Page 53 of Return to Wildsyde

“I will,” Lyall said, nodding. “I will nae come back again until I can bring her with me. My word on it.”

4th August 1845, the offices of Knight Enterprises, Piccadilly, London.

Felix Knight gave Luella an encouraging smile as he gestured for her to go ahead of him up the stairs at the offices of Knight Enterprises. The young man had been a charming companion on their tedious journey to London, or he’d tried his utmost to be, at least. Luella had tried to rally herself but even this sudden and unexpected piece of good fortune landing in her lap could not shake her out of the misery of regret that clouded every moment of the day.

The offer that Felix Knight had put forward on behalf of his father had been more money that she could ever have dreamed of. Her situation being what it was, Luella could not simply sign papers and let the fellow leave, though. She needed ready money at once, to find a suitable home for herself, and for Jack when he came to stay with her. That he would not be with her every day and that she would be all alone was something she did not allow herself to dwell upon. She also knew a thing or two about negotiation from her father, and she knew better than to accept the first offer, or to deal with the young man when his father was the one holding the purse strings. If he wanted her land so badly, he could pay for it. Luella was not greedy, but she was tired of being at the mercy of fate. Money meant security for her and for Jack, and freedom from relying upon Lord Buchanan, and that meant everything to her now.

“You may stay here, Mrs Cooper,” Luella said, smiling at the middle-aged woman Mr Knight had hired to act as her companion and lady’s maid.

He had refused to consider travelling on with her if the proprieties were not observed, and she could hardly blame him. Whether or not he knew the significance of her name, he was a wealthy, handsome fellow and heir to the Knight fortune. Lilith would not have hesitated to trap him if the opportunity arose. Even Luella knew his father, Gabriel Knight, was one of the wealthiest industrialists in the country.

Mrs Cooper nodded and took out her knitting, making herself comfortable as Felix Knight escorted Luella to his father’s office, knocked, and entered.

“Good morning, Father. May I present Miss Luella Fulbright? She is the owner of that troublesome piece of land I have been searching for.”

Gabriel Knight stood, moving from behind the enormous oak desk that dominated the office and coming to greet her. He was an imposing man with an air of contained energy. She found it hard to judge his age. His dark hair was shot through with silver, but he was obviously fit and vigorous, so perhaps somewhere in his late fifties?

“Miss Fulbright, it is a pleasure to meet you. You have led my son on quite a journey around the countryside,” he said with a smile. He had a pleasant voice, certainly not upper class, but cultured, and his manners put her at ease at once. This was not a man to browbeat someone he judged inferior into submission. “I hope the journey from Scotland was not too fatiguing. Please sit down and we will see if we can come to terms. May I offer you some refreshment?”

Luella refused his offer of tea, but did as he asked, and Mr Knight returned to sit behind his desk while his son leaned casually against it.

“Felix tells me you have rejected our very fair offer,” he said, a twinkle in his eyes giving her reason to believe he did not blame her for doing so.

Luella’s heart beat hard, and her palms felt horribly sweaty, but outwardly she did not so much as blink, remaining utterly composed. “I have.”

Mr Knight smiled, and she wondered if he knew how much it cost her to show him such a cool façade. She suspected he did. “You realise no one else in the world will have the least bit of use for it? For anyone but me, it is entirely worthless.”

“Indeed, but it is crucial to your plans. You must believe me a simpleton if you think I ought to grab at your first offer.” She quirked an eyebrow. Your move, Mr Knight.

“I do not believe you a simpleton,” he replied steadily. “Though I must warn you, Miss Fulbright, that I could find another location for my bridge.”

“You could,’ Luella agreed, keeping her tone conversational and entirely calm. “And that will cost you more money and, more significantly, time. I suspect you dislike wasting time, Mr Knight.”

He chuckled at that, a warm, inviting sound that suggested he was enjoying himself. “Indeed, I do, Miss Fulbright. Very well. I shall make you another offer for your worthless land, but I suggest you think very carefully before you try another tack. I respect your determination, but I am not a fool to be manipulated by a chit of a girl.”

“I never thought it,” Luella replied blandly, watching as he took a pen and wrote a figure down on a piece of paper.

He slid it across the desk to her and Luella had to work hard to bite back an exclamation of astonishment. Mr Knight really wanted that land. It was an extremely generous offer. Luella swallowed, sweat prickling down the back of her neck. Steeling her nerve, she raised her head and looked Mr Knight in the eyes.

“Add another two thousand pounds in shares in your next venture, and it’s yours.”

She held out her hand to him, holding his gaze.

Mr Knight did not so much as blink, just regarded her steadily. Luella held her nerve and kept her hand extended. Finally, Mr Knight smiled. “Well done, Miss Fulbright. You have a deal.”

He shook her hand warmly, his expression one of pleasure.

“I’ll have my lawyers draw up the agreement at once, but my son informs me you are suffering a little pecuniary embarrassment,” he said, his voice kind.

Luella laughed. “You might say that, or you might be less polite and say my pockets are to let.”

“Well, that is a situation easily remedied,” he said, reaching into his desk drawer and taking out a money purse. “Hopefully that will tide you over until we can finalise the deal. Do you have a bank account?”

Luella blinked. “Um…” She assumed the money her father had left to her must be somewhere, but she couldn’t touch that, even if she knew where it was.

“Not to worry. I will have one opened for you,” he said briskly. “But I am under the impression you are alone in town. Do you have friends here? Family, perhaps?”

Luella shook her head. “My father died. That’s why I was sent to Wildsyde, you see. Lord Buchanan is my guardian.” She tried hard to keep the bitterness from her voice but suspected she had failed. Perhaps that was what made the two men stiffen.