hand. “Easy, my friend.” He said to Robert, “You will push Broxley in his betting?”
“He’s easier to goad into action than a goose.”
“And you’re not worried that he’ll recognize you?”
Robert pointed to the darkening bruise around his eye. “I can’t go out into Society with this. It would be a dead giveaway. So I’m Robbie Green until it fades.”
Bill looked at Thomas. “You’ll track the information you need through your father?”
“We should know what Broxley’s percentage of Bentley’s company is worth in a few days. When Bentley requested information about renting some of our space, it gave us an opening to look closer at his businesses. My father is in a highly acquisitive mood right now, and with the current economic troubles, there are people ready to sell. The profits from the Manchester mills have been greater than expected this past quarter, and he’s been calculating the savings as well as the benefits of expanding our investments in shipping and storage.”
“All above board.”
Thomas nodded.
Robert cleared his throat, a sheepish look on his face. “We’ve discovered that while Thomas and I were burning through our allowances on your roulette tables, our father has been expanding the Ashton holdings exponentially. In the last five years, he has tripled the income of the estate as a whole, and it’s provided for a secure base to weather trouble.”
