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“Were their wares not insured?”
“The value, yes. But the settlement will cover replacement cost only. They needed those supplies to continue operating. Beavis, for one, was already on the verge of losing his business. His Manchester operations are in poor order—behind schedule to customers, unable to pay creditors. He needed to transport that cotton straight away.”
“I see. As to…the Robertson individual, doesn’t it provide you some advantage to have his attentions occupied elsewhere? Or to have his reputation tarnished?”
His eyebrows rose. “Shall I call you Clara Machiavelli, then?”
“Si, David,” she said wryly. “Itistrade, is it not?”
“Nothing would provide more satisfaction than gaining clear title to the land that he’s all but stealing from under my nose. And if I outmaneuvered his enterprise on a grander scale, why, I’d fairly preen! But taking advantage in that manner doesn’t sit well with me. No honor there.”
“The fire killed. Isn’t his very liberty at stake?” Clara held her breath as she awaited David’s answer.
She was relying on her brother’s deep sense of honor, but she was also risking inadvertently convincing him to take advantage of James’s vulnerability.
“No one with any real understanding of the fire suspects him. The papers are full of nonsense, you know that. Robertson is only under suspicion by those who covet his success.”
“How do you know?”Please, pleaselet him be exonerated.
“The fire superintendent, a good man named Bourne, believes the cause was negligent storage of noxious casks. The enquiry has just begun, but that’s where the evidence points. The work is sealed until the findings are complete.”
Clara fought to keep her eyes open as her eyelids nearly drooped in relief. “Yet in public, Robertson is reviled. Why, I read that there are angry mobs after him!”
She lowered her gaze to hide her longing.And those mobs are keeping me from James!
“So I read.” David stared at his rapidly cooling fish.
She hadn’t touched hers, either. “Well, you’re a man of action and always have been, David. I have no doubt that you’ll take the proper decision.” Clara infused confidence into her tone.
He looked up, eyebrow arched.
“Dear brother, you’re never idle. Are you not the man who saved Anterleigh for generations to come? Your business is held in high regard. You have the power to shape what happens next. Most believe that your Nicholas Irons is responsible for the business.Youcontrol Irons. If he speaks on the matter…”
“And what would Irons say, Clara?” David inquired, obviously having no doubt that Clara had an opinion.
“Perhaps the shrewdest path would be to lend credence to the accusations—denounce Mr. Robertson. The Rosemount outcome will depend on findings of fact, you’ve said. Someone has to verify those facts. If Mr. Robertson is publicly shamed, who will believe him?”
Clara stopped and forced herself to try the trout as nonchalantly as she could, chewing delicately. Unhurriedly, she sipped her wine, appearing to savor it.
David leaned forward, waiting for her to continue.
She struggled to gag down a second bite of fish.
“The other is the fair and honorable path. You’re confident the truth will absolve him. You could direct Mr. Irons to make it known that Robertson isnotthe responsible party. And that will”—she took another sip of wine, ignoring David’s incredulous look—“benefit you in two ways. First, you’ll have behaved in a righteous fashion, defending the innocent. Second, when the enquiry’s findings are released, it will be known that your enterprise is right on the mark.”
You were not subtle, she acknowledged to herself, praying she hadn’t roused suspicion.
“I say, Clara, we can’t visit without you altering my course in one way or another. If you’re not urging me to redecorate one room in the house, you’re reorganizing a factory’s efficiency and production.”
Clara didn’t even try to appear innocent; a brother knew that such a look was the epitome of guilt. She swallowed her shame in manipulating her brother, and looked him in the eye.
“David, when you a love a person, you want the best for him.”
He seemed affected by the truth in her voice. “You’re loyal, Clara. I do value your opinion, even when I don’t necessarily share it.” He smiled, but his gaze dropped as if studying his trout. “The reason you can alter my course is that I love you, too. I didn’t aim to discourage you.”
“I know! David, I know. Come, let us speak of something else. Something besides business entirely.”
“How fares your friend Lady Candleton?”
