Page 93 of A Bloom for a Blacksmith

“Well, you could follow the ‘six guineas’ standard,” she suggested. “Six pounds, six pence assures the ring is perfectly priced for a betrothal gift.”

“Stella,” Darius said under his breath.

“I… I have it, I think,” Angus said.

“You don’t have to spend that much,” Darius said.

“But I can, sir. I will. After what happened this morning…” He clamped his mouth shut.

Mr. Jones and Darius were partners in their redwood tree scheme. He didn’t wish to speak ill of the man for merely repeating what he had said when he had been working on the man’s greenhouse.

“What happened this morning?” Stella asked, a look of concern crossing her face. “Is… is Iris all right?”

He quickly nodded. “She is. I drove her to the market this morning, and I met Mr. Jones there. He did not seem particularly pleased to learn that I intend to wed Miss O’Connor, though.”

“Oh?” This time it was Darius who reacted with concern.

“If you recall, sir, he asked why I wasn’t married,” Angus said, rolling his eyes at having to admit his mistake out loud.

“What did you say?” Stella asked.

“That I wasn’t ever planning to get married.”

“And he said that… in front of Miss O’Connor?” Darius guessed.

Angus dipped his head. “Uh, I’m not sure. He didn’t whilst I was there, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he did after I left… which is why I have to prove that I will marry her,” he claimed. “Because I love her,” he added on a long sigh.

“Would there be any other reason?” Stella asked.

Wincing, Angus sighed. “I fear Iris will believe I am planning a sham marriage in order to gain better quarters,” he explained. “But I swear to you, my lady, I want to protect her. I want to live with her, but I wish to do so as a married man.”

Stella inhaled softly. “Well, it sounds as if a trip to the jewelry shop is in your future, young man. In the meantime, I must leave for my own shop. The Benedetto brothers are due at ten this morning.”

Darius uncrossed his arms. “The Benedetto brothers?” he repeated.

“The painters,” Angus stated. “They have done a very impressive job on the third floor.”

Stella and Darius exchanged quick glances before Darius offered his arm. “Allow me to escort you to the front door and into the town coach,” he offered.

When the Agremons were out of the workshop and beyond the kitchens, Darius asked, “Should I allow him to leave early?”

“If you do, how far behind will that set you?”

“Well, he’ll be finished with the chisels in an hour or two, and then he has your second set of drapery rods to make.”

“So you can return to chiseling that granite?” she guessed.

“I could.” He wanted to work on the design for the reverse drive shaft. Since a separate control would make operating the vehicle too complicated, he now reconsidered the approach. Perhaps it would be possible to use the existing drive shaft but add a gear onto which it could be engaged that would rotate the axel in the opposite direction. “Or I could design a reversing gear.”

She gave him a brilliant grin. “Let him go.”

He returned the grin. “We’re entirely too easy on him,” he countered.

“Might I remind you we’re the matchmakers in this affair? It would show terribly poor judgment of us to prevent those two from enjoying the life they deserve.”

Deciding it best he not argue, Darius nodded. “All right. I’ll let him go, but only after the drapery rods are finished,” he said.

She kissed his cheek. “You were going to allow him to leave then anyway, were you not?”