Authors: Gloria Harchar
"An
d you have say over
what to do with your father's d
ye
?"
There was the rub. Society wouldn't allow her to claim the d
ye
as hers.
At least etiquette allowed women to own shops, which was why she opened
millinery
a month ago. She had a modicum of control over her life through the shop.
"Well? Do you have administrative power
over
your father's
business?"
"
No
,
" she repl
ied, forcing out the word. "W
hy don
'
t you simply approach my father with a business proposal?
"
"
Believe me, I
'
ve tried. He has rejected all my offers.
"
Although she wasn
'
t surprised to hear of her father
'
s
reaction, ire over his stubbornness flared within her. His disapproval of Falconwood was stronger even than Ramsey
'
s.
This was going to make her task of appeasing the Earl even more difficult.
Her
over
zealous father.
But what to do?
His cough had worsened and he worried about dying and leaving her alone, unsettled without a husband with whom to share her life.
Panic that her father could be right, that he might die, crowded her chest for a moment. No, she wouldn
'
t even contemplate such a tragedy, not anytime in the next few
ye
ars. But didn
'
t he understand that there were other
dyes
she
could concoct? Although she tried to convince him she didn't need the
dye
as a dowry, he wouldn't listen. In fact, last time she brought up the subject he had such a coughing fit that she feared her would expire on the spot.
Not about to give up, she decided to take another tactic.
"
Tell me your proposals.
"
"
Does it matter? He discarded them.
"
Shoulders squared, she determined to regain some of the control that seemed to elude her grasp like fragile wisps of thread.
"
Allow me to persuade him otherwise.
"
"
Is your father accustomed to consulting with women on matters of busine
ss?"
"
My father
consults with me. He
has a deep fondness for me.
"
"
Which explains your undisciplined nature.
"
He frowned.
"
Unfortunately, his fondness doesn
'
t qualify you as a bargainer.
"
Ha. As if he knew her qualifications. Little did he realize she was the mastermind behind her father
'
s whole business.
"
I know my father. If you tell me what you offered so that I have a reference point on which to begin, I can determine what will satisfy him.
"
"
Equal partnership,
"
he said in a flat tone.
Her head swam. The situation was worse than she imagined. Papa
'
s disapproval of the Earl ran much deeper than she had realized. Falcon
'
s proposal was the most any man of busi
ness could offer. I
f only she
'
d been born
man, she would have complete control of the
dye
house and any business dealings.
"
He actually refused
?
"
"
Without blinking an
eye
.
"
Her heart tumbled to her stomach. What was she to do now?
The Earl placed his hands on his hips and gazed down his nose at her.
"
You are being unrealistic if you think you can persuade your father to do business with me. So you cannot wiggle out of marriage.
"
She rallied.
"
Perhaps we can
ye
t avoid such an unwanted partnership. I have dealt
previously
with my father on matters of this sort. If you give me time to study the situation, I
'
m certain I can discover something you have not attempted.
"
And in the meantime, I
'
ll send Ramsey on an extended tour of the continent
she decided with fierce conviction.
He watched her as she spoke, his silver gaze rapt. With slow, calculated movements, he pushed away from the table on which he had been leaning and approached. Highlights in his dark hair gleamed almost as brightly as the
Clockwork
Blue
dye
he so coveted. Combined with a
hawk like
nose, his high forehead and broad cheeks were quite impressive. It wouldn
'
t surprise
Nicola
to hear that one of his ancestors had posed as a figurehead on an ancient coin, which only underscored the vast differences in their pedigrees. No way could she ever wed such an exalted man.
He stopped and hovered mere inches away. The fragrance of his soap mingled with his own unique scent. It
was all
Nicola
could do to stand her ground.
"
Miss
Moore
.
"
With a gentle finger, he nudged her chin upward.
"
You will not escape me in this.
"
A spark of alarm prickled down her back, leaving her unsure whether she reacted to the warmth of his touch or the charismatic force of his gaze.
"
No, of course not.
"
"
I will give you two days.
"
"
Two days! Why, that
'
s not nearly enough time. I will need at least a fortnight to study the matter.
"
"
A week. And that will be all.
"
His tone was so
implacable;
she knew the negotiations were over.
"
Very well, then.
"
Seven days wouldn
'
t allow her much time to prepare for Ramsey
'
s trip to Europe, but she vowed she could manage it.
"
If your father still won
'
t come to terms, then we will announce our betrothal on Friday next.
"
She threw him a reassuring smile.
"
Don
'
t worry, it won
'
t come to that because I will find a deal satisfactory to both you and my father.
"
"
Unlike you, I
'
m not worried at all. I know I will get what I want in the end.
"
"
You certainly don
'
t want the added baggage that comes with the
dye
. Believe me, I will do everything in my power to persuade my father to cooperate.
"
He didn
'
t look optimistic.
"
Is this a diversion? What are you planning
?
"
"
Nothing at all, other than to figure out a way to get my father to sell the
dye
.
"
She gave him her brightest smile.
"
Rest assured, my lord, you will not have to sacrifice your marital sta
tus
.
"
"
It isn
'
t my sacrifice with which you are concerned.
"
"
Assuredly it is. I
'
m convinced it isn
'
t good for a man
'
s well-being to be forced to endure a woman of whom he doesn
'
t approve.
"
Although she didn
'
t want to marry him, the thought of any man, even one more appropriate to
her station, being forced to endure her presence or disapproving of her caused a sour taste to rise in
Nicola
'
s throat.
Falconwood plucked a piece of starfish from the netting covering her bonnet.
"
M
arriage is of little consequence when I will obtain the
Clockwork
Blue
in return.
"
"
How dare you treat my life as you would an old pair of Wellington boots.
"
Opening her mouth, she started to argue further.
"
Why, I—
"
He stepped close, towering over her.
"
I will expect daily reports on your progress.
"