17
Mabel
I was in my mid-twenties and had been married, but my first kiss was only now and with maybe the most handsome man I’d ever met. When I realized what he had done and how close I’d been to his groin while he was only wearing sports shorts, I fled downstairs.
As if that would really solve anything.
Dinner was almost ready when I reached downstairs. The carriage was parked and my horse was taken care of. I was glad Reba loved horses and was thrilled to have access to one. They scared me because of something that had happened as a child. Luckily, David and Angie never found out about that or they could have made my hell much worse.
Everyone brought plates and the salad we were going to start with to the table. I smiled at how nice and lively it was to keep having dinner like this with good people. It wasn’t loud like it had been at David’s. That was always drama and something happening, nasty whispers and vipers enjoying people’s pain.
This was a nice group of friendly people who were respectful of each other and appreciative.
“My wife made more of her bread since you said you liked it so much, My Lady,” one of the guards who was recovering from an injury said as he showed me the basket he was bringing out to the table.
“Thank her for me and please tell her to stop being so generous. Or at least let me pay her.”
“It’s better than the bread my family gets from the bakery,” Reba praised.
It was. It was some sort of delicious herb bread that was perfect with fresh salads and on the side of dinner.
Andre joined us and acted like nothing happened, but I felt his eyes on me. We sat to start eating and the maid brought out the huge turkey she’d cooked along with several sides. She joined us and caught up eating before someone else carved the bird so she could rest a bit.
“This is delicious,” I praised. “It’s so tender and not dried out at all. Even my father’s chef could not make a bird this good.”
“It’s probably the best turkey I have ever had,” Andre agreed.
“I honestly enjoy cooking most, but I do not have the training, and it’s too stressful to be the cook in a noble house,” she said, giving me a sad smile.
I nodded, already knowing how she felt. After the first few days, I’d tried to steal her, but she had been honest with me and wasn’t a woman who liked pressure. I fully understood even if I was easygoing. There were times that I would probably have to act as a noble and have parties and whatnot. I didn’t see many in my future since I didn’t like them though.
And I doubted too many nobles would attend a party in a high-class district.
Dinner was great, but the whole time Andre’s focus was on me… While mine seemed to be on his lips. Had those lips really touched mine?
Twice?
It seemed unthinkable, but I could still feel them touching mine and how it made me overheat.
I realized I needed to say something when the meal was over and it was time for him to leave. Everyone else was focused on cleaning up and saving the leftovers as I led him to the door.
“My knee feels much better than normal,” he told me, giving me the option to ignore what happened if I wanted. Which was sweet, but I refused to live my new life by avoiding things.
Well, besides when I ran away in shock.
“I am glad to hear it,” I whispered, trying to think of what to say.
Except he seemed to know exactly the right thing to say. “I am sorry if I scared you, but that was the perfect kiss, Mabel.” He tucked a rogue strand of my hair behind my ear. “And it was not simply because of the situation we were in. I like you. I know that would be complicated given my station and—”
“I do not ever want to marry again,” I rasped, staring at his chest. “Please understand that—”
“I do. I fully understand that given what you went through. I do not blame you, and I know I am moving too soon, but I could not hold back. I will absolutely slow down now that you know my feelings, darling.” He let out a slow breath when I didn’t say anything. “Your answer might change once you heal.
“I do not know, and I am not the one to speak on that. I would accept a relationship with you even if we never married, Mabel.” He was nodding when my gaze snapped up to his. “I am a commoner, and you would lose too much if we married. I know that’s not why you are saying it, but I would accept that. The question is whether you like me or not?”
If he was being so bold and honest with me, I could be the same. “You are the first man I have looked at like a man. You are the first one to make me feel things I did not know I could.”
He nodded but then flinched like I’d said something wrong.
And I had. I didn’t say only man but the first… Meaning someone else did as well.
Whoops! But it was the truth.
“There’s no rush. You’ve been through too much, darling. I am not asking for anything more than the chance to get to know you better. I want to spend more time with you and be in your life.” He searched my eyes for a moment. “We have fun, yes? Spending time with me is not something you are against?”
“No, certainly not, and I thought earlier today that I wanted to know more about you as well.”
“Good.” He smiled brightly at me and looked years younger. Then he leaned down and gave me a soft peck. “Then we are spending time together. That’s all. I might sneak a kiss, but that’s all. Do not be scared, and it’s okay to feel like a woman, Mabel. You deserve that more than anyone.”
Somehow I nodded, not even realizing that I’d agreed to let him kiss me when he wanted until he was gone and I’d locked the door behind him.
“Clearly, there is some sort of recovery period for people who are doormats,” I grumbled. “It’s not a switch I flipped if I keep letting them both get away with what they want. Brats.”
I went to my study and pulled out the reports that Count Follan had loaned me. I focused on the company that the grand duke had told me about. It was one of the two creams I liked the best, and I’d used their lotion for the recipe I used on Andre. The lotion was by far the best.
But the store had been rather sad and the brand name was simply their family name. That was part of their failure for sure. They were a small viscount family.
Why would their name be a draw? It was a bit too self-inflated and worried me. Then again, maybe they simply didn’t know what to name their products and were out of their depth business-wise?
I could only hope.
So rebranding was needed to start. I started playing with ideas and words and landed on Transformative as the company name after a few hours. It worked on many levels, and a cream that healed scars was definitely something that transformed someone’s body and life.
The more I looked over the reports, the company really wasn’t much to buy besides the formula for the cream and lotion. Three stores and all in the capital had been an unwise risk, and they had to be hemorrhaging money in rent alone if they weren’t making sales.
Honestly, I could be the best blessing for them ever.
I actually sent a message to Viscount Bryd even if it was late asking for a meeting and if he could make time for me in his schedule the next day. That I was interested in speaking with him about his business.
He must have already been in bed since my guard came back without a response, but there was one waiting for me the next morning. The viscount offered for me to come over anytime in the morning before lunch because he had an afternoon appointment that he couldn’t break.
Perfect.
I told the guards we were going out and where to after breakfast and hurried to get ready. I collected everything I’d been working on to start and was out the door with excitement for the possibilities for my new life.
We arrived twenty minutes later to the noble district they lived in and apparently my name had been put on the blocked list. The guards were flustered and mine were pissed.
I got out and moved my hand to the arm of my guard. “I understand you are in the middle of this and it’s not your fault. However, I was invited to Viscount Bryd’s home for a business meeting. So we need solutions, not the drama someone else caused for us today.” I handed over the invitation.
“She’s on the list of who is visiting today too,” a different guard said. “This is crap, sir. She’s not done anything wrong or been on a report that she had to be booted. This was to keep her from trying to buy a house here, but she’s visiting.”
The guy clearly in charge held up his hand when the man looked to say more. He read over what I’d given him and nodded, handing it back. “I apologize, My Lady, and thank you for understanding this is not our fault. I would ask you allow one of ours to escort you to the viscount’s residence so there are no issues.”
“Of course. Thank you because I do not know which house is his.” I gave him a wink so he could use that as cover if someone gave him trouble later.
We arrived at the viscount’s house and his staff were ready and very polite in welcoming us, the butler even offering to let the guards stay inside with the staff and tending to the horse.
“With your permission, I would like to stay in the room until you feel comfortable, My Lady,” the policeman who was normally on active duty said quietly. “Your security is tight for a reason.”
“Thank you, that would be nice, but the Bryd family does not have any association with my ex-husband.”
The butler led the way and both the viscount and his wife were finishing up their breakfast. They invited me, but I told them I’d already eaten. They were both very nice and went to leave their meals and move to the sitting room.
“No, please, it’s fine,” I said firmly. “It’s my excitement that has interrupted your day. Please, be at ease, and let’s just be relaxed instead of the normal silliness.” I was glad when they accepted and relaxed.
“What can we do for you, Countess?” the viscount hedged. “I know you said it was about business, but I was not sure what that meant.”
“First, I would like us to sign a business nondisclosure agreement before we start. I have things to protect and so do you.”
Luckily, the viscount was fine with that, but his wife seemed shocked. Still, she did it when she saw her husband wasn’t worried. I signed as well and they looked to my guard.
“He’s an off duty police officer,” I explained. “Apparently, I have been blocked from the mercenary guilds.”
“Disgusting,” the viscountess seethed. “I was worried someone would block you from coming here.”
I told them what happened and they were apologetic, but none of it was their fault and certainly not their doing. We moved past it and then it was the time to get down to business.
“I am interested in buying out your business and keeping you on as the front man for it all and managing it for me.” I smiled when the viscount dropped his fork and his wife looked like she might spit out the beverage she’d just had a sip of. I focused on him. “Tell me if this sounds about right. You worked with someone for many years—”
“A marquis, yes,” he whispered, shock in his eyes. “I was his right hand for fifteen years and learned a lot. I was very comfortable in that position, but he died and his son who took over wanted his own people. I understood that as well and stepped aside.” He glanced at his wife. “We thought it time to branch out into our own business then.”
I nodded. “Except you were ‘helped’ on certain things and probably given some bad advice by someone of a higher station.”
“Yes, exactly. How did you know that, My Lady?”
“It’s common, isn’t it?” the viscountess figured out, shaking with anger.
I nodded. “If all of the aides of high society nobles could branch out and be successful, no one would think to be an aide, but be their own people. A few are allowed to succeed here and there, but I would guess you did not accept investors so you would be the only casualty instead of making more enemies.”
“I thought we should take investors,” the viscountess sighed. “If you know all of this, you know the business is failing, My Lady. Why would you want it?”
“Because I invented a few products that work well with your cream and lotion as the base,” I told them honestly. “I could use others, but I liked your formula. You have one of the best products on the market. Plus, your situation actually helps me because I do not want to be front and center.”
I apologized but then took off my coat and showed them my arms, both of them giving me glances of pity but then excitement as they saw the results.
“While it was unwise to open three stores at once to start—” I started to say.
“I was told that would show people the value of the product and the confidence in it,” the viscount said sadly. “I have no idea how to recover the money I have invested and turn things around for my family. I put everything into this.”
I nodded that I understood. “Where did you get the formulas that you use?”
“My mother,” the viscountess said. “She was not from Areca and used to have a small shop in her country. I have a few other recipes of hers including balms and bath products.”
Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
I told them my idea of closing now to rebrand and reopening with new products that were basically so good that it would go against people’s desire to smack someone in line.
“Now, I realize that you’ve lost money in this endeavor and while I sympathize, that will not be included in the value of the company,” I said gently.
“I know, My Lady,” the viscount sighed. “I was looking at shutting down before the season starts or facing bankruptcy, but that still does not give me an option how to raise our finances back up. Honestly, you are our only option, so I hope you are as good-hearted as I have heard.”
I studied them for several moments. “I will be fair, and if you do well for me in the deal, I will do well for you. I understand your desperate situation, but I am in a bad one myself. Not financially anymore, but—the threats and hope I die will not stop anytime soon. So I need someone else to be the face of this and do it well.”
“That would be a miracle for us so my husband does not lose any more face himself,” the viscountess said.
“Yes, I was hoping that was exactly how you felt and would see it. If done right, this could be exactly what we both needed.”
“What comes next?” the viscount asked.
I was shocked he asked, almost unable to hide he didn’t know that when he already owned a business. “We have a full evaluation of the company’s assets—property, equipment, and such. The value of the recipes from your family. I do want to buy all of them. I might not need them all, but the quality is there and I want them.”
The viscountess nodded. “I’ll do anything to save my family, My Lady. My husband takes this all on himself, but I pushed him again and again to do something bold and make us stand out. I am just as much to blame.”
“While a third party does that, I learn your process, see the factory you have and such. Then we change up what we need to. I will not ever share the recipes with you, but you’ll know what they’ll do and your employees will be trained in how to sell them. This one product is the starting line, and I will be adding more as I test them, but we have to build up product for launch.”
They both agreed and we went over some more details. They both loved the name idea for the company, admitting someone had given them bad advice to use their name for the brand and then the person laughed at them in public later for being so full of themselves.
Of course, they did.
We both jumped on the possibilities and ran with them, which was exactly the type of partner I wanted to work with. Not because he was desperate, but because he was willing to put in the effort to change his situation.
A messenger was waiting for me when I returned home with an invitation to have lunch at the Follan house and the grand duke would be there as well so we could talk. I chuckled and just hopped right back in the carriage and off we went… Only to pull up behind Andre.
We shared the same shocked look when I stepped out of the carriage.
“I am here for a lunch invite,” I said.
“Ahh, the grand duke came by to get those reports from me, but I was in a meeting. He said he’d be here today and asked if I could drop them off to be copied,” he explained, taking my hand and kissing it. “I am much happier now that I came and did it myself instead of sending someone.”
“Me too,” I admitted, smiling at him.
We went to the door and Kathy was lovely and excited as ever. She was confused why I arrived with Andre and I explained as the count and grand duke joined us.
“What a lovely coincidence of timing,” the grand duke said sounding like he meant anything but that.
Oh, right, he had admitted feelings for me and then Andre had kissed me. But he didn’t know that, right?
Or did he know the other man was interested too?
I assumed that wasn’t on me to worry about and simply focused on why we were all there. I looked to the grand duke first. “I took your advice on that company and already spoke with the owners. They want the offer but were confused as to what came next.”
“Oh brother,” he drawled. “How did they get into business with such little knowledge? They should have their company appraised anyways.”
“Yes, but well, they listened to a lot of bad advice.” I simply shrugged when he was surprised. “Some people are not built to be in charge but are masters at making the system work.”
“I am a prime example of that,” the count chuckled. “I assume that’s what the owners are?”
I nodded, and we went to the lounge to have tea as I filled them in on the rest. The grand duke knew exactly who to contact for what I needed and could get the ball rolling fastest. His attorneys could even handle the contacts and whatnot.
“I believe you meant to ask Mabel if she wanted the help, not decide it and steamroll over her,” Kathy interjected, giving the grand duke a death look to choose wisely.
“Yes, of course,” he blurted. “I was not trying to take over. It’s a lot to juggle and I already have the people is what I was saying. If you want.”
I blew Kathy a kiss and accepted the help.
“Oh, right, my knee,” Andre gasped. “It’s—what you made is fantastic. Last night was the first time in so long that my knee did not wake me up at least once. I still cannot do what I used to and it ached this morning, but the pressure is—it was amazing.”
I glanced at the clock. It wasn’t twenty-four hours yet, but it was long enough that it should have started to wear off.
“I feel the pressure start to build again as I sit here,” he admitted. “I noticed it as I got off the carriage, that extending of my knee that way always hurting.”
“Still, almost a full day is a good start,” I muttered. “I think it will have more efficiency if the ingredients are allowed to soak together. I would want it to for a few weeks at least. That complicates things. The cream too.”
“Yes, but you will have time before the relaunch and rebranding take place to start stocking up and you will just have to sell what’s had time to seep like tea,” Kathy said gently.
“But that means a warehouse and the product is valuable so that can be a problem too,” the count explained for me.
Still, it was a huge start and exciting to plan out.
“I would think old people would want it,” Kathy muttered, giving me a hesitant look. “I was at a tea party the other day and the hostess was talking about how her mother’s hands always hurt. That it’s something with age. That would help her, right?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what it’s intended for. And that’s an amazing lead-in to get word of mouth to a market. Well done,” I praised, glad when she looked more confident.
“I did speak to the queen and she was thrilled with the update and more so that you are enjoying your new life,” the grand duke told me. “Gerald was thrilled about the ink and—”
“The ink you just stole and ran off with, Your Grace?” Andre drawled. “You did not even give her a chance to say anything and announced you would be reporting her secret discovery to the king of all people. I’d be shocked if you are ever allowed in her house again.”
I blinked at my tea and slowly looked at him, shocked at the venom in his tone and how defensive he was of me.
He did a double take and sighed. “You were upset, My Lady. He needs to be called out when he steamrolls you like that.”
“Wait, I am confused as to why you brought an ink to Ian if you did not want this,” the count hedged, focused on me.
“She does not know,” Kathy chuckled.
“Know what?” I asked glancing between them.
“Why did you bring it to me?” the grand duke asked, looking confused as well.
“You are the Minister of Justice and we were talking of implementing something different at the police station,” Andre drawled. “You handle our budgets and whatnot. She was not going to keep providing it for free. We needed to figure out how to change over part of our ink from the supplier and—”
Kathy, the grand duke, and count burst out laughing. It didn’t seem to be mean in spirit, but I couldn’t help but wonder what we were missing now?