Pleasure Me (14 page)

“You should have sent word to me, my lady. I would have arranged for a member of my staff to assist you,” Mr. Millstadt said with frustration.

A wealthy merchant, the man was one of the orphanage’s strongest supporters, but she didn’t want to be beholden to him any more than necessary. It might encourage the man, and she didn’t wish to do that. Her gaze shifted to the woman with the chairman, and Ruth frowned in puzzlement. Why did she look so familiar? The lady coughed softly, and a red flush flooded Millstadt’s features.

“Forgive me. Lady Ruth, may I introduce the Countess of Lynmouth.” The director looked from one woman to the other. At the introduction, the young woman nodded her head in Ruth’s direction. While the woman’s smile was polite, she studied Ruth with an intense look that made her feel lacking in some way.

“How do you do, Lady Ruth. Mr. Millstadt has sung your praises ever since we first met. I hope you’ll forgive the intrusion, but I convinced him to bring me here so we might talk.”

“Mr. Millstadt is too kind,” she murmured as she smiled and gestured toward the door. “Perhaps it would be best if we went to the office.”

Ruth gestured toward the door and without waiting for a response, walked past the two guests and down the hall. As she headed toward the office, she rolled her sleeves down and buttoned them at her wrists. Perhaps seeing her more presentable would allay some of Mr. Millstadt’s dismay at having seen her doing menial work.

The man had taken far too much interest in her of late, and the knowledge that he’d been singing her praises did little to comfort her. He was a nice man, but she had no desire to extend their acquaintance past his involvement with St. Agnes’s. She sat behind the room’s large desk and invited her guests to sit in the chairs facing her. She directed her gaze at the woman opposite her.

“Well now, Lady Lynmouth, what may I do for you?”

“I am . . . that is my brother and I . . . are the primary patrons of Caring Hearts Home. Perhaps you’ve heard of it?”

“Yes, of course. You’re near the East End, correct?”

“In Bethnal Green actually,” Lady Lynmouth said with a nod, then hesitated slightly, almost as if she didn’t know how to continue. “Mr. Millstadt and I met at a charitable event where he generously donated to Caring Hearts.”

Ruth glanced at the man, who was beaming with pleasure at the recognition. She looked back at the countess, who was studying her with something akin to distrust and hostility. Ruth frowned as her gaze locked with the other woman’s. She wanted something, but either the woman didn’t know how to ask or it was more a question of not wanting to ask it of Ruth.

“Mr. Millstadt has been most generous to St. Agnes’s, too,” she said quietly as she met Lady Lynmouth’s eyes with a steady gaze.

“And it’s because of his generosity that I asked him to bring me here. I am hoping that you and the board of directors for St. Agnes’s will consider a joint venture with Caring Hearts.”

“A partnership?” Ruth asked quietly.

“Precisely,” Lady Lynmouth said with a bit more enthusiasm. “Once I explain myself, I hope you’ll encourage your board to agree to my proposal.”

“If St. Agnes’s and its board of directors can assist you then we’ll be happy to do so.”

“Thank you, my lady.” The countess folded her hands in her lap, and her wariness eased somewhat, although there was still critical assessment in her gaze. “All the children at Caring Hearts are given a general education and at the age of thirteen, they’re apprenticed at one of several farms or manufacturing businesses throughout England.”

“That’s extraordinary. How did you convince the owners to take on your children as apprentices?” Ruth asked with amazement. Why in heaven’s name hadn’t she thought of something so simple?

“My brother owns numerous properties and arranges the apprenticeships with local businesses.” Lady Lynmouth’s response made Ruth frown. Was the woman’s brother exploiting the orphanage’s children? She would never be a party to such a scheme.

“That sounds like a . . . profitable venture.”

“Good heavens, no.”

The woman looked mortified and glanced at Millstadt, who quickly straightened in his chair. He stretched out his hand in the countess’s direction in a comforting manner as he looked at Ruth.

“The properties are indeed profitable, but the monies are used to pay the children who work there,” Millstadt said as he shifted positions in his chair as he warmed to his topic. It was clear the orphanage’s operation had impressed him. “Once the child’s apprenticeship is complete, they have the option to seek employment elsewhere or stay. Any extra monies not used to maintain the property or pay the workers are returned to the orphanage. A remarkable setup, actually.”

The man was right. It was an impressive feat to care for children while creating an environment for them where they could become self-supporting. Something told her Millstadt would be making a proposal at the next meeting of the board of directors that a similar plan be put into place at St. Agnes’s. It was a proposal she’d be more than happy to endorse, but this didn’t explain why the countess had come to see her.

“I admit that I’m most impressed with the operations of your home, Lady Lynmouth, but what could I possibly offer you in a joint venture?”

“At the moment, Caring Hearts is bursting at the seams. Although my brother just purchased a new property this morning, the improvements to make it suitable for children will take several weeks. I was hoping to find a safe haven for some of my older children until we can place them in an apprenticeship or until the new property is ready for use.”

“Although we’re also crowded here, I’m sure we can find a way to take in a few more children. And I’m certain St. Agnes’s board of directors would be more than happy to be of assistance,” Ruth said, her mind already calculating how many more children the orphanage could handle.

“Thank you.” The woman leaned forward, gratitude lighting her beautiful face. “In return I would be more than happy to arrange apprenticeships for the older children here at St. Agnes’s.”

“That would be most kind,” Ruth said as she smiled at the woman across the desk from her. “As it so happens, I also just purchased a new piece of property—a small estate in West Sussex. I expect to finalize the sale tomorrow. Improvements are already underway, so Crawley Hall should be ready by the end of the month.”

“Crawley Hall?” The countess’s voice was a choked gasp, her expression one of astonishment.

“Lady Lynmouth, are you all right?” Millstadt asked with concern, and the woman gently waved aside her escort’s attentive manner.

“
You
bought Crawley Hall?” Disbelief echoed in the woman’s voice as she stared at Ruth.

“Yes. Do you know the property?” Ruth frowned as she studied the other woman’s bemusement.

“Quite well. It was one of three we’d been considering,” the woman said with a frown, as if working through a problem. “But, your offer was higher than the bid my brother Garrick made on the estate.”

“Your brother?” Startled, she stared at the countess.

“Yes, I believe you know him, the Baron Stratfield. He’s spoken of you to me, and I am under the impression that he holds you in the highest regard.”

The woman’s response sent Ruth’s head spinning. Lady Lynmouth was Garrick’s sister. It explained why the woman had looked so familiar to her. The two siblings looked very much alike.

“I’m flattered that your brother thinks me worthy of his admiration,” Ruth said quietly as she studied Lady Lynmouth’s unreadable expression. Something in the woman’s voice said she wasn’t happy that Garrick even knew her. It wasn’t unexpected that Garrick’s sister would disapprove of her, but for him to discuss her with his sister left her feeling exposed. Prompted by the sudden need to escape any further conversation until she’d gathered herself, Ruth stood up and circled the desk in a clear signal that the meeting was concluded. She offered her hand to the board member sitting across from her.

“Mr. Millstadt, I believe we should call a meeting of the board to secure their approval of her ladyship’s request.”

“Of course, my lady. I’ll see to it as soon as I’ve seen the countess safely home.” Millstadt got to his feet and kissed her hand then turned to the woman still seated in front of the desk. “Shall we, Lady Lynmouth?”

Garrick’s sister frowned and shook her head. “Mr. Millstadt, would you mind giving me a moment alone with her ladyship?”

“Why . . . of course . . . certainly, my lady,” the man said with surprise as he looked from Lady Lynmouth to Ruth and then back again.

With a slight bow to them both, he left the office, closing the door behind him. Ruth had a strong inkling as to what was to come. She’d had visits from mothers in the past, demanding that she stop seeing their sons. No doubt, Garrick’s sister would do the same. She returned to her seat behind the desk, but didn’t sit down. The furniture would provide a sufficient barrier to help distance herself from the woman. Not willing to wait for the attack that was certain to come, she held herself rigid and straight with her fingertips pressing into the mahogany desk.

“I’m sorry for your distress at hearing I am the new owner of Crawley Hall.” She drew in a deep breath and released it. “I hope for the sake of the children you will see fit to continue with this joint venture between our two orphanages.”

“I wouldn’t think of refusing your generosity. I was merely surprised to hear that
you
were the one who’d outbid Garrick. It’s the first time he’s ever failed to buy a property he wanted.”

Ruth’s muscles grew taut. Property
he
wanted. The other night he’d told her the exact opposite. He’d said Crawley Hall didn’t suit his needs, and yet his sister was saying something different. One of them was lying. Then there was the woman’s surprise that Ruth had been the one who supposedly outbid Garrick.

The countess must assume she was poor as a church mouse. The assumption wasn’t far from the truth. She’d had to sell all of her jewels and the house near Bath to pay for the Hall. Although she still had the town house, she would eventually have to rent it to subsidize her income from her other investments. She would have enough to live on, but she would always have to be careful with money.

She frowned as she questioned why Garrick would tell his sister he’d bid on Crawley Hall when he’d done nothing of the sort. Then there was the question of why he would tell her the property didn’t suit him when his sister said otherwise. Lady Lynmouth eyed her intently, and Ruth tried to recall what the countess had just said. Something about her reason for buying the Hall. The woman was as inquisitive as her brother.

“It would seem that Lord Stratfield and I have been working at cross-purposes. I bought Crawley Hall so that I might send the more sickly children out into the country.”

“Ah, I see.” Lady Lynmouth narrowed her eyes at her. “So you don’t intend to retreat to the country . . . permanently.”

Ruth sucked in a sharp breath. The woman’s words created a sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach, leaving her queasy. Why would Lady Lynmouth ask if she planned to retire to Crawley Hall? Something Ruth had revealed
only
to Garrick, when he’d pressured her for her reasons for purchasing the Hall.

What in heaven’s name had made her tell him she planned to retire at Crawley Hall? She could have told him the real reason why she wanted the house, but most of the men in her life had always had an aversion to children. Men didn’t like to talk about children, even their own. Why should she have thought him any different? Telling him anything at all had been against her better judgment, but he’d been so damned persistent. Now the bastard had told his sister that Ruth planned to retire to the country.

She stiffened with horror. Oh God, if the real reason he’d not placed a bid on the property was because he felt sorry for her . . . she swallowed the bile rising in her throat. Suddenly, she felt older than ever before. It was a deep, gnawing ache that twisted its way through her body until she could have sworn she’d aged twenty years in less than a few moments.

Not even when Marston had left her less than a month ago had she ever felt so desperate to be young again. Determined not to reveal how devastating Lady Lynmouth’s observation had been, she straightened her shoulders as she looked at the woman.

“My plans are focused on St. Agnes’s and the children.”

“I admire your devotion to the children, but it is my brother I am really concerned about.”

“I think your fears warrantless in that direction.” The woman was assuming Ruth’s influence over Garrick was one of great substance. It was anything but.

“Perhaps. Then again, you might underestimate your charms. My brother has only had one mistress, who he just parted with a short time ago. I’m certain he would find your . . . experience . . . a strong attraction.”

Lady Lynmouth’s statement sliced through Ruth with the precision of a finely sharpened blade. The word
experience
suddenly took on new meaning, and she could feel the wood giving way beneath her fingers as she fought to control her emotions. Insults were something a woman in her position dealt with fairly regularly, but Lady Lynmouth had chosen to highlight the fact that Ruth was a mature woman with a younger man. In other words, she was old.

“As I said a moment ago, your fears are misplaced.” The terse note in her voice made Lady Lynmouth have the decency to appear contrite.

“Forgive me, my lady. I love my brother very much. Garrick looked after me, my sister, and my younger brother when we were growing up. His happiness is all that matters to us.”

“An admirable sentiment, but your brother and I are little more than acquaintances.”

Did acquaintances kiss in a carriage with the heat and intensity that Garrick had kissed her with the other night? The memory created a languid coil of heat in her belly. It did so with a speed that alarmed her, forcing her to realize that there might be more truth to Lady Lynmouth’s fears than Ruth had thought.