Poppy and Francis exchanged puzzled scowls.
“Captain Basden, I must say that your bid was excellent. Detailed and well costed. You have a suitable warehouse and a ship which can easily handle the size of the contract cargos. Where you fail is that you are new to London and lack suitable connections. There is also the issue of you . . .” He cleared his throat.
“Of me being female,” said Poppy.
The superintendent nodded. “Some traders will not wish to deal with you. If your father were here, it might be a different story. But I cannot recommend your bid.”
Fury simmered within Francis. Poppy’s bid was being rejected simply because she was an outsider and a woman.
The two things I judged her over when she first arrived.
Francis barely had time to force his growing anger down before the superintendent turned his gaze toward him.
“As for you, Mister Saunders, again, a well thought out and costed bid. Though it lacks several pertinent things. The situation with regard to the warehouse storage is not ideal. You lack a suitable ship. And I have reservations about your ability to work with other traders. Again, if your father was still involved in the company, it might be a different proposition.”
Does not play well with others.
The past few weeks without Charles had taught Francis a few hard lessons. Poppy had also been the most excellent of teachers when it came to the subject of Francis learning to accept others. To seek and find common ground.
It would appear, however, that those lessons had come a little too late to save the spice contract. In future, he would put them to good use.
“Thank you for your consideration,” said Poppy.
She went to stand, but the superintendent waved his fingers down. “Don’t be in such haste to go and lick your wounds, Captain Basden. I might have a solution to the problem if you are willing to listen.”
Poppy resumed her seat.
“I was pleased to see that the two of you arrived together this afternoon. From what I hear, you have buried the hatchet and become good neighbors.”
You could put it that way.
If they were not going to win the contract, the consolation prize had to be another afternoon naked in one another’s arms followed by a splash in the copper tub. Francis was fast gaining an appreciation for a shared bath.
“The thing is, between the two of you, you actually have all the ingredients to manage this spice contract. You just need to find a way to work together.”
Poppy shifted in her seat. “So, what are you proposing?”
“A joint bid—one which your companies can adhere to in both letter and spirit. I am going to give you two days to come up with either a new submission or a letter declining my offer.”
The superintendent rose from his desk and began collecting his papers. “I shall bid you both a good day. Captain Basden. Mister Saunders.”
Poppy was out of the office in quick time. Francis could barely keep up with her. She was taking three steps for every one of his long strides, but it was still a good thirty yards from the front of the superintendent’s office before he finally caught up with her.
She brushed his hand away as he attempted to take a hold of it.
“Poppy, wait. I know you are disappointed. And what he said about you being unsuitable because you are a female wasn’t fair, but we need to talk,” he said.
“No. I won’t wait. And if you think he is the first man to treat me that way because he thinks women are the weaker sex, you are more stubborn and naïve than I’d thought.”
Naïve?
Francis stopped dead in his tracks. Poppy thought he was naïve. He knew he was stubborn, but she thought him a green boy.
Poppy kept walking. She was close to the front of her warehouse before a stunned Francis caught up with her once more.
“I had no idea you thought me a fool,” he said.
She pulled her key out of her coat pocket and slipped it into the lock. The door swung open. Poppy stepped inside while a hurt Francis lingered on the doorstep.
