Page 28 of The Governess and the Brooding Duke
His wife had been the daughter of an earl, and their marriage had been very advantageous to her family as far as connection.
He knew now that the only reason they sought an audience with him was to ensure that they were still in his favour.
He felt pity for Jane then. Had she been nothing more than a symbol to everyone? Had anyone known her?
The thought made his stomach turn sour.
‘I see you have a new governess.’ This came from Lord Pelham, whose wife sat to his left. And yet West sensed something lascivious beneath those words.
He had seen Mary. It was clear to West from the tone the other man spoke in that he had admired Mary.
Perhaps that is simply what you hear because you cannot fathom a man looking upon her and not feeling attraction, since you are unable to control your own.
‘Indeed,’ he said, a warning inherent in his tone. ‘She arrived here four days ago.’
‘She seems quite young.’ Again, an observation West felt was tinged with impropriety, though if Lady Pelham noticed she did not seem to give it a care.
‘She is a governess, and therefore her age matters not. She might well be a new settee.’
‘You never were a warm man,’ Blackwater said, laughing. ‘But that is why you are so good with your investments, I think.’
‘If you wish to talk investments,’ Blackwater’s wife said, ‘then perhaps it is time we quit the table.’
The men adjourned to the parlour after dinner, with the wives collecting in the morning room, where his duchess had often entertained.
Perhaps to gossip about him. About how cold he was. About how it was not simply a governess he saw as a piece of furniture. That he had seen his wife in the same way, most likely.
Maybe they had known of Jane’s unhappiness.
Maybe they knew all the ways he had failed as a husband. Things he did not even know.
Things he would never know.
Because it was too late to ask about them now. Too late to talk about them. Too late to go over all the things left unsaid.
‘I am looking for investors,’ the Earl said. ‘For a new venture that I am hoping to aid. Trade routes.’
‘I am very particular about trade,’ he said.
‘I had heard that you were quite moralistic at times, West.’
‘Is it moralistic to care whether or not our fellow men are being sacrificed on the altar of commerce? I thought that was simply humanity.’
‘It is the way of the world...’
‘It is not the way ofmyworld,’ he said, knowing that his tone made it clear he would hear no argument. ‘I am happy to look into the details of anything that you wish to ask me to invest in, but be warned that if I partake in a particular endeavour I will ensure that it is up to my standards. I tend to cost merchants more. I do make up for it.’
‘I didn’t know you had such high standards,’ said the Earl. And something glinted in his eye that West found distasteful.
‘I do. And if you wish to be in business with me, then that is the way of it.’
‘I do not recall my dear cousin having such exacting tastes when she sourced fabrics for her dresses.’
‘Whether she knew it or not, I did.’
‘Oh, yes. My wife says that you are quite famous for not sharing your mind, rather you are much more interested in issuing edicts.’
Rage burned in his gut. ‘I do not need to explain myself. And if my stance bothers you, or perhaps the way I conducted myself in my marriage to your cousin, then you are excused from doing business with me.’
