Chapter Nineteen
Farrah’s head spun as she confronted Reuben’s blistering anger.
What right did he have to judge her? How dare he?
He appeared to have calmed down fairly quickly, and had even gone so far as to apologise, after a fashion, but she was gravely disappointed by his attitude and reluctant to accept an apology from a man who had never known a day’s financial hardship in his entire life.
As yet, she was herself too angry to properly address her disappointment at the loss of his good opinion, but in the greater scheme of things, that ought to have been the least of her worries.
Despite his disapproval, he still seemed willing to help in the search for her father.
For that reason, she would be well advised to keep her anger in check and summon up a little gratitude, although that was asking a lot.
Independently minded, Farrah would continue searching for her father alone now that Mrs Armstrong had appeared and seemed to be taunting her.
If all else failed, she would follow the woman … somehow!
She felt almost inclined to smile in spite of her annoyance when she considered the impracticalities of a decision she had not had an opportunity to think through.
If Reuben heard of such a notion, he would be justified in accusing her of irrationality.
A man could jump on a horse, or into a carriage, and follow another person to the ends of the earth and back without drawing attention to himself.
Farrah’s sex held her back in that regard, and a lone female would be lucky to get past the village without being challenged.
It was so wretchedly unfair!
‘What did you find out about Armstrong?’ she asked, struggling to keep her voice even. Percival had rested his head in her lap, and she stroked his silky ears gently, grateful for a reason not to look at Reuben.
‘We were right insofar as he was a merchant with premises at Liverpool docks. It seems he imports textiles and other commodities from India – or did before he died. He was known to be a good judge of what would sell. He started work on his father’s market stall and received only a rudimentary education, but my sources say that he always showed ambition and quickly worked his way up to being his own master.
He imported small shipments at first, hiring space on trading ships, but owned his own small fleet by the time he reached the age of forty. ’
‘I admire his enterprise.’ Farrah frowned. ‘He was from the lower classes, but one would not know it by looking at Mrs Armstrong. She seems perfectly comfortable in the duchess’s drawing room. Presumably she came from a better family and was attracted by his success.’
Reuben nodded. ‘Possibly. I have not yet spoken to her, so I must bow to your superior judgement.’
There was more censure in his voice, but Farrah chose to ignore it.
No one on this earth, not even a duke, would tell her whom she could or could not converse with.
His mildly dictatorial manner reinforced her determination not to marry.
She was a woman with a mind of her own and did not need to be told how to behave.
‘I did not speak with her for long, but I can assure you that she has never worked on a market stall.’ Farrah sent him a challenging look. ‘I shall seek her out again when we return to the drawing room and see if she offers any more clues about her background.’
Reuben opened his mouth, presumably to raise objections, but Farrah’s cool appraisal and the challenging elevation of one brow clearly caused him to have a change of heart. He clamped his lips together, looking faintly amused because a mere female dared to challenge his authority.
‘As long as Armstrong’s business is legal, then I admire his enterprise,’ Farrah said in a considering tone, looking away from Reuben because he possessed an annoying ability to regard her in a manner that was in danger of making her forget her own name.
‘Ambition is not the sole preserve of the ruling classes, you know.’
‘I couldn’t agree more.’
‘But I sense you have reservations about his business affairs.’
Reuben concurred with a tilt of his head. ‘I cannot think how he came by the capital to break into such a competitive business. The established merchants would not have smiled upon his attempts to infiltrate their markets.’
‘Ah, but if he was so small he probably escaped their notice until it was too late for them to stop him. As for the capital … well, perhaps he borrowed it.’
Reuben looked surprised by the suggestion. ‘You are very astute.’
‘It is hardly the deduction of the century,’ she said irritably, determined not to be patronised.
‘What I would very much like to know is where my father fits into all this. What use could he possibly be to Armstrong’s widow?
’ Farrah felt sufficiently in control of her emotions to fix her gaze upon Reuben once more, seated directly across from her.
Percival had chosen to remain with his head in her lap rather than abandoning her in favour of his master.
‘I assume she has appointed a manager to keep the business going. Besides, as far as I am aware, Papa knows nothing about trading and probably wouldn’t lower himself to get involved, no matter how desperate his circumstances.
’ She gave a wry smile. ‘We both know how desperate they are, and have been for a while, but he had perfected the art of pretending otherwise to the outside world.’
‘I think it is possible that Mrs Armstrong runs the business, even if she does so from behind her puppet managers.’
Farrah raised a brow. ‘That does not surprise me, having met and spoken with the lady. She is very formidable and not, I fancy, one to be underestimated, which is probably why she is successful. She is a woman and would therefore be considered no competition for her male rivals.’
‘What did you make of her?’
‘I felt like a fly being drawn into a spider’s web in many respects. She definitely knows where Papa is and manipulated our conversation so that I would be aware of it, but she had no intention of enlightening me.’
‘What makes you so sure?’
‘She knew too much about my family, personal things, for there to be any doubt.’ Farrah impatiently tapped her fingers on the top of Percival’s head.
‘I just don’t understand what connection Papa can have to a merchant’s widow, and why the need for secrecy even if they are engaged on a joint business venture. ’
‘When you suggested that Armstrong may have borrowed the money to get started in his business, you weren’t so very far off the mark.’
Farrah’s head jerked up. ‘How so?’
‘Armstrong maintained his shipping line but his main business interest during his later years, and the one that made his fortune, I am told, is moneylending.’
‘Oh.’ Farrah blinked, unsure what difference it made. ‘Perhaps he took a loan to get started, just as I thought, knew how much interest he was expected to pay and saw an opportunity,’ she suggested.
‘Very likely. I am told that his name was feared throughout Liverpool and beyond because of the usurious interest rates he charged to people who were desperate enough to borrow from him in the first place. Anyone missing an interest payment could expect a visit from thugs to enforce the terms.’
‘That is truly terrible.’ Farrah sighed. ‘And Mrs Armstrong has continued with that business, I imagine?’
Reuben jutted his jaw. ‘My understanding is that she has increased the interest rates retrospectively,’ he snarled.
‘I still fail to understand how Papa fits into her world.’ Farrah clasped a hand over her mouth. ‘Do you suppose he borrowed from her? It would explain where all the funds have disappeared to, if he had to keep up interest payments.’
‘That was my first thought too, but for the fact that I do not see how their paths could have crossed. Mrs Armstrong’s operation is still very much in Liverpool.’
‘But she herself is every inch the lady. You and I both know that times are changing and the divide between the classes is becoming blurred, especially now that the wealthy middle classes are often richer than their supposed betters. Our set do not encourage infiltration into their ranks, at least not publicly, but those like Papa who are desperate enough to seek loans …’
‘Gentlemen situated in the north passed on Armstrong’s name, I take it you mean.’ Reuben nodded. ‘It’s possible.’
‘Probable, I would say. How else would Papa have known about Armstrong? And yet if Papa was no longer able to meet his obligations, why was he not visited by the woman’s enforcers?’
‘Perhaps he was. That might well be why he took himself off. There again, perhaps Mrs Armstrong has other uses for high-born clients who failed to make repayments.’
Farrah’s head jerked up. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Further introductions?’
‘Possibly.’ Farrah nodded, considering the suggestion and seeing sense in it.
‘A word in the ear of a gentleman with pockets to let. Yes, very possibly, but if that is the case, why the need for Papa to disappear? He would not have told us what he was doing, and we wouldn’t have dared to ask.
Besides, if he was finding more clients for Mrs Armstrong then London with the season in full swing would be the best place to search them out. ’
‘Ah, I take your point.’
‘Goodness.’ Farrah sat up straight and blinked at him. ‘Do you mean to imply that I have thought of something that you did not? And even if I have, why would you concede the point? You are a gentleman and therefore possess the superior mind.’
‘Farrah!’ But he laughed and the tension between them eased.