Page 42 of The Baron Takes a Wife

Sophie looked over at Elena. She had not realized how badly she wanted this for Annamaria until this moment, but she had to make this work. She did not want Annamaria to be in danger of any more broken bones or dislocated shoulders.

“You are very quick to offer Irene’s services.” Sophie’s expression was stern, but Elena sensed she was reluctantly impressed with Annamaria.

“When she is old enough, she could teach her daughter how to play. Irene would like that.”

“If you’re sure, Elena, that was my biggest concern,” Sophie conceded.

“Not my background?” Annamaria whispered.

“I could not give a tuppence for your background. Do you think you could do the work?”

“Yes.” Annamaria set her jaw firmly.

“And Elena or you will see to your child. Then I think we can come to an arrangement.” Elena tried to hold in the smile that was building inside her, as she knew Sophie detested big displays of emotion. Annamaria’s eyes filled with tears, but she also seemed to have understood this about Sophie and merely bobbed her head.

“Thank you.” Sophie rummaged in her reticule, pulling something out.

“Let us discuss when you can begin.”

Elena felt like she could leave the two women to negotiate, knowing she ought to go check on Goliath. As she walked back to the carriage, she felt as though something lurked in the corner of her eye, just outside her vision. As she picked up her pace, she did the old trick she had taught herself when she had been alone and watched her shadow, searching for anyone or anything behind or around her. Just as she looked down, Goliath burst forth from the carriage, snarling and barking at something Elena could not see. She looked around, standing behind Goliath, her back to the building. For a moment, she was sure something or someone was there, a presence waiting for her and her alone. Suddenly, Goliath’s barking died down as if he seemed satisfied that whatever had been watching them was gone, and he turned back to the carriage with a huff. Elena looked down at Goliath and carefully helped him get back into the carriage to wait for Sophie.

While she and Sophie rode back to Grayston House, Elena stroked Goliath’s fur absentmindedly. She wondered if it had been a real threat or if Goliath was being his overprotective self. Even though she was half convinced she had imagined everything, she could not shake the strange yet familiar sense of dread that had swept over her before Goliath leaped down to defend her. She weighed mentioning it to David, but since nothing really happened, she decided to keep it to herself and sat listening to Sophie discuss her new plans, satisfied with the day's results.

****

After they had returned, Elena left to change for the opera, but David was able to find Sophie before she retired to her rooms.

“You are satisfied with this young woman?”

“Do you doubt your wife’s judgment?” Sophie looked up at him from her favorite chair with an implacable expression. Why did this feel like a test?

“No, never. I just know that you can be particular.”

“I am. But Elena understands me. Despite her good heart, she would not have tried to bring us together unless she thought we would be a good fit. And I think it will be. Not only does the girl speak Italian, but I found she also knows some Sicilian.”

“That will be helpful with the Marsala accounts.”

“That’s what I thought. You did yourself a service marrying Elena.”

“I know.” He paused, wanting to say something he had never had the chance to articulate to his aunt before. “I appreciate how welcoming you both were to her. Many among the ton might not have approved of my marriage. While I have no regrets, I hope it did not hurt the business.”

“Nephew, do you realize that most people who purchase alcohol for their households, gentry or aristocrat, are women?”

“I had not, no.” He felt his skin heat in shame for a moment. He probably should have been aware of this, as it was his business, too.

“Either these women care more for the quality of their wine and sherry than the marriage of the wine merchant, or they think you were terribly romantic. It has not diminished our sales, rather the opposite in fact.” Sophie paused and pulled out a pair of spectacles that she began to clean. “But the times are changing, and we need to change with them. New laws will come soon, and we need to understand how it will impact the business.”

David was struck by Sophie’s skills, not only in business but also in understanding how outside forces would impact the business in finding new markets and buyers. They all would have been lost without her. Of course, he could never directly tell her that, for Sophie had that wonderfully English allergy to compliments.

“Thank you, Aunt Sophie. For everything while I was gone. I know you despise the aristocracy.”

“Oh, I may think myself vastly superior, but that does not mean I mind taking money from them.” Sophie wore a self-satisfied smile as she set the spectacles on the bridge of her nose.

“Good sport, you are.” He felt his lips quirk and looked away.

“Yes, well, now you have returned, I’ll have you know you are taking over the accounts at the gentlemen’s clubs. Aside from you, I only want to correspond with women for a while. And I’m still not sure about you. Though we should probably go over the accounts together at some point.”

He smirked inwardly. She was never one to mince words. “Yes, we should rather. Do you have time now?”