Chapter 24
twenty-four
Afew days had passed since the horrible meeting with Tristan, Papa, and Mr. Fleet, and Effie hadn’t made up her mind about her father.
She was playing with Pepper, throwing a ball in the garden, but her mind kept drifting off.
When she’d visited Rowan, Tristan had never been there.
She hadn’t talked much with Papa, either.
He kept professing his absolute innocence, but at the same time, his company was flourishing at an alarming speed, and he’d insisted she’d gone to Greenford on the day of the attack. It was hard to forgive him.
Pepper dropped the ball at her feet when loud voices distracted her.
“…supposed to do now?” That was Papa.
“An urgent meeting…” That was Lowe, Papa’s secretary and factotum.
“Yes, because if I ask him nicely, he will stop.” Papa shoved the French windows open and paced on the porch. The luscious evergreen bushes didn’t soften the view of her furious father. “I would have more luck asking the tsar to behave.”
She walked over to him with Pepper at her heels. “Papa, what happened?”
“Nothing you should worry about.” He strode inside and headed upstairs.
She chased him. “Papa.”
“It’s a serious matter, Effie. Leave it to me.”
“Oh, no.” She stepped in front of him, blocking his path to his study. “No more secrets. I think they did enough damage to us. Tell me what’s happening.”
He entered the study, and she followed him.
“Papa.” She used the stern tone she reserved for Pepper. “After what happened with Montcrest, I think you owe me some honesty.”
Lowe exchanged a nod with him before closing the heavy oak door. “Lord Montcrest is acquiring your father’s company.”
She’d expected something more shocking. “I don’t understand. How?”
“He has the shareholders in his pockets.” Papa fidgeted and raked a hand through his hair. “I don’t know exactly how he’s doing it, but I know why. He’s chipping away pieces of my company like a filthy rodent.”
“Is it legal?” she asked.
Lowe spread his arms. “Unless he intimidated or blackmailed the shareholders, forcing them to sell their shares to him, which isn’t the case, yes, it’s legal, unethical but legal.”
“He’s going to kick me out of my own company!” Papa roared.
“That’s not possible, my lord.” Lowe didn’t sound confident. “You still hold your shares.”
“That’s his plan. Mark my words.” Papa gripped the back of the chair. “Once he finishes, he’ll be the owner with me, and he’ll drive me mad until I sell the whole lot to him.”
A vision of Tristan’s furious face flickered through her mind. His rage had screamed revenge. And now he was exacting it financially.
“Even if he buys the company, he won’t ruin you, will he?” she asked.
Papa’s pale face answered. “He’ll never stop.” He breathed hard and sweat glistened on his face. “He’s a vindictive bastard, like his father.” He loosened the collar of his shirt, but his breathing remained raspy.
“Well, you exacted your revenge against Montcrest by refusing to sell him Easthollow,” she said. “All because you thought his father was unfair to you.”
“Refusing to sell a piece of land isn’t the same thing as what he’s doing!” Papa gritted his teeth.
She was about to suggest he talk with Tristan when he let out a strangled groan.
He put a hand on his chest and dropped to his knees.
“Papa!” She rushed to his side.
Lowe pulled the door open. “Doyle! Send for the physician. Lord Winchester is ill.”
“Papa.” She crouched next to him and helped him lie down.
Awful choking noises came out of him, and his eyes watered.
“Breathe.” She unfastened the collar of his shirt and caressed his cheek. “Please, breathe.”
Effie didn’t understand anything about finance, but she understood bad news. As Lowe had shown her, in a short time, Tristan had indeed threatened her father’s company with the sheer power of his money.
In the drawing room, she stroked Pepper’s and Kettle’s heads as she waited for Dr. O’Neil to finish visiting Papa.
That was one of those medical occasions when her knowledge of veterinary medicine was useless.
Lowe sat on a chair, reading the newspaper. The only sign he was worried about Papa was his frequent glances at the door.
Pepper licked her hand gently, and Kettle stared at her without blinking as if he wanted to force happiness into her.
“My lady.” Dr. O’Neil entered, his smile strained. “Your father is resting now.”
She held her breath. “Was it the heart?”
“No, it wasn’t.”
She exhaled. “I thought he was having a heart attack.”
Lowe sagged as well. “Thank goodness.”
“He suffered from a strong moment of panic, which can mimic a heart condition. I prescribed valerian root and passionflower tincture to help him rest. He’s in no danger now, but he must rest and reduce his activities.”
She nodded. “Thank you, Doctor.”
After the butler showed the doctor out, Lowe asked for his coat.
“My lady, give my regards to His Lordship. I’ll be more useful in the office, trying to contain Lord Montcrest’s damage.”
“Of course.” She loitered in the hallway, still torn between justifying Tristan and condemning him.
She entered Papa’s bedroom. His hair had turned grey seemingly in a few hours, and his skin had an odd green tone that worried her.
“Papa.” She took his hand.
He didn’t turn towards her.
The curtains were drawn tightly, blocking the sunlight. Only a couple of lamps were lit.
“I’m so glad it wasn’t the heart. You gave me such a fright.”
He swallowed hard before he sat upright and shoved the cover aside.
“What are you doing? Dr. O’Neil said you must rest.”
“I can’t. I have to see my banker and talk with my solicitor. If I do nothing, Montcrest will steal the chair from underneath me.”
She put a hand on his arm, surprised to find it quivering. “The situation can’t be so dramatic. Your work can wait. Lowe is taking care of everything. You need to recover.”
“If I don’t intervene, we’ll be full of debts by tomorrow.
My bank accounts will be frozen. I won’t be able to withdraw a penny.
That’s how dramatic the situation is. I underestimated Montcrest. I swear I didn’t want the anarchists to blow up his locomotive.
I had no idea…” He wept, hiding his face in his hands.
“You have to believe me. I would never do anything so vile.”
Effie had never seen her father weeping.
Not that their family had gone through hard times or close losses.
Quite the opposite. Her brothers and sisters were married and had children.
Mama hated London, but she and Papa cared about each other deeply.
They were a happy family, and seeing Papa so distraught broke her heart.
When she hugged him and let him cry, her chest clenched for him.
She didn’t understand finance, but she understood Tristan a little, and she needed to see him.