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“I did not want to risk such information falling into the wrong hands and you being subsequently targeted by dishonest men,” he said grimly. “Not to overestimate the success of the plans I’ve laid, but if all goes as it should, our income will more than triple each year for at least the next decade.”
Her eyes went wide. “Triple?”
“Yes. However,” he held up a hand to forestall any further exclamation, “we should be careful until the company is well established.”
“You said you were absolutely certain of this investment. Are you not?”
The worry in her face tugged at his heart. “I’m quite certain; however, it would be imprudent to count the pounds before they are in the bank. I prefer to remain cautiously optimistic until at least three years have passed with solid gains.” He’d saved the best for last. “But lest you worry yourself, know that I’ve taken the liberty of diversifying our interests.” He grinned. ?
?America has such potential.”
Again, her eyes widened. “Sorin, the risk! The hostilities have only recently ended and there is the—”
“Relax,” he laughed. “It was only a small investment, but already it has resulted in some handsome profits. And it is growing exponentially. Whereas many of our countrymen shun the idea of doing business with them, the Americans are not so prideful as to turn down any relationship that promises them profit, and neither am I. Should our eastern investments take a bad turn, we’ll have western ties to fall back on. In fact, they may even perform better.”
She fixed him with a gimlet stare. “I know you would not do anything to displease the Crown, of course.”
It was exactly the reaction he’d expected. “I had His Majesty’s approval before ever putting pen to contract. My little side endeavor will feed the royal coffers as well as ours. After all, England somehow must replace what was lost during the war. His majesty is quite delighted at the prospect of having some of it back from the Americans.”
She sagged back with a sigh. “Thank heaven!” Her eyes narrowed. “You ought to be ashamed of yourself, frightening an old woman like that. Have you no respect for my nerves?”
“Nerves? You?” he teased, ignoring her glare. “Truly, it was not my intention to frighten you, but rather to offer you comfort. I’m attempting to secure our family’s future before things decline beyond the point of redemption.”
“What do you mean, decline?” she said, suddenly sharp again.
“What I’ve seen abroad does not bode well for those choosing to remain stagnant,” he explained. “Refusal to accept and embrace progress now will only result in impoverishment.”
To his surprise, she nodded. “Well do I know it. Many of our friends have recently been forced to retrench. They’ve done it as quietly as possible, of course, and many of them under some plausible pretext, but it’s not something easily kept hush. A few weeks ago, Lady Demby let slip that they almost had to forgo London this year. She and Lady Afton, who has also been showing the telltale signs of declining economy, managed to convince their husbands to ‘make a party of it’ and share a London residence between their families. They’ve told everyone that their girls, who are the very best of friends, begged them to do so that they might stay together for their first—and what their families hope to be their last—Season. All of their hopes are pinned on them making good matches and quickly, for it is likely that neither will be able to afford another Season. And they are not the only ones. It’s happening all over.”
He nodded. “Those against dirtying their hands with the business of making money are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with industrious commoners eager to better their lot in life.”
“You mean eager to emulate us, and poorly at that,” she retorted, her tone sour. “The gentry have been thoroughly infiltrated, and now the peerage is being invaded. ‘Merchant-barons’ are springing up everywhere, marrying into quality families, quite literally buying their way in with the promise of solvency.” She shook her head. “It’s shameful. And yet that is exactly what the Dembys and the Aftons seek. Not only does Lady Afton look to marry her daughter off to such a one, but she admitted that she hopes to find an heiress for her son from among them. I can hardly imagine the lad being attracted to any woman of common origin, but I’ve no doubt Lord Afton will insist upon the most lucrative match.”
“Don’t be such a snob, Mother. After all, am I not equally guilty of lowering myself by engaging in business?”
“What you are doing is quite another thing altogether,” she snipped. “You are of noble descent—and you are being far more discreet about your entrepreneurial activities than some I can name. I doubt anyone knows of your dabbling.”
“I see. By allowing marriages below their rank, these families are essentially tainting themselves, is that it?”
She shifted in her seat, and he knew he’d gotten to her. “I did not say that. But at the same time I feel Society is losing its refinement, and I blame this new invasion. I just think it a shame to see our culture diluted by the coarseness of the newly affluent,” she said, pursing her lips as though the words tasted bad.
“Not all of them are coarse,” he rebutted. “Over the last few years I’ve met a number of the ‘newly affluent’ and have made several friends among them. If anything, most are keen to refine their manners and rise above their humble origins.” Though he knew it would rile her, he said it anyway. “And who knows? Perhaps some new blood will serve to revitalize our lofty ranks.”
“New blood? I do hope you are not considering such a union,” she said with undisguised alarm. “In fact, I expressly forbid it. My delicate sensibilities would not tolerate such a daughter-in-law.”
“How fortunate for you then that I have no need to marry money.” He grinned as she glared. “As for the Aftons and the Dembys, I’ve found that fear of poverty always overcomes the delicate sensibilities of those in the midst of financial strain. The uncouth can always be trained or ignored, a far more palatable solution than being demoted to a lower social echelon over a lack of means. If our friends can find suitable matches for their children from among the nouveau riche, they will be saving themselves from the indignity of a slow decline.”
“I cannot decide which fate is the worse,” his mother muttered, shaking her head. “Speaking of making a suitable match, you ought to consider doing so yourself—to a woman of appropriate family, of course.”
He hesitated for only a heartbeat. “I’ve been thinking about that, actually, and I’ve decided to go with you to London this year. It is high time I married.”
“Oh, Sorin! I’m so very pleased to hear you say it,” she exclaimed softly. However, her joyful smile transformed almost at once into a frown of worry. “Heavens! You’ve only just arrived, and the Season is right around the corner. There won’t be enough time to have a new set of clothes made for you or to—”
“There is no need. I have several trunks filled with the very latest from Paris,” he said, enjoying her surprise. “I took the liberty of having them made while I negotiated the final contracts for the King’s fleet.”
Her eyes narrowed. “This is no spontaneous decision, is it?”
“I confess it is not. Nor is it solely for the purpose you deem it. All of the clothes are made from our imported fabrics,” he said, careful to conceal his enthusiasm. He couldn’t let her know just how much he really liked “dirtying his hands” with entrepreneurial pursuits. “When everyone sees the beauty and quality of the materials, they’ll wish to know where they can find them. Naturally, I’ll direct them to those shops offering our goods.”
