After a Fashion (11 page)

“Hmmm . . . I never thought of it in that light, but enough about the brats. They plague me all too often as it is.” Everett smiled. “Tell me about you—is there anything new and exciting happening in your life?”

“You could say that.”

Everett’s eyes widened. “You’ve finally buckled under the pressure of your grandfather’s badgering and gotten engaged, haven’t you.”

“No, I’m not engaged, although I must tell you, a Miss Birmingham seems to have spread it about town that she was soon going to become the new Mrs. Addleshaw. Luckily for me, I discovered her true nature before our association could progress. I’m hopeful she’s even now on her way back to Chicago—even though she did end up costing me a pretty penny in the process.”

“Pennies are worth the cost if you managed to dodge a nasty bullet.”

“Miss Birmingham certainly did turn nasty, as did her father.” Oliver grinned. “I shudder to think how he’ll react if he learns about Miss Harriet Peabody.”

Everett moved his chair closer to Oliver. “You’d better start at the beginning.”

Fifteen minutes later, Oliver concluded his story, unable to help but notice that Everett was staring back at him with undisguised shock on his face. He was about to ring the bell to order a fresh drink when Everett released a grunt.

“And
you
had the audacity to tell poor Mr. Birmingham that
his daughter
was mentally unstable.”

“I’m not insane, Everett. Hiring Harriet to accompany me as I proceed forward with the Duke of Westmoore is one of the most ingenious ideas I’ve ever come up with. I can’t dine with the gentleman without having a lady around to add a touch of charm to the atmosphere. The duke will expect to be properly entertained, and I’m not willing to disappoint the man. I’m determined to finalize my deal with him and procure wool that’s considered the finest in the world.”

“It’s only wool, Oliver. Don’t you think you might be taking things too far?”

Oliver shrugged. “I’ve spent countless hours formulating this deal, and my time is money. Besides, hiring a lady to help me entertain business associates instead of counting on ladies with marriage on their minds will save me a huge amount of aggravation. I should have thought of it years ago.”

“But it simply isn’t done. I’m of the firm belief that the social classes shouldn’t mingle—something I thought you believed as well. There are a million things that could go wrong with this plan of yours. She’s a
hat
girl, Oliver.”

“She’s remarkably refined.”

“You told me she slung Miss Birmingham over her shoulder and tossed her into a carriage. I wouldn’t think it necessary to point this out—but refined young ladies don’t normally spend their time tossing other people about.”

“She was trying to conceal a nearly naked Miss Birmingham. If you ask me, that shows she has a great deal of compassion.”

“You call it compassion, I call it self-preservation. Miss Birmingham was beating Miss Peabody with a parasol.”

“True, but again, she merely tossed the woman into a carriage. She could have done something far worse, which proves she’s a lady of great restraint and will be an asset on my arm.”

“I think a bigger factor in your decision to hire her was that she turned you down at first.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Oliver, I’ve known you since we were children. You’re competitive. You were shocked when Miss Peabody turned down your first proposal. That is what had you throwing caution to the wind and increasing the amount of your offer.” Everett shook his head. “Why, I can’t help but wonder what you’d have done if she’d turned down the three thousand dollars. Proposed to her, perhaps?”

“Now you’re just being ridiculous. I may have no hesitation about bringing Harriet on to work for me, but I know perfectly well she’s not remotely acceptable as a candidate for the future Mrs. Addleshaw.”

Everett narrowed his eyes. “Society will make that assumption once she’s seen by your side.”

“No they won’t. Society, it is my belief, has moved forward regarding such matters, given that it’s the eighteen hundreds, not the Dark Ages. Just because a lady is seen on a gentleman’s arm does not mean a wedding is imminent.”

“I don’t think we’ve progressed as far as you believe,” Everett countered. “Tell me, though, what’s to happen to this Miss Peabody after your association ends?”

“I assume she’ll take the money she earns from me and go about doing whatever it is hat girls do when they come into possession of unexpected funds.”

Everett shifted in his seat. “Out of curiosity, what exactly do you expect Miss Peabody to do in order to earn three thousand dollars?”

“Her most important responsibility will be to charm the duke.”

“And you honestly believe that a hat girl will be capable of that daunting task?”

“She charmed me, and—”

“She charmed you?” Everett interrupted, looking more shocked than ever. “Good heavens, Oliver. This truly is madness, then. You’re attracted to the woman, and you mark my words—disaster is right around the corner if you go through with this.”

Oliver felt an unaccustomed rush of heat travel up his neck. “I’m not attracted to her. Well, she is lovely, but . . . what I meant to say is that she has an air about her that I’m sure the duke will find charming, and . . .” He lapsed into silence when Everett began muttering dire predictions under his breath. To Oliver’s relief, he was spared further embarrassment when a quiet knock sounded on the door before it opened and a member of the Astor House staff stepped into the room.

“Begging your pardon, gentlemen, but Mr. Ruff is waiting outside to speak with you, Mr. Addleshaw. Shall I send him in?”

For a second, Oliver thought about saying no. Silas Ruff was one of his business associates, brought into Oliver’s employ after Oliver invested in the man’s ore mining venture. Silas had been exactly what Oliver needed—a ruthless, ambitious man who had no qualms about getting things done, no matter what means it took to turn a profit. Silas had been with Oliver for four years, and while his temperamental personality sometimes grated on Oliver’s nerves, he kept Silas on because profitability had never been better.

However, Silas’s habit of tracking Oliver down whenever he wanted to speak to him was beginning to become a problem. The fact they’d had plans to meet that morning, but Silas hadn’t shown, made it all the more annoying.

“Since it appears Mr. Ruff knows I’m here, you might as well bring him in,” Oliver finally said.

With a nod, the man withdrew from the room. A moment later, Silas strode through the doorway with the Astor House employee following a step behind him.

“Get me a whiskey, neat,” Silas threw at the man. “And something to eat, a steak, I think, bloody, and make it quick. I’m starving.”

It was a mark of how well Astor House trained their staff that the man Silas had just barked at didn’t even flinch. “Very good, sir,” he said before turning to Oliver and Everett. “May I bring you fresh drinks?”

Oliver nodded, as did Everett. The man bowed, turned, and quit the room, right as Silas grabbed a chair and pulled it over toward Oliver, the legs making a loud scraping noise against the floor. Silas eased his bulky frame down into it and folded his hands over his stomach.

“I’ve been looking for you for over two hours,” he complained.

Oliver arched a brow. “I was under the impression you and I were supposed to meet early this morning, as in at seven.”

“That must have slipped my mind, but I’m here now.” Silas settled into the chair. “Some problems have cropped up.”

“Oh?”

“Mr. Birmingham tracked me down this morning. He’s not happy with you and is demanding more money for the purchase of his business. And he wants to retain full control of that business after we buy it from him.”

Oliver frowned. “I spoke with him yesterday, and we agreed that our deal would proceed forward as planned. He made no mention to me that he was going to seek greater compensation, and . . . no, he can’t retain control. His leadership is what sent that company plummeting toward ruin in the first place.”

Silas nodded. “I know that, Oliver, but Mr. Birmingham isn’t in a reasonable state of mind at the moment. He expected you to offer his daughter marriage, but now that his dream apparently isn’t going to happen, he wants to see you pay.”

“I only asked Miss Birmingham to accompany me to a few
social events. Forgive me if I don’t believe taking a lady out for dinner demands a proposal afterward.”

“He thinks you jilted his little precious.”

“Miss Birmingham insisted she wasn’t interested in marrying
me
.” Oliver’s lips curved up. “She believes I’m a tyrant and that I’m not considerate of her tender feelings.”

“You are a tyrant,” Silas retorted. “But tyranny aside, how is this parting of the ways with Miss Birmingham going to affect your dealings with the Duke of Westmoore?”

“I don’t believe it’ll affect it at all.”

Sitting forward, Silas placed his hands on his knees, the action causing the buttons of his jacket to strain against the bulk of his stomach. “Are you going to be making the rounds this week to what few soirées might be held in the city to see if there are any suitable candidates who would be willing to help you entertain the duke?”

“I don’t need to resort to that. I already have someone in mind.”

“Who is she?”

“Since it would appear the Birminghams have yet to leave the city, I’m not comfortable divulging that information just yet.”

Silas nodded. “Understandable, although I do hope you’ve chosen someone a little more high in the instep than Miss Birmingham. Her family, while respectable, is certainly not as desirable as someone of your status deserves. If you want to continue increasing your holdings as well as your standing within society, you’ll need to have a lady of worth by your side.”

“My family is one of the most powerful families in America.”

“True, but it’s not
the
most powerful, is it?” Silas returned. “Combining your power with that of an equally powerful family will only increase your appeal, which brings me back to this mysterious lady of yours. She is well connected, isn’t she?”

Since Oliver had no idea what, if any, connections Harriet
had—although he doubted she knew or was related to anyone of importance—he decided it was time to change the subject. “You mentioned that a few problems have cropped up. May I assume there are other matters to discuss besides the ridiculous notion of Mr. Birmingham trying to squeeze more money out of me?”

“You shouldn’t take Mr. Birmingham lightly,” Silas said, easing back into his chair. “He’s furious, and furious men can do dangerous things.”

“True. Set up another meeting with him soon, and remind him that he’s the one who sought out our assistance, not the other way around. And, he did so because he’s desperate for money. Once his temper cools, I’m sure he’ll remember that.”

Silas shook his head. “I wouldn’t count on that. He’s been bragging amongst our contemporaries that you were soon to become his son-in-law. He’ll suffer quite a bit of embarrassment once word gets out that isn’t going to happen
and
that you’ve settled your attention on someone else. You’ll need to watch your back.”

“That’s what I pay you to do.” Oliver turned his head as the door opened and the Astor House server appeared, pushing a cart filled with food and fresh drinks.

No one spoke as the man served the drinks, set up a small table right in front of Silas, took off a silver domed lid from a large platter, slid it onto the table without making a sound, and then pushed the cart from the room, closing the door softly behind him.

“One thing you can say about this place is they give good service,” Silas said as he scooted closer to the table and began to attack his food. The entire steak was devoured in mere minutes, and after a loud belch and a swig of his drink, Silas pushed the table aside and belched again.

“I should be going,” he said before he stood up, tugged his
jacket over a stomach that seemed even larger, and smiled. “I have amusement on my mind for the rest of the afternoon.”

“Not that I want to stifle your amusements, but don’t you think you should have business matters on your mind?”

“I’ve done quite enough business today—thank you very much.”

Oliver considered the man for a moment. “Planning another trip to the theater, are you?”

“Unfortunately, no.
Romeo and Juliet
ended its stint earlier than expected.”

Oliver tilted his head. “I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I find your pursuit of the lovely Lucetta Plum somewhat disturbing.”

Silas rubbed at what looked to be a gravy stain on his jacket. “I have no idea why you’d be disturbed about anything I choose to do, Oliver. Even though we’re in business together, my personal life shouldn’t affect you in the least. As for Lucetta, she’s a delightful minx, even if she’s playing coy at the moment.” He smiled. “She and I both know she’s only doing so to increase her value. I’m sure I’ll be forced to spend an exorbitant amount of money on her once she agrees to become my mistress, but it’ll be worth it.”

He brushed some crumbs from his sleeve. “Just make certain you don’t mention anything about Lucetta around Doreen or her family. I don’t think my wife actually cares if I spend my time with a few light-skirts, but her father is a rather pious man and might have something to say about it. I absolutely loathe listening to his lectures.”

“You wouldn’t be forced to listen to any lectures if you’d simply pay attention to your wife and abandon your quest to keep company with Miss Plum,” Oliver pointed out.

“But where’s the fun in that?” Silas asked with a hearty laugh. He turned and walked to the door, pausing for a moment before
he crossed back to the chair he’d just abandoned and looked down at Oliver. “I almost forgot to tell you—there’s been an accident at the Fayette mine.”

“And you’re only getting around to mentioning it now?”

“I don’t have much to report as of yet.” Silas shrugged. “The telegram I received simply stated there’d been a fire, caused it seems by a faulty piece of machinery.”