by Bree Verity
“Nothing of the sort, Madam,” replied Mrs. Benton. “It may be a marriage of convenience for you, but Sir Theodore has shown us time and time again that he will do everything in his power to make you comfortable here. The front room? It was painted four different colors before Sir Theodore was satisfied it would suit you. And he had the Axminister made on commission.”
Caroline was confused. “But he does not love me, Mrs. Benton,” she said. “We do not know each other sufficiently.”
“No,” Mrs. Benton agreed, “but he is fond of you, or at least of the thought of you. And we are so pleased that he has chosen such a fine wife as yourself.” Mrs. Benton leaned in confidentially. “You should have seen some of the ladies - and I use the term loosely - that have thrown themselves at him over the years.”
Caroline continued to walk. “Well, he is a man of stature and consequence,” she said. “It was bound to occur.”
“Fortune hunting harpies, the lot of them,” replied Mrs. Benton firmly. “I was glad to see the back end of them. And when Sir Theodore announced that he was to marry you, I said to Benton, ‘Just look at the glint in his eyes. This one is the girl for him.’”
Caroline hid a grin. Mrs. Benton seemed quite motherly toward Sir Theodore, in a protective sort of way. She wondered at the type of man he was to be able to engender such emotions from his staff.
“I only hope I meet with your expectations,” Caroline replied gaily, to which Mrs. Benton replied, “Oh, Madam, you have already done so. Your speedy control of the situation when Sir Theo fell ill, sending for me, having him taken upstairs - those are the marks of a smart woman. And he needs a smart woman.” They arrived at Caroline’s bedchamber, but Mrs. Benton kept talking. “Sir Theodore thinks like a man in all things. A clever wife is called for to make him understand that sometimes, he needs to bow to the greater, female, understanding of a matter. I am sure you know what I mean.”
Caroline nodded and shared a secret smile with Mrs. Benton, because she did understand. Most men were certain that women were not just frailer in body, but also in mind and spirit. It was not a fault, as such, because it was a generally accepted truth. At least, amongst the male population. The female population, on the other hand, knew without a doubt that they were more than a match for their fathers, brothers and husbands. They had been perfecting the means by which women got what they wanted for themselves for decades. And without their men even realizing they were being manipulated.
“You can be assured that together, Mrs. Benton, we will have this household running like a tightly wound pocket watch,” replied Caroline.
Mrs. Benton smiled widely. “Well then. I shall bid you good night, Mrs. Longshore. And thank you.”
Caroline watched the other woman walk away and, when she lost sight of her down the stairs, she turned to enter her own room, her mind abuzz and the smile falling away from her face.
Gertie, Caroline’s maid, clicked her tongue. “What’s this? Are you going to bed a maiden still?”
A lopsided smile crossed Caroline’s face. “Yes, Gertie. His lordship has come over ill.”
“Well, if that don’t beat it all,” said Gertie. “And him with his eyes following you wherever you went.”
“He did no such thing, Gertie.”
“He most assuredly did, miss. Like you were a bottle of fine wine and he a thirsty, thirsty man.” She sniffed. “Just goes to show, you never can tell, can you? Come along then. Let us get you ready to sleep.”
As Gertie helped her out of her clothes and into her nightgown, Caroline found herself surprised that Gertie, too, had noted Sir Theodore’s behavior. What did it mean? How could Sir Theodore be so excited about a marriage of convenience - of a purchased bride? The pleasures of the marriage bed could be got from a variety of women for a very small payment, so Caroline knew it wasn’t that. Was it children? Sir Theodore had mentioned that he would not be averse to a large family. Perhaps he was excited to begin producing his dynasty.
As she lay down to sleep, much of the indignation she felt toward Sir Theodore that had withered away while he was ill, came back in full force. She was a brood mare to Sir Theodore. She didn’t need brains or politics or conversation, just wide hips and a healthy young body.
But at least she had one more night to herself before she was mated.
Chapter Four.
“Good morning, Mrs. Longshore.”
Sir Theodore strolled into the dining room, now set out for breakfast. Caroline noted his surprised expression and smiled lightly.
“Good morning, Sir Theodore. I do hope you are quite recovered from last evening’s malady?”
A shadow crossed his forehead. “Indeed, Madam, give it not another thought. And do allow me to apologize for leaving you quite alone on your wedding night. You must think me a sorry fellow.” Seating himself, Sir Theodore glanced ruefully at Caroline before asking James to pour him some coffee.
Caroline clicked her tongue. “I think no such thing. Besides, you would hardly have been an amiable companion.”
A wry grin crossed Sir Theodore’s face. “No, I suppose not. Still, I do not wish you to think that I am of a sickly nature. I can assure you; I am usually as hale and hearty as the next man.”
“I am glad to hear it, although I had no doubt of it.”
They shared a congenial smile, and Sir Theodore stood and picked up his plate, moving to the serving board at the side of the room and serving himself from a warmed bowl of scrambled eggs.
“Do you always breakfast so early?” he asked, as he perused a plate of haddock and chose a small piece. “I was led to believe that ladies preferred to languish in bed with their morning chocolate and read the society papers.”
Caroline had to hold back a highly unladylike snort. “Society papers indeed. I am accustomed to rising early so that I may scour the newspapers. As I have done this morning.”
“So that is why they are so creased. I had thought I might need to have a word with Benton.”
Caroline’s gaze flicked to Sir Theodore’s face, but he appeared to be joking. Caroline’s lips curved into a smile. “He did appear a little vexed when I picked up the first, only I assured him that I would take the blame for the state of the papers.”
“How magnanimous of you. Tell me, since you have already read all of the news, how fares the world?” Sir Theodore’s plate was filled with a variety of breakfast items, and he set to, keeping his eyes on Caroline.
This was the moment she had been waiting for. The culmination of her plan.
She would show Sir Theodore that she had the knowledge and ability he seemed to think her incapable of.
“The war lingers on, prices on consumables continue to increase, civilian outrage against the excesses of the Regent continue, and Cabot and Company are embarking on a venture that you should closely consider.”
“Ah, and so we come to the real reason for your early morning sojourn to the breakfast table.” With a sinking feeling, Caroline saw the smile fall from his face, to be replaced with a light scowl. She kept her tone even.
“As I told you, Sir, it is my custom to breakfast at this time.”
“And as I told you, Madam, it is my wish that you will leave matters pertaining to our finances in my hands.”
“I am simply not certain that I can accede to that wish.”
“And why not?” Sir Theodore put down his knife and fork and concentrated all of his energies on Caroline.
Without hesitation she replied, “I am accustomed to the mental exercise, Sir Theodore. And I enjoy it.”
“But surely there are other pursuits you may undertake that are more suited to your station.”
She raised one incredulous eyebrow. “That would afford me similar stimulation and challenge? I should appreciate your instruction in what those might be, Sir, for I am not able to bring to mind a single one.”
Sir Theodore harrumphed, and returned to the contemplation of his breakfast. “Still, no wife of mine will be making t
rades and brokering deals, I can assure you.”
“Even if I can prove my adeptness?”
He swallowed a mouthful of egg before replying. “You believe you have proof?”
Eagerly, Caroline drew his attention to the Commercial Journal. “Over here, on the second to last column. ‘Cabot and Company seek capital through the issue of shares to fund a shipment of fine materials to the new settlement in New South Wales.’ On completion, the venture will show a four hundred percent profit.”
Sir Theodore glanced at the details. “It looks to be a highly risky venture. What structures are in place in case of failure?”
“Well, of course insurance will only cover the original cost of materials if they are lost. But here,” Caroline pointed at the salient paragraph, “Mr. Cabot outlines the safeguards that will be in place.”
“They seem a little inadequate for the size of the venture.”
“Except that, see here,” she pointed again, “Mr. Cabot has undertaken several such ventures in the past with similar safeguards in place.”
“Hmmm.” The sound was non-committal, so Caroline played her second-to-last gambit.
“And I personally have had great success in the past supporting Mr. Cabot’s ventures.”
Sir Theodore finished his mouthful, and, taking his napkin, patted the crumbs from his mouth. Then, laying one of his hands over Caroline’s, he said earnestly, “I am sorry, Mrs. Longshore, but I am not convinced.”
“Then make an investment using my capital, not yours.”
Sir Theodore seemed a little amused. “It is all our capital now, my dear.”
“Then please, make the investment. I promise you it will pay off.”
He stared at her for a long moment before sighing and replying, “I must still say no. There is simply too much risk.”
“But I…”
“No, Caroline.”
The finality of his tone was deafening. Sadly, Caroline realized that she had only one alternative left. The hand that was not captured under Sir Theodore’s snaked to her pendant and she said, “I wish you would heed my opinion and place a sizeable amount of my capital as funding toward Mr. Cabot’s venture.”
Sir Theodore blinked twice. Then he gently removed his hand from over hers. Standing up, he placed a quick kiss on her hair.
“I shall be off to the office shortly. I am certain Mrs. Benton will have plenty to keep you occupied today, my dear.”
And with a smile, he was gone.
Caroline watched his back as he left. Was he going to make the investment? She wasn’t certain the magic had worked. Then again, he had not responded negatively to her words.
She frowned. It was not the outcome she wanted. Not knowing one way or the other if her investment had been placed until word was received back from New South Wales, and her capital increase was noted was going to be difficult to endure. But Caroline was used to biding her time. That was why she was so good at finance.
With one last glance at the papers, Caroline pulled herself up from the table, thanking James as he helped to move her chair out. Then, she went in search of Mrs. Benton.
* * *
“Lachlan!” shrieked Fenella, racing along the halls of fairy godmother headquarters, a very white building with tall windows giving a view of parkland all around. But Fenella had no mind for the view today. “Lachlan! Where are you?”
His head popped out from a doorway ahead of Fenella and he said grumpily, “For goodness sake, Fenella, keep your voice down. When you shout like that, it’s as if the gates of hell have opened and a whole mess of dark, unquiet spirits have been unleashed.”
But Fenella didn’t hear a word. “Thank goodness I’ve found you,” she gasped.
“Where else was I likely to be but in my office?”
She ignored him. “Something dreadful has happened.”
One of his eyebrows raised and he replied, “This is not like that time you accidentally started a thunderstorm inside the gymnasium is it?”
“No, it’s nothing I did. Well, yes, it is. Well… it is but it isn’t.”
Lachlan shook his head in resignation. “Come inside and tell me what happened.”
Fenella followed him into his office. He sat down behind a light timber desk that was carved all over in intricate designs that glowed at varying intervals and in a rainbow of colors. The desk was covered in papers, but unlike any papers from earth, they were transparent and all colors at the same time.
Lachlan indicated for Fenella to sit in a chair on the other side of the desk. But she strode about in front of the desk, quite obviously agitated.
“Okay spill it,” instructed Lachlan. “What have you done now?”
She glanced at him and he was surprised to see a little guilt in her eyes. More gently, he said, “Come now, it cannot be that bad, can it?”
“I don’t know,” wailed Fenella, falling dramatically into her chair.
“So, what is it?”
“I gave Caroline a magic pendant.”
A prickle of uneasiness crossed Lachlan’s spine. “And?”
“It maybe gives her the power to control Theodore’s thoughts.”
“Fenella!” Lachlan scolded. “You know that is forbidden.”
“I know,” she groaned, “but he was being so pigheaded.” She glanced up at Lachlan from under her long black eyelashes, a glint of mischief in her eyes. “She’s been having a marvelous time with it.”
“She could hardly have anything but that,” he replied curtly. “I hope you, at least, told her to use it sparingly.”
“I did, but I’m not certain she listened. She has already caused him one migraine. And then this morning…”
“What happened this morning?” Lachlan asked resignedly, certain that he didn’t want to know.
“She used it to make him take a business decision that he would never usually take.”
Lachlan’s shoulders freed up a little. “That doesn’t sound so bad,” he said. “We know Caroline is quite capable in business. It should not even create a ripple.”
“You don’t think so?”
“An investment made in one venture or another shouldn’t create much change at all.”
Fenella sighed and slumped down in her chair, relieved. “Thank goodness for that.”
“Still, you know you need to get that pendant back from her, right? And as soon as possible?” Lachlan put a little steel into his voice. It only made Fenella smile cheekily at him.
“Of course. Don’t worry.” She stood up.
“’Don’t worry,’ she says,” he grumbled more to himself than to her.
She skipped out of the room, blowing him a cheeky kiss as she did.
Lachlan sighed. Whoever decided it would be alright to make a fairy godmother out of a dark fae ought to have their head read. Fenella was a loose cannon, a rule breaker. She couldn’t help herself. It was written in her genes.
It was a pity she was so stunningly beautiful. And that she radiated some kind of presence that simply drew Lachlan in. He wanted to be around her all the time, watching her, helping her.
He sighed again, and picked up a pen, knowing that he would get absolutely nothing done. His thoughts were firmly fixed on the onyx, laughing eyes of a certain dark fae.
Chapter Five.
Theo felt as if his spine was crawling with tiny insects. He shrugged, trying to make the feeling go away, but it was not to be budged. His brow furrowed. Somehow, he knew the sensation would ease after he organized the share investment.
Cabot and Company. The name whispered through his mind as he opened the door to his office, to find his man of business, Guthrie, awaiting him with a surprised smile and a brandy.
“I saw you walking up the road, Sir. We didn’t expect to see you today.”
With an answering smile and no explanation, Theo took the brandy from him and downed it in one gulp. He vaguely noticed Guthrie’s smile waver, but the itching of his skin seemed to make everything around him secondary
.
“Guthrie, I need to make a sizeable trade using Mrs. Longshore’s capital.”
“Certainly, Sir. What do you need?”
Theo hesitated. It was Guthrie who carried Theo’s orders to the ‘Change and who placed his bids. But he was more than just a messenger. Guthrie had a grasp on the state of the market that proved invaluable to Theo on more than one occasion. Theo trusted his judgment. He suspected that Guthrie would have a word or two to say about his request today.
“I want you to bid for ten thousand shares on Cabot and Co.”
Guthrie’s shaggy brows drew down toward his kindly brown eyes. “Are you sure, Sir? It looks a tad risky to me.”
“I appreciate that, Guthrie. However, the risk is within acceptable tolerances.”
“My information suggests that it is no such thing, Sir. Extreme high risk is what I’ve heard.”
Theo’s jaw clenched and he swallowed convulsively. A pounding started up somewhere behind his temple. He sat down at his desk, picking up his pen to try to cover his jitters. But before he could speak further, the door handle rattled, and the door was pushed open.
“Good morning, lads!” Freddie, or rather, Sir Frederick Burns, Theo’s trusted friend and business partner, said as he sailed through the door. “Isn’t it a lovely morning. What are you doing here, Theo? I thought you’d still be carousing with that delicious wife of yours.”
Theo raised a brow at Freddie. “You’re rather jolly this morning,” he remarked, a little sourly.
“My dear friend, I have spent the most wonderful of evenings with the talented Miss Frobisher of the Hellier Theatrical Company of Drury Lane. Such conversation! Such wit! Such…”
“Say no more,” commanded Theo, throwing up his arm. “I suspect the less salubrious of Miss Frobisher’s talents will be amongst your next superlatives, and I, for one, have no interest in hearing about them.”
“Me neither,” agreed Guthrie.
“You gentlemen are no fun at all,” complained Freddie, falling into the chair at his own desk and wincing as it complained of the sudden onslaught. “What am I going to do, with both of you all stodgy and married now?”
