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Clara missed her brother’s reaction because she couldn’t help but turn to James, gazing at him warmly. He pulled her close, but he kept his eyes trained on David.
As silence stretched, James lifted his chin. “Others have asked for permission to wed your sister, have they not?”
David merely blinked in agreement.
“Did any of thosegentlemen,” James said this last word with contempt, “raise the subject of her dowry?”
David stood stone still, anger visibly rising again.
“Ihave terms to propose in marrying your sister,” said James. “I’moffering something toyou. I wish to relinquish any claim to the Rosemount property. I’ll acknowledge that you own it, free and clear.”
Now David and Clara both turned to James in shock.
Clara squeezed James’s arm.No! You can’t do that! You can’t afford to do that! Not after the damage to your firm after the fire!
But she held her tongue and looked to David.
“Complete title, with all the water rights?”
“Aye.”
David looked at him skeptically. “How much do you want?”
“Everything, if you mean Clara. But if you’re referring to funds—nothing.”
Transferring his attention to Clara, David looked vindicated. “Do you see, Clara? This one is beyond canny. His offer isn’t generous, it’s a ploy. After marrying you, he’d simply declare the contract unenforceable, for it has no form of actual consideration, which is required for a contract of this magnitude!”
Clara closed her eyes, seeking patience toward her brother, even as James made a sound of disgust. “David, what amount do you need for the consideration to be adequate?”
“I leave rashness to the likes of him! I have ideas, but I wouldn’t voice them without consulting with the solicitors.”
“Rash?” James sounded amused, but Clara knew better. She felt the frustration radiating from him. “How is this for rash? Meet with your solicitors. Provide me any figure that you wish, and I’ll agree to it. And meanwhile, I’ll wait to marry Clara.”
She turned to James in shock. “I don’twantto wait!”
David interrupted. “What advantage do you seek with this, Robertson? With this action, you’d cripple a significant operation in your planned holdings. Surely you can’t afford to do that after the fire.”
“Aye. In doing this, I’ll lose a great deal more money. Admit failure. Surely anger my managers. Disappoint my other employees.”
“Whatever you are, a fool you’re not. How do you expect me to believe this?”
James laughed tightly. “You’re wrong there, Chadbourne. Iama fool. A fool for Clara. If relinquishing Rosemount is what it takes for you to see that I harbor no plan to use Clara against you, so be it.”
“Oh, James,” she said, melting against him.
“Do you see what a fool I’ve become?” James spoke as if to David, but it was upon Clara that he looked with awe. “Before I met your sister, I not only wanted to vanquish you on Rosemount—I wantedyouto fail. I might be rash, but you’re smug, and that’s a greater crime in my book. But now? I just want to make Clara happy.”
“You do,” she said to him, smiling through her tears.
James kissed her forehead, and they both turned to David.
“Oh, David.” She laughed. “You look as though you require a top hat to be sick into!”
“I say,” he agreed. He looked away, his eyes moving back and forth rapidly, and Clara knew he was thinking again.
She approached him and spoke in a low murmur that carried only to his ears. “David, do you remember the connection our parents shared? I don’t say this lightly. That’s how I feel about him.”
“Abouthim? Like Mother and Father?”
