by Abigail Agar
Foster and Phin already knew about the Gainsborough painting and the Waterford crystal chandelier. But with smaller items, it was hard to look and not see something. Three Ming vases were missing. Two were a pair, almost unheard of. They should have kept them at Maggie’s for a fortnight.
He didn’t know what his mother had for jewellery, but he was determined to get every piece back. Elizabeth probably used one pawnshop for all her business. She would have to tell him which one it was. Mercy was going to have his mother’s jewellery. Of that, he would be sure.
It was late morning when Foster walked Everett into Phin’s study. Phin had bathed and shaved looking more presentable than when Everett had last seen him. Foster closed the door quietly behind Everett.
“Come in, Ev, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve set everything up at the table,” Phin said while ushering Everett to a rectangular cherry table polished to within an inch of its life.
Phin knew one of the many things that Everett liked about him was that he was organized. There were piles of papers on the table all separated out in logical order. Everett sat across from Phin. He winced, “I’m afraid I might sneeze. I’m afraid the papers would go into too many different directions.”
Then Everett looked up at Phin and slapped the side his leg. “I have finally figured out what I can get you next time I am in need of giving you a gift,” he said, sitting back in his chair with a grin on his face.
“Oh?”
“Paperweights. Lots and lots of paperweights.”
Phin gave him a sceptical look and shook his head but didn’t say anything. Phin leaned forward, took a pile of papers and spread them out in front of Everett.
“These are the trade routes and dates each ship is leaving London over the next six months. Help me out here, Ev. Sheep shearing is in June and July. How long at the mill until bolts of wool are ready to ship?” Phin leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. “I’m concerned about setting sail too close to winter.”
“Do you have the rental charges on cargo for these ships?”
“No, not yet, but everything I see points to stable prices. If prices go up, they won’t be by much.” Phin shrugged.
“Right, but his is only half the equation. When the ship docks, will the bolts of silk be ready to load or will the ship sit in port?”
Phin waved his hand through the air dismissively. “There are bolts of silk always at the ready. The Chinese warehouses it in practically every port. We should consider that in our mill. Wool always at the ready. Maybe we need another mill?”
Everett tapped his index finger on the maps in front of him. “These maps are for India and China. Have you thought about my suggestion on shipping to America?”
Phin and Everett received their lunch trays but hardly noticed. Every once in a while, one would get up, grab a piece of cheese, and pace to rid himself of excess energy. They worked so well together, they rarely disagreed.
Everett loved working with Phin in person. The two of them accomplished more in two hours together than they did in six months of letters from India to London and back. The shipping business would now take off in leaps and bounds.
Phin was excited. He returned from India to find a bride and for him to watch over his family. Another gentleman might retire to the country, oversee his estate and relax. Another gentleman wouldn’t think of working. Phin didn’t need the money, but he wanted to keep active. He wanted to expand his business interests. He loved working with Everett. It was fun for the both of them to be working together.
Mercy knocked on the study door. “I’m sorry to interrupt your meeting, but we have callers.”
Both Phin and Everett turned to the mantel clock at the same time. They stood and turned to each other.
“Shall we begin again tomorrow, late morning?” Phin said.
Everett nodded. He turned to Mercy. “I need to ready myself. I should join you in fifteen minutes?”
“Yes, Everett. That’s fine.” Mercy turned to Phin, “And you?”
“Mercy, my head is spinning so fast, I’m not sure it’s a good idea if . . .”
“Lady Charlotte and her aunt have come.”
Well, that makes a difference. Charlotte – my puzzle. I need to find out about you. What do you want in a marriage, Charlotte? What are you like to live with?’
Phin nodded. “I’ll see you in fifteen minutes.”
When Mercy laughed, Everett turned to Phin, “I thought . . .”
Phin gave a wry smile. “Never mind with what you thought. Go get ready to receive the ladies.”
Phin had spent most of the past night thinking of Charlotte. He lay in bed replaying their waltz at the ball, going over their conversation, which, like many conversations made on the dance floor, was inane.
She was gorgeous, smart, full of life. When they danced, she made him laugh. He could easily go a week without laughing, much to Silas’ dismay. Within five minutes of walking her onto the dance floor, he was laughing.
Phin felt as though he tapped into some form of life force that didn’t exist for him until now. And Charlotte introduced it to him.
Everett rolled his eyes and left the room. Fifteen minutes later, they met at the door to the front parlour.
***
Inside, Lady Charlotte was carefully tracking the conversations. Aunt Genevieve had scolded her for not paying attention. Yes, they called on them yesterday, and yes, Phineas was a single Duke, but honestly, it was time for her aunt to let it rest. Charlotte would never again make the mistake of not engaging every gentleman in a room. She thought she had made things right by dancing a perfectly lovely waltz with Phineas last evening. Aunt Genevieve asked her twice, twice mind you, how she could not have become aware of this man before he walked up to her and asked her to dance at the ball last evening.
Charlotte knew that she got caught up in the chatter and those not actively participating in the conversation tended to fall out of her view. She told Genevieve she wanted to marry someone like herself. She loved parties, balls, and lively conversation. A man who enjoyed them also would have so much in common with her. Their life together would be so much fun.
Then Genevieve asked her how she would feel during her confinement and during the days after the child was born. Would her husband keep up his parties? If they were so similar, surely she would understand if he did not curb his social life. And, Genevieve said, going in for the kill – what would you do if he were very ‘social.’
Charlotte had gasped, and Aunt Genevieve had sat back in her chair giving her a grin and a nod.
Her aunt had a point. She couldn’t boil down her wishes for a husband to be just social, or just fun. As her aunt pointed out to her, social and quiet or playful and serious, Charlotte’s pieces fit. Maybe by understanding the way personality differences could mesh, she might understand why her attraction to him on a physical level was so strong.
Think ahead Charlotte. So Charlotte sat, carefully listening to Mercy and Josie talk about a trip they took to Collinswood. It sounded divine. A house party lasting ten days. Parlour games each night. Outings during the day. She wanted to get in her carriage, go home and instruct the footman to bring her three, no four trunks and instruct Abby to pack.
That particularly fun daydream was broken when the doors to the parlour opened, and he walked in. Charlotte turned her head to her aunt. Genevieve was giving Phineas a delightful smile. All but she, as an elder woman, were rising.
Charlotte stood, waiting her turn as Phineas moved through the room greeting his guests. Charlotte curtsied, and he bowed. When he finished, he sat in an empty chair near hers. She gave him her dazzling smile.
“Your Grace, I want to thank you for the lovely dance last evening. I thoroughly enjoyed your company.”
“Thank you, Lady Charlotte. I feel the same way. Tell me, will you be attending the theatre this evening?”
Charlotte looked at her aunt, then back to Phineas. “No, I don’t believe my aunt and I will have the pl
easure.”
Phineas turned and spoke with Genevieve. “May I extend an invitation to you and your niece to the theatre this evening? I have a box there with more than enough seats for two more.”
Genevieve answered for them both, “It would be a great pleasure, Your Grace.” She smiled and nodded, and then Charlotte smiled too.
“Good. I will send the carriage for you at half-past eight. I will meet your carriage when it arrives at the theatre.”
***
Everett found Mercy’s eyes, and they both smiled. Mercy knew Everett had objected to Phin’s plan to retire to Collinswood with a nice quiet girl. Did Phin realize he was pursuing possibly the least shy and quiet girl on the marriage mart? She gave a short, audible laugh. Everyone in the room turned to her. She shrugged and looked away.
After the guests left, Phin stretched his legs in front of him and leaned back in his chair, face towards the ceiling.
Mercy, Josie, and Everett relaxed in their chairs.
“Charlotte loved it when we talked about the house parties we’ve had at Collinswood. The more we described them, the more curious she became. We have to invite her if we go to Collinswood this summer.”
Phin brought his head forward and looked at Mercy, “Silas threw house parties?”
She nodded. “They were the best. Sometimes they went on for two weeks. He’s really quite good at organizing them. Phin, you should have a big house party and make Silas organize it.”
Phin blew out a long breath and shook his head. “Where is Silas? Has anyone seen him?”
Everett shifted in his seat and looked at Phin. “I may have an idea of where he is. We’ll talk later.”
“Wait. He told me he was done with her,” Mercy said while she scanned each face in the room.
Everett noticed Phin's eyes becoming sharp, as was his voice. “Mercy, my God. You know better than to talk like that.”
“Phin, it’s just us. Everett, Josie, you, and me. I would never say anything outside this room or in front of guests.
“Silas, it seems, has found a new friend,” Everett said in a low voice.
Phin growled at Everett. “Subject is changed this instant. Who’s going to the theatre with me tonight?”
Mercy gave a short laugh, “Apparently, Charlotte.”
“Good, Mercy. You were awake during the afternoon call. How nice,” Phin said dryly.
“Well, brother, my answer is, I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Mercy said, grinning.
“Everett, Josie, you will come?”
Everett and Josie looked into each other’s eyes. Everett nodded his head. “We wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Chapter 4
Phin hadn’t been inside the London Playhouse in five years, but the opulence of the lobby still made him crane his neck to the ceiling. Three stories high, the domed ceiling showed a sky with clouds and birds. Paintings of gnarled branches of flowering trees circled the edge of the dome.
Four crystal chandeliers, the size of which Phin had never seen before, hung silently one-storey from the floor on the flat part of the ceiling. Candlelight danced over the crystals to cause the chandeliers to burst with shards of light.
Even the floor had interest. It had a moss and ivory marble floor designed in a circular pattern under the dome. A checkerboard pattern elsewhere.
Phin stopped a servant with a tray and handed a glass of champagne to each of the ladies. While talking and drinking champagne, several of Phin’s peers approached him, welcoming him back. Some asked when they could expect him in the House of Lords. There was much to discuss before the next vote. Phin smiled and told them he would meet with them soon. It was his second day back.
Charlotte, Mercy, and Josie had their heads together gawking at the fashion. Phin should have explained it was very different from ballroom fashion, but he forgot to mention it. Some of the gowns fit snugly from top to bottom. There was no need for freedom of movement as they were sitting in chairs for a few hours, not dancing.
They milled around until the sound of three notes on a xylophone alerted them to find their seats. Phin ushered Mercy, Josie, and Charlotte into the front row seats of his box and helped Genevieve to the seat behind Charlotte next to him and Everett.
Phin was relieved. He was perfectly capable of making small talk. He just didn’t enjoy doing it. The lobby at the theatre, the card room at a ball, White’s, that’s where most of the business was conducted. That’s where the horse-trading on the bills before the House of Lords took place.
Phin forgot that while he was away. He was the Duke now. He needed to know what the word on the street was. He needed to spend time here socializing while the House of Lords was in session. He sighed heavily. All his plans were slipping away.
Of course, he needed a wife who could comfortably navigate her way through the House of Lords. The Lords’ wives bumped into each other all day long. His wife would need to do some of that bumping. She needed the social chops to bump in the best possible way. He would not have a wife who was a bull in a china shop. He’d rather a quiet one, although he was beginning to think neither would do. It had to be Charlotte. She was born to do this.
The view from the box was magnificent. The box floated over the audience to the right-hand side of the stage. Phin’s mother had decorated it long ago. The twelve high-back chairs had cushions of plum velvet. The ivory lace tablecloth over plum silk looked a little dated, even to Phin. Surely, tastes had changed some since he was in London last. Curtains between the box and the upper hallway were also plum velvet. The velvet did a splendid job of absorbing sound, making acoustics all the better. The rug his mother brought from Turkey was still on the floor. That piece, he would keep. It was in excellent condition, and it triggered a fond memory of her.
His wife would need to redecorate the castle, the townhouse, and now the box. That should keep her busy and out of his hair for a long while. For the first time, it occurred to Phin he was looking to marry a girl he could put in a drawer when not needed and take out on the rare occasion he needed her. It was disconcerting to him. He did not like the picture he just painted of himself. He hadn’t felt that way about Anusha. What was different?
***
Phin wasn’t enjoying the play. The plot was silly, a pale imitation of Romeo and Juliet set in modern times. He was afraid if he rolled his eyes once more, they would be stuck facing the back of his head, and he would be forever blind. So, he went about the age-old business of seeing who else was attending the play.
He noticed the pink dress girl in a box across from his own. She was tittering, whispering in her friend's ear and not paying any attention to the play. He had once seen schoolgirls sitting on a bench in a park, cupping their hands to each other’s ears, giggling. It was endearing in ten-year-olds. Not so much in girls who have come of age.
The next box to the right across from his showed two gentlemen with women, presumably their mistresses, sitting on their laps. Phin wondered if it was humiliating for them to have to act that way in public. He sympathized with them and moved on.
In another box, he saw the man Mercy had spoken of – Roderick Merritt. He and another man were alone in their box. He was actively looking at the other boxes to see who attended. At least I’m discreet about it, Phin thought. The other man looked vaguely familiar, but Phin could not place him. He looked back at Roderick.
Phin’s inquiries had not found anything unsavoury about Merritt. He would dig deeper if she showed more interest. For now, he thought him a possibility for his sister. He wasn’t excited about the prospect but didn’t know why. Merritt looked like a perfectly good candidate for Mercy. Maybe because he secretly wished Mercy had her eyes on Everett.
He would have Mercy introduce Roderick to him during intermission.
He sighed. How long until intermission? Phin turned to Genevieve and whispered, “Are you enjoying the play?”
She turned to him and smiled, “Oh, yes, Your Grace. It is wonderful.” She turned back
to the play, presumably so she would not miss a moment of it.
At intermission, the gentlemen stood and helped the ladies out of their chairs.
“Shall we go to the lobby?” Phin asked.
Everett was quick to answer. “You lead, Phin. We’ll follow. I’ll walk behind so we don’t lose anyone.”
Phin turned to Mercy, “Walk with me?”
Mercy looked slightly confused. No doubt because she thought he would want to walk with Charlotte. “If you wish.”
Phin placed Mercy’s hand in the crook of his arm. “I would very much like you to introduce me to Roderick Merritt. He is here this evening, did you know?”