Chapter 6 #3
This puzzle had a compelling quality. Alice needed marrying. An aging grandfather was all that stood between her and destitution. She was sensible, kind if a bit tart, shrewd, and pretty when she didn’t truss her hair up in its little woolen corset thingum.
Gorgeous, in fact. The local bachelors were blind and…
“She pushes men away.” Cam cast his mind back to Aunt Josephine’s buffet, when he’d watched one fellow after another try to strike up a conversation with Alice. She knew them, and she knew how to manage them, because the exchanges she’d permitted had been exceedingly brief.
“Shame upon you,” St. Didier said. “You are speculating on the personal motivations of a lady who deserves both privacy and your respect. I am off to seek my slumbers before you make a complete cake of yourself.”
“I cannot make a complete cake of myself in the short time we’ll be here. With Dinky’s departure, I am needed in Town. I also received word today that my Irish flax will be late to harvest, and I am likely to miss the advantages of being early to market.”
“Why not hold back until all the best linen is bought up and then be the very last of the high-quality goods available?”
“I’ve done exactly that in some years, but this year finds my enterprises hungry for cash.
I have been trying to ever so gradually increase the volume of goods we ship, which means I take a prudent degree of risk every time I acquire my inventories.
I buy a little more than I can afford and typically make a little more profit as well. ”
“You’re in the window between the buying and the profiting. An uncomfortable place to be.”
“I should be used to it by now. Expanding the business requires taking the occasional risk, and for the most part, my risks have resulted in reward.”
St. Didier took his feet off the hassock. “Why expand? Why not keep what you have, content yourself with whatever wealth results. You aren’t a greedy man.”
That was the sort of question Armendink used to ask. Simple enough on the surface.
“I enjoy the bustle and hum of business. I relish the wins and see the losses as inspiration for further wins. Failed experiments, not failures. I’m good at commerce, and I make a gift of that admission to any who’d insult me by it.” Not quite an answer to St. Didier’s question.
Other motivations applied too. The boys had to eat, they needed to be taught useful skills, and when the present lot gained their feet, others were just as deserving of a chance.
St. Didier rose, stretched, and pulled on his boots. “You excel at commerce, but methinks you need to spend more time roaming the countryside and perching in trees while you still can. Will you rent Lorne Hall out to some obliging banker who longs to boast of his country retreat?”
The mere suggestion sparked a peculiar sense of indignation. “No, that is… It’s too soon to make that decision.”
“Right. I’ll bid you good night and leave you with a suggestion.”
Cam rose as well. Would not do to be found dozing by the ashes when the footmen came in at dawn to clean the hearth.
“You have my undivided attention, St. Didier.” The part of Cam’s attention that wasn’t still dwelling on Alice Singleton’s unwed state, anyway.
“Leave Miss Singleton in peace. You have spent two days closeted with her in the library, and that has been noted. Her reputation cannot recover from even the mildest bruise in these rural surrounds, and you treat her carelessly at your peril.”
St. Didier was no prude and not exactly a high stickler, though he was personally circumspect.
“You’d call me out for accepting some assistance with correspondence?” The library door had been open the entire time, and on both occasions, Alice had been at the Hall for a handful of hours. Though, in truth, Cam had asked for that assistance.
“If you misstep with Miss Singleton, I shall have a long and pleasant chat with Worth Kettering and others of his ilk. You would suffer the consequences of your ill judgment for at least the next five years.” St. Didier paused to yawn behind his hand.
“Don’t stay up too late. I suspect you have plans to ride out on that demon horse who tried to snack on your bones.
One wonders if the beast has suffered a tummy ache for his bit of mischief. ”
Cam did not know whether to be amused or appalled at St. Didier’s threat. “Good night, St. Didier. And you need not fear for Miss Singleton’s reputation. She’s been deflecting bothersome bachelors for years, and she would make short work of me as well.”
“Relieved to hear it, but nonetheless, my lord, you will behave yourself.”
Cam bowed rather than stick out his tongue. St. Didier was only offering a reminder of what honor required. “As will you.”
St. Didier nodded and left on silent feet.
Cam considered the wing chair, considered the hour, and considered that dawn was mere hours away. He left his unfinished drink for a footman to enjoy and took himself up to bed.
St. Didier knew something or suspected something regarding Alice Singleton’s circumstances, something that explained her curious situation. Cam made up his mind to keep his eyes and ears open where the lady was concerned.
He was returning to London, and he had no business prying, but if she needed assistance, if she needed an ally, he was prepared to offer what aid he could.
Though perhaps all she needed was a friend. Cam was perplexed to admit that even that role appealed to him, though not as strongly as some others he could name.