by Anna Macy
At least, he hoped so.
***
Robert let his hand slide down the heavy oak beam that lay across the docks. All around him, men buzzed with action and purpose. The sweet song of pounding tools against wood rang out into the crystal sky. It was music to Robert’s ears. Here his soul was instantly soothed; all thoughts of Georgiana Conning were driven away by the simple joy of a man watching an intricate machine at work.
This was the machine that his family had relied upon, had been devoted to, for generations. Wains Shipbuilding had triumphed through the years, the wars, the changes, the upheaval that England had gone through. And it had come out not only stronger but more successful.
While Robert had already spent a unseemly amount of days on these docks as a youth, soaking in the scent of freshly cut wood and sea salt, it was different now that he was at the helm. The pressure to carry on the family legacy was like nothing he’d ever felt before.
Heavier than his mother’s desire for him to marry a lovely aristocrat. More important than his father’s ambition for him to improve the family name through politics. It ate away at every minute, every hour that he was awake. It was the most essential thing in Robert's life, whether he liked it or not.
“She’s looking good, Devonshire,” a hoarse voice gently invaded his thoughts. Robert raised his eyes to the lanky greying man who was carefully making his way into the hull to stand beside him. Nearly the same age as Robert’s father, Stephen Brown was dockmaster at the Port of London where the Wain Shipbuilding offices and warehouse were located.
Known for his sharp tongue and strict enforcement of Port law, he had risen from his poverty-stricken youth to the status of a prominent figure among the various shipwrights in London. His guidance and his friendship was coveted and rarely given. Robert knew he should be pursuing both, but it was hard, especially given the man’s nosy characteristics.
That and the fact that the dockmaster had consistently allied himself with the Conning family.
Robert had established leads into the idea that perhaps the dockmaster had been on Conning’s payroll all along, which made sense since Bert Conning had, at one point, employed Stephen Brown himself. It all seemed very suspicious and Robert kept the man at a distance.
“Thank you, Mr. Brown.” Robert’s bored voice left no room for idle chatter, but the older man didn’t leave his side.
“I heard that you were strolling about town with Miss Georgiana Conning,” Mr. Brown said cheerfully.
Robert didn’t give the man the gratification of his surprise. Instead, he kept his eyes on his workers, the crew was slowly building another notch in the belt that was Wains Shipbuilding. Stephen was already too far into Conning’s pocket to ever be an ally.
“I find it curious how quickly this has spread to even your ears?”
“You can hardly blame me. I’m always interested in my two largest customers,” Mr. Brown said.
That prompted a look from Robert. While Wains Shipbuilding abided by the dockmaster’s authority, he would’ve never considered, in a hundred years, that they worked for him. The claim didn’t sit well on his shoulders, especially since Robert knew that Stephen was a close personal friend of the Conning family.
One of few they had left, he would wager. Only a few years into their business, the catastrophe had struck. One of their engineers, formerly of Wains Shipbuilding, went to press about Bert Conning’s shady practices, exposing the company’s bad credit and shoddy designs. Conning Family Shipwrights was taking too much risk, and from then on, everyone knew it.
The story made its way into every newspaper and onto the lips of every Londoner. Their clients, timid and afraid of the critical eye now upon them, took their business elsewhere. Investors who had been lined up to help disappeared in the blink of an eye. The Conning family went from an intriguing new elite family to a dark mark upon the elite of the city.
At his absolute lowest, Bert Conning had come to the Wains offices, a short walk from his own, and disclosed that he was upside down in his business. He pleaded with Robert’s father to help him. He had needed a loan to meet the needs of his remaining projects.
Robert knew his father didn’t forgive easily, and that day spite reared its ugly head. Bert Conning left that a broken man with empty pockets. He was a rare sighting these days, his warehouse mostly dark and deserted.
His eyes strayed to the tall building far to his right. It had been built at the height of the Conning’s short business life and remained as pristine as the day they first opened it. “I was only acting as any gentlemen would to Miss Conning. You should try it sometime,” Robert let the sharp words fall casually between the two men.
“It’s quite easy to be kind, and how you say, courteous, when the lady in question looks like Miss Georgiana.” The words seemed to roll off Stephen’s tongue easily, but the effect that they had on Robert was instant.
Thankful for his family’s gift to withhold emotion, Robert turned to the dockmaster, his blue eyes ablaze. “And what of it? What if I was, as you say, taking up with her?”
“Nothing my Lord. I just find it a bit strange, you taking up with her, after what your sister went through with little Teddy Conning.”
Robert struggled to hold in a snarl. His sister’s heartbreak was not the subject of dockside gossip. Knowing that Mr. Brown would only feed on any reaction, Robert forced his anger back down and pinned the man with a wide smile.
“Again, the only thing strange is how invested you are in my life, Mr. Brown.” Robert turned on his booted heel, leaving the man looking after him, a strange smile on his leathered face.
“I’m having dinner with the Connings tonight. I’ll pass on your well wishes then.” Mr. Brown shouted after him. Robert didn’t turn or break his stride. He simply raised one hand in a rude wave of his fingers.
The dockmaster laughed the whole way back to his office.
***
“Georgiana, is everything almost ready?” Serena’s voice carried loudly through the kitchen doors.
Georgiana gritted her teeth. God forbid the other women actually walk into the kitchens and offer to help. Since the family had been cutting back on expenses, the last thing that had gone was the full-time cook. Tonight, since they were having guests, Cook had stayed late, but there was still only one-woman preparing dinner for seven adults.
Georgiana had dressed early and snuck down to help. While she was not a natural in the kitchen, she was happy to take the softly spoken directions from Cook and put them into action.
Bert had invited dockmaster, Stephen Brown, to dinner tonight, and Georgiana was both relieved and dreading the night’s activity, relieved because it meant that she would be able to stay and enjoy the complete dinner with her family, as opposed to being prompted to help with various courses. But also dread because she did not enjoy Mr. Brown.
He’d been a common sight in their household for years, and while it was never confirmed, Georgiana believed it had been him who convinced her father to leave the Wains Shipbuilding Company all those years ago.
He had been born poor, not that she cared about his rank, but had gained his notoriety by latching onto others. He had a death grip on the Connings, but Georgiana had high hopes that Edwin would be able to shake off the older man’s attachment when he took on more responsibility in the company.
“I’ll finish the rest,” Cook said from behind her, breaking her out of her thoughts. Knowing that she was kindly dismissed, Georgiana nodded quickly to Cook before removing the apron.
She took stock of her appearance at the doorway, smoothing her deep forest green frock down over her curving hips. The style was a bit out of fashion, but the stunning shade brought out the undertone of copper in her curls. Pinking her cheeks quickly, she took a deep breath.
“You look lovely, milady,” Cook spoke quickly, then turned, hiding her face before Georgiana could respond. She smiled at the older woman’s back, secretly relieved she wouldn’t embarrass her father tonight
. At least not in her appearance.
Ducking down the wide corridor, she rejoined her family as they all began to settle around the table. Automatically she found her seat across from Mr. Brown and to the left of Edwin. She smiled at her brother, who sat stiffly on his chair, his face drawn and pale.
“Is everything okay?” Georgiana murmured, for her brother’s ears only.
Edwin ignored her, his eyes downcast and jaw clenched. Snorting silently, Georgiana twisted away from her silent sibling, irritated at the man for ignoring her.
“What does Miss Georgiana have to say about that?” Mr. Brown’s voice prompted her response. Georgiana cleared her throat, looking at the grey-haired dock master.
“I’m sorry, I must’ve missed the question. What are we discussing?” Georgiana focused on keeping her voice soft and polite as she faced the table.
“Edwin and I were just discussing what the next steps might be for Conning Family Shipwrights,” Mr. Brown said eagerly.
Georgiana peered at her brother, who again, avoided her gaze. Clearly, she had missed something. Quickly, she nodded and turned back to her plate.
“That sounds rather exciting. Business is going well then?” Georgiana asked politely. She was careful to school her expression into one that hid her disbelief. Not that it mattered, her father seemed to believe the best way out of this crisis was to pretend it wasn’t happening at all.
Exactly how she pictured it, her father leaned forward in his chair to give her a dirty look. But it was Edwin’s hard voice drew her eyes. “I wouldn’t say well, Georgiana. And I don’t think that we will be in a place to be branching out any time soon.”
Bert rolled his head to look at Edwin. “You, my son, have no mind for the future. You know who does?”
Silent fell around the table. “Georgiana does. She may very well be the only one too.”
Georgiana stilled, her heart hammering as she watched her father. She wondered what he could be referring to. Whatever it may be, being the center of her father’s attention was not a place she enjoyed being.
“Well done Georgiana. And why would that matter to the business?” Edwin asked sarcastically. He angrily prodded the pile of greens at the edge of his plate.
Bert shrugged, a hungry look briefly taking over his face. “I have it on good authority that Georgiana was out promenading about town with the prince of Wains Shipbuilding.”
“What?” Edwin said quickly, his food falling to the table as he jerked towards her.
“Father, that’s not how it was.” Georgiana rushed to explain. “Teddy, Serena and I were only out for a walk and ran into Robert and Marian.”
“Robert and Marian,” her father emphasized the way she had accidentally addressed the Wains siblings.
“Teddy, please, you were with me. It was only for a moment.”
Teddy glanced at his wife. “It must’ve only been a moment Father.” Bert growled from his end of the table. Teddy’s mouth popped open again, “but plenty of things can happen in a moment.”
Georgiana wanted to scream as she stared at Teddy, incredulous. Edwin dropped his face into his hands. And Bert looked victorious.
“Father, there were dozens of people about. I assure you nothing happened between the Honorable Robert Wains and myself, save a few casual words.”
“It is interesting that you and he seem to run into each other so often.” Bert settled back into his chair, drink in hand. “But you never know what direction these types of happenings take. Do you, Stephen?”
The dockmaster looked uncomfortably between the family members. “If you say so, Bert. Another drink?”
Even if she’d been hungry, there was no way her stomach would handle food now. Georgiana looked down at her hands for the remainder of the meal, barely bothering to raise her eyes or her voice in the conversation. What she did know was that somehow her father knew she’d seen Robert again. And that he was most assuredly going to hold it against her. She just wasn’t sure how yet.
By the time Stephen slipped out after several late-night cocktails, Georgiana was tired of playing the dutiful daughter and wanted to get her father’s latest beratement over with. Edwin sat nearby, muffling a yawn with his hand. Georgiana glared at the ticking grandfather clock as it ticked along, counting down the moments to her father’s punishment.
Bert stood, rustling around on his desk, the movements violent and angry. Georgiana and Edwin, as one, sat up straight where they were.
“Where are the reports from this quarter, Edwin?” The words were staccato.
Edwin repeatedly blinked as if attempting to clear away the fog. “Father, I-.”
“I asked you a simple question. Where are they?” Bert’s voice rose. Teddy and Serena, who had been canoodling in a corner, rose and walked purposefully from the room hand-in-hand. No-one stopped them. Georgiana stood smoothly, letting her hands cross politely at her waist.
“I left them at the office,” Edwin answered, his face flushing slightly as he stepped forward. Georgiana swayed in place, torn between fleeing and staying to help defend her brother.
“I told you I wanted them. Can you not do anything correctly?” Their father’s words were slurred.
“I need you to go get them.” Bert stubbornly narrowed his eyes at his son.
Edwin’s temper had finally been provoked. “It’s the middle of the night, Father, I am not going anywhere except for bed.”
“Don’t you defy me, boy,” he roared in response. Edwin raised his chin, surprising them all as he walked from the room. Georgiana held completely still, listening to the even, measured steps of Edwin’s shoes against the stair and finally on the landing upstairs. Finally, there was the final decisive click of his bedchamber door closing.
Georgiana suddenly found herself alone with her father. Quick to remedy this, she dropped into a quick curtsy, “Goodnight Father.”
“I can never tell if you are too stupid to know when to run or the bravest one of the lot.” Her father moved towards her, his eyes were red-rimmed, and his chest still heaved in anger.
Georgiana ignored the painful squeeze of her chest. Straightening her shoulders, she prepared herself for whatever verbal assault her Father had prepared for her. There was no chance of escaping to her chambers, not now.
“I need your help,” he said, shocking her.
“Excuse me?” Georgiana asked, her brows raised.
“I need your help.” Bert placed one curling hand on her shoulder, leaning in conspiratorially.
The liquor on his breath burned her nostrils. “What could I do to help you?”
Bert tapped Georgiana’s nose with one finger, a smirk on his face. “I have it on good terms that Robert Wains is interested in you.”
“interested in me?” Georgiana hated her traitorous heart for jumping in pleasure. Keeping her expression calm, she knitted her fingers in the skirt of her frock.
“Yes,” Bert began to pace the room, “While I was frustrated when I first heard, I had an idea today. A bloody brilliant idea if you ask me. Pretty boy Devonshire just got his heartbroken, and he will be ripe for the taking.”
“I don’t understand, father.” Georgiana looked at him nervously.
“Then I’ll keep it simple for you. I need you to make him fall in love with you. Charm him with your pretty face and that sharp tongue.” His nose wrinkled, “You even look a bit like the woman he was going to marry. But then, she was an Earl’s daughter.”
“You want me to seduce him?” Georgiana had never felt her heart pound as harshly as it did now. Horror rose in her throat, making it difficult to speak. Her father couldn’t be thinking clearly. She should go to bed, but her feet were rooted to the floor.
“No, no, no.” Bert rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. “At least not necessarily. All you need to do is enough to convince Robert to let you into his life, maybe tell you a few of his secrets. That family’s business is locked up tighter than the royal jewels. I’ve been trying for years to get someone in on the
inside. As it turns out, I don’t need them as I already have you.”
“You want me to spy on him? Father, be reasonable, I couldn’t.” Georgiana swallowed hard, icy dread filling her chest.
“Think bigger, girl, if he falls like the sop that I know he is, then you could have everything. A successful family, a handsome husband, and a title to boot.”
She shook her head, the lace at her neck brushing against her delicate skin. “And after all of this, do you mean for me to actually marry him?”
“Not at all. It will take months to plan a wedding of that significance. By the time the big day rolls around, we will have what we need. You can easily break off the betrothal and move on.” Bert sank into the chair behind his desk, his face filled with pleasure at his plan.
A staggering silence fell between them. Her father was asking her to fool one of the most prestigious men in town and then leave him before the wedding. But not before stealing valuable business intel out from under him. It was despicable.