18. Chapter 18 #2
“I hear there is to be a wedding,” Mrs. Talmadge said to Ames. “Though I was nervous to come to Pickering Castle after hearing all the rumors about it, I am pleased to discover it is quite the opposite of what I anticipated. I could not be more pleased to join our families together.”
“Neither could we,” Ames said. “Lily and I are very happy for Davis and Miss Ackerman.”
“Please call me Alice. We are to be family, after all.”
Ames gave a nod and a half smile. “Of course.”
“A wedding?” Mrs. Harrington asked, moving closer to us.
Davis looked at Alice with a question in his eyes and she nodded. He then turned to the room and said, “I have asked Alice to marry me and she has agreed.”
A chorus of excited voices filled the room as everyone offered the couple their congratulations. Martha, Sarah, and Ruth showered Alice with their joy and gave her hugs while the Welby brothers shook Davis’s hand.
Mrs. Harrington, Beth Townsend, and Mrs. Danby all smiled, but I could see a hint of jealousy in the older women’s eyes.
As Davis and Alice moved away to speak to the others, it left Mrs. Talmadge near Ames and me.
“There is the matter of a dowry,” Mrs. Talmadge said quietly. “I have full permission from Alice’s brother to make an offer—but I have a proposition to include.”
Ames stiffened at her words, probably put off by her timing.
“Perhaps we can discuss it in private?” he asked her. “At another time.”
“I’m eager to tell you my idea.” Mrs. Talmadge’s eyes shined with excitement. She motioned for us to follow her to a quiet corner of the room.
Ames let out a weary sigh.
As soon as we were away from prying ears, Mrs. Talmadge launched into her proposition.
“Alice’s parents have both been deceased for some time now,” she said in a low voice.
“And Alice inherited a portion of her father’s steel company, with certain stipulations.
She is given a monthly allowance but will not receive control over her wealth until the age of twenty-eight, which is in nine years.
However—” she paused to stress this word—“her brother and I were given authority to make portions of the inheritance available to her, if we consider it in her best interest.”
Ames studied Mrs. Talmadge and said, “What would be in her best interest?”
“For instance, if an investment opportunity arose.” Mrs. Talmadge clasped her hands, her voice calm and steady. “Not to mention that I have my own money available for investment purposes. Should we pool our resources together, we would have a tidy sum to provide.”
Ames frowned. “What are you suggesting? What would you like to invest in?”
“The Pickering Castle Resort, of course. Have you had the opportunity to think about my idea?”
“I have given it not a moment’s consideration.” Ames did not hesitate, ice in his voice. “I would not degrade my home or family name to do such a thing.”
“What a pity.” Mrs. Talmadge shook her head. “I was prepared to make you an offer you could not refuse. Not to mention that it would ensure Pickering Castle had a substantial income for generations to come.”
“What kind of an offer?” I asked her.
“It matters not, Lily,” Ames said.
Mrs. Talmadge didn’t seem concerned about Ames as she named the price she was willing to invest in the venture.
I had to press my lips together not to reveal my shock.
Ames stood silently, but I knew the amount had surprised him, as well.
“How would a resort repay such a large investment?” I asked. “That’s an unseemly amount of money.”
“With the right kind of management coupled with this stunning location, I believe we could return that investment tenfold in the next few years.” She gave us some general numbers a resort of this kind could generate, based on her father’s business model and a few reports she’d gathered from resorts in Scarborough.
“It’s—” I was speechless. “Do you really believe those numbers are possible?”
“They are a conservative estimate,” she assured me.
Ames remained silent.
“I will give you time to think and discuss my offer,” Mrs. Talmadge said. “I do not need an answer now. But it would be nice to have one before the wedding.” She smiled. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I believe I’ll join the happy couple. There is much to plan.”
After Mrs. Talmadge left our side, Ames turned toward the window and looked out at the dark moors beyond the castle.
I stood motionless, uncertain if I should stay. I wasn’t sure what, if anything, Ames and I had to talk about. Yet—I didn’t want to leave him.
Clasping my hands, I asked, “How long do you plan to stay angry at me?”
“I am not angry, Lily.” His voice was tired.
Frowning, I gave him my full attention. “If you are not angry, why do you act angry?”
“I’m frustrated and confused.”
I pressed my lips together, knowing I had made a mistake.
“You withheld the truth, on several occasions, which is the same as lying. It makes me leery to trust you again. What else might you keep from me?”
“I am keeping nothing from you.”
His face was sad as he regarded me. “I wish I could believe you.”
I swallowed the emotions that rose up in my throat and whispered, “I wish you could, too.”
Without another word, I left Ames and joined the others who were happily discussing Davis and Alice’s upcoming wedding.