She didn’t answer for a minute and continued to stare at him. When he laughed and teased her, those austere features were much softer indeed. Standing so near to him out in the bright day, she could now see that his eyes were in fact green. They were a rich dark green, like an ocean in a storm.
“Very well, we have an agreement.” She faced him fully and nodded. “I shall teach you, as you wish, and you shall pay me for my trouble.”
“Though I may wish to be a gentleman, I daenae wish to be a different man. Ken this, Lady Charlotte. If I refuse to do something ye ask of me, it will be because it is against me heart. Ye understand?”
The depth of his voice made her nod.
“Excellent. Then we have an accord?” He extended his hand toward her, and she stared down at it, fearing he had lost his mind. “In my world, when a deal is struck, we shake hands.”
“But you are in my world now, Your Grace. Here, we do this.” She curtsied to him, and he pulled his hand back, not looking especially pleased by the idea. “Until our next lesson then, Your Grace.”
“Until then, lass.”
“What a great start,” she sighed as she looped arms with Helen, and they hurried away.
“You have said your piece, Your Grace, and we have all heard it.” The words brooked no refusal. Even as the man spoke, he quaked. He knew he was disrespecting a duke yet was trying to quieten him completely.
Gerard glowered at the man leading the meeting. They were gathered in a long room, decked with a marble floor and rich mahogany paneled walls. The fine ornaments and Chinese vases around the room announced the wealth of the chief investment advisor, but despite the claim of wealth, Gerard was feeling more and more distrusting by the minute.
He had come along to this meeting of investors at the encouragement of Mr. Johnson, for it was a business his late father had had money invested with for some time. Based on everything Gerard had heard in this meeting though, and the fact his questions weren’t being answered, he was beginning to think this was a poor place indeed to keep his money.
He'd stayed quiet for most of the meeting, and when he’d started to talk, his questions assertive and purposeful, a ripple had traveled around the room. No other man met his gaze. Just like everywhere else he went, they were scared of him.
“Now, if no other investors have any questions.” The advisor looked pointedly at the eight other men gathered at the table.
More questions burned in Gerard’s gut. This was one thing he did know about already – good business. He also knew how to spot a con man, and the way the advisor was shutting down any questions suggested fear.
“Trust me, gentlemen, within a few months, your fortunes will have increased vastly.”
Many men chuckled warmly around the table at the advisor’s words, but Gerard did not. He now noticed that the gentleman beside him had pulled his chair a little away.
Am I so off-putting that he fears catching offensive air from me?
"I wonder if they will have increased or if ye just say that in the hope we will believe ye?” His sudden and assertive question made men look away again. The man at his side moved that inch further away.
“I have a question,” another young man said suddenly, sitting forward. He was lithe in build and long limbed. He rested his hands together on the table, his slim nose turning in the advisor’s direction as he brushed the blond hair out of his eyes. “The Duke of Rodstone here I believe has made some good points. Why will you not answer them?”
Gerard sat straight in alarm to find he seemingly had an ally in that room.
“Of course, I will answer them.” Yet the advisor’s smile was forced. “If you two gentlemen will care to submit your questions in writing, I will see them all answered.”
“Nay need.” Gerard shook his head. “I will be withdrawing the full investment made today.”
“As will I.” The other gentleman stood from his place.
“But… I…” The advisor was now trying his best to remedy the situation. “Gentlemen, please,” he offered another simpering smile. “These things take time.
“Aye, then ye have time.” Gerard stood too. “Ye have one week to produce our money, or I will be back to demand it. Good dayto ye.” He nodded his head but didn’t bother with the full bow. If Lady Charlotte was right in that a bow was a mark of respect, he didn’t want to show any respect for such a little man.
Gerard marched out of the room, his heavy footsteps on the marble floor echoing and squeaking loudly. He walked through corridor after corridor, moving as fast as he could to get out of the building. It took him some time to realize that someone was running to catch up with him.
“Wait up!” the voice called when he reached the stairs. The blond man who had spoken up in his defense ran up to catch him. “I consider myself quite athletic, you know, but you put me in the pale, good man.” He breathed deeply. “Viscount Crampton is the title, though I hate it. Call me Jeffrey instead.” He bowed to Gerard.
“The Duke of Rodstone, though likewise, call me Gerard.” He turned to walk down the stairs and Jeffrey walked alongside him. “I have to thank ye. Nay other in that room was listenin’ to me questions.”
“You were right to ask them,” Jeffrey said with a nod. “Other men may wish to believe they could never make a mistake with their investments, for they are proud of their own opinions, but I am not so arrogant. I often fear I have put my money in the wrong place, and I am grateful you have shown me today I have indeed made a mistake. What made you realize there was something odd?”
“The investment was first made… by me father,” Gerard said with some difficulty. “The account book, it dinnae make sense to me. I came with an open mind today, but that advisor reminds me of the street urchins back in Edinburgh. They play find-the-lady in decks of cards or find-the-stone beneath the cup. The punter always loses.”
