“Track is looking good,” Thomas said to George up on the ridge. “Foreman said the fencing should be finished in the next week or two.”
“Hope we can get it all done before winter sets in.”
“Has Helena said anything further about Comerford’s troubles?” Thomas asked.
George scratched his chin. “There has not been a single word. No one has shown up with any charges or writs, or anything that might indicate that he is in trouble.”
“How strange.”
George turned to gauge Thomas’s reaction to his next question. “What would you say if we went to visit Ralph? Find out what exactly is happening, and if the occasion should arise, ask him if he might still be interested in investing with us? After all, he has forgiven us and is allowing the marriage. He is most grateful for what you have offered to do for him.”
Thomas looked uncertain. “Oh, George, I am not certain this is the appropriate time to do that. After all, he must be under a great deal of uncertainty and stress.”
“But we have no one else who has expressed any interest at all in our project and wedoneed to raise the rest of the investment.”
“We might go over to see how he is doing. I have no problem with that. But as for asking him to invest again, I will only consider that after we have spoken to him a while. But let me be the one to decide if we should ask him or not. I do not want you rushing in and blurting out something inappropriate. Will you agree to that?”
George gave a sharp nod. “I will.”
* * *
Thomas looked up from his desk as there was a knock at his study door.
“Come in,” he called out.
Prunella peeked around the door and asked, “Am I disturbing you? Might I come in?”
“Of course, please,” he said standing at her entrance. “Is it teatime already?”
“I have no idea. I was just wandering around the lovely house and stumbled across this room I had not seen before. I hope you do not mind?”
“Not at all.”
“What a lovely room, and what an abundance of light. It must be a very pleasant place to work.”
“I enjoy it.”
“And this is where you do your work for our investment?”
“It is.” He was not quite certain what she was doing here, but he was content to let her roam the room if she so wished.
She examined some of the portraits. “And are all of these paintings of your family?”
“Some of them are. Some are portraits that were commissioned of notables of the time. My family has a history of supporting certain artists—as does yours.” Thomas came from around the desk to give her more of his attention.
Prunella went up to a wall and looked closely at the fabric in which the wall was covered. She ran her finger along a seam.
“How long has it been since some of these rooms were redecorated? The house is rather out of fashion, is it not? And while the house is clean, it seems to me that there has not been a lot of upkeep.”
Thomas dared not answer in case he might disgrace himself in front of a guest.
Then Prunella turned to him with a large smile and said, “I would be more than happy to take over the management of redecorating—unless, of course, you wished to live full time in London. Then it would not matter. Pemberton might do for the occasional weekend, but as it is now…”
Thomas interrupted her, “Miss Prunella, you need not concern yourself with these matters, as you will not have the opportunity to exercise your re-decorative talents.”
“Then you wish us to live in London, then?” she asked brightly.
“No. What I mean is—you are making an assumption that is not based in reality.”
