He sat in front of her. “And you didn’t see Montcrest?”
“Briefly.” She had no intention of receiving another lecture on how terrible Tristan was. She could draw her ownconclusions. But while she was there. “Did you see Colin the other day? Did you go to Greenford?”
A corner of his eye twitched. “Of course I did. Why?”
Kettle stopped licking himself and stared at Father with his large eyes; one of his paws remained stretched out over his head.
“I heard you were in London.”
“I visited Colin.” He didn’t sound confident, and she didn’t believe him.
“Why don’t you want to sell to Lord Montcrest?” she asked before he could press her on. “The land in Easthollow doesn’t have any value, and the railway will help the people in a small town.”
Papa stood up, hands clasped behind his back. “I don’t want to help Montcrest get richer. His father was a ruthless man who didn’t deserve his good luck, and I don’t see why I should help his son. I helped them in a moment of need, and when it came to return the favour, the late Montcrest didn’t show any mercy. He robbed me of the deal that would have letmeexpand my railway company. But no, he was too selfish to remember I’d fed him in a time of need.”
She looked at him. “I can’t believe it. You refuse to sell the land to Montcrest out of spite.” A bitter taste filled her mouth. “Remember the truth is you didn’t want to help them. I insisted. And you don’t help someone in the hope they’ll return the favour.”
Sensing her distress, Kettle quietly left the armrest to jump on the top shelf from which he could keep an eye on the world and stay out of trouble.
“That’s quite enough!” He paused, then exhaled. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be so harsh.”
She straightened. “I don’t want to meddle with your affairs. I’m trying to understand why you want to punish Montcrest for something he didn’t do.”
“Darling.” Her father took her hand. The change from outraged to sweet was so fast her head reeled. “Trust me. Montcrest is the same as his late father. Ruthless, greedy, and conniving. His father used every dirty financial trick he knew to make money without caring about whom he was hurting.”
“Again, what does Montcrest’s father have to do with anything?” She slid her hand out of his. “He and his father aren’t the same person.”
“Montcrest learnt from his father. He’ll stop in front of nothing. He regained his fortune and more, but it’s not enough. He wants more. He’ll never be satiated. And his grandfather plotted against the monarch!” The outraged tone was back. “Don’t listen to anything he says and please don’t visit him anymore.”
Nothing Papa told her made her want to stay away from Tristan. “His grandfather was never charged with treason.”
“Because he was a cheater.”
She threw a hand up. “You have all the answers. But Rowan is a fine boy and a friend of mine.”
“Who will become a remorseless man like his brother.”
She gathered her patience. “Nothing you’ve told me so far has convinced me of Lord Montcrest’s bad character. Quite the opposite, I must say.”
“If Montcrest and his father had been gentlemen and played by the rules, the London and West Marches Railway would be mine! But no, the late marquess found some tricky way to secure the licence to build the railway.” He put a fist on his chest. “That licence was mine. He stole it out from under me and his son was his accomplice. That’s the kind of man Montcrest is.”
She was still sceptical. From what she’d seen, every business deal involved one trick or another. Those gentlemen kept stabbing each other in the back. Papa was being resentful and unreasonable, only because he’d lost a deal.
“Surely, it wasn’t the first business deal you have ever lost,” she said, trying to make him see reason.
“No, it wasn’t, but the Montcrests are traitors to the crown, and I don’t deal with criminals.” He fixed the knot of his cravat.
The situation was clear now. She folded her arms over her chest. “You’re angry because a ruined, disgraced, and penniless man beat you at a business game. Had it been any other lord, you wouldn’t have minded that much.”
He worked his jaw. “Think about what I told you next time you want to see him.” He left the room and closed the door with a thud.
She must have struck a nerve.
Pepper raised his ears. Kettle jumped on the sofa again and put his soft paw on her arm.
“What would you do, Kettle?” She stroked his velvety head.
Kettle would do whatever he wanted, as he usually did.
