Page 1 of Lady of Providence
PROLOGUE
LONDON, 1810
The scent of fresh parchment and long-forgotten leather-bound bank ledgers wafted through the office, which was lined with mahogany shelves of endless records. Elizabeth sank into one of the plush leather chairs, which enveloped her as comfortably as an embrace from her grandfather. She returned the smile he bestowed upon her from across his solid wood desk as she picked up the glass of amber liquid that had arrived during the last hour, which they had spent reviewing the bank’s latest profit and loss statements.
“You learn quickly, Lizbeth,” he said, and Elizabeth’s heart warmed, for her grandfather never provided a compliment that he didn’t feel was deserved.
“Thank you, Grandpapa,” she said, lifting her glass to him before they each took a sip of the brandy, which he always insisted upon, though Elizabeth could admit she rather enjoyed the taste. “But I must say it is easy to learn when the subject is as interesting as this.”
He chuckled. “Not all feel the way you do, unfortunately. Why, your cousins…” he sighed and shook his head, and Elizabeth smiled ruefully, knowing his opinions on most of her cousins.
“They are all either more conceited than one could ever imagine or such fools I could hardly stand the time in their company. Not only that, all but you have turned down the invitation to spend time here with me learning the trade.”
“It is their loss,” Elizabeth said, arching an eyebrow, “For I can think of no better day than one spent with you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge — despite the fact that it is solely for my own enjoyment and I am taking you from far more important business.”
“Well,” her grandfather said gruffly without meeting her eyes. She knew that her words had touched him, but he would never, ever admit it, as he maintained his hardened exterior despite the softness she knew lay deep within. “Nothing is more important than my time with you, Lizbeth. I am only pleased that you understand the business as well as you do. It is not unheard of for women to be involved with banks, you know. I can tell you of more than a few who have done an excellent job as a partner, though most are within the countryside. Now tell me, what do you think of what we have just reviewed? Does anything concern you?”
Elizabeth paused for a moment, contemplating his question as she looked around her at the comfortable room that was the very essence of her grandfather — and rightly so, for he had been the senior partner of the bank for the past fifty years, since his own twentieth birthday. She wasn’t sure whether he had ever spent more than a day away from the building in all of those years. The solid brick mortar that was the home of Clarke & Co. was as strong as the business her grandfather had built over the past many decades. The small bank he had inherited in his youth had become one of the most reputable and best known in London.
Elizabeth loved nothing more than following him through the long corridors, watching him greet each of the many people working in the building by name, whether they be the most junior of clerks, or the most senior of partners next to himself. He always told her that a small gesture such as an inquiry regarding a man’s family meant more than anyone likely realized.
She returned her thoughts to the subject at hand — the ledgers he had asked her to review.
“It seems as though there is some strange anomaly — a pattern if you will,” she said. “It’s so small it is hardly noticeable, and yet the ledgers are out ever so slightly by the same amount from the same area far too often.”
Her grandfather, Thomas Clarke, nodded at her in approval. “Very good,” he said. “And how would you next investigate what is occurring?”
“I would ask to see the more finely detailed ledgers of those particular accounts, to determine what is common about them. Is it the same staff who are working on them? Are the accounts related?”
“What if you find that one clerk in particular is at fault?”
“He should be removed from the bank.”
“And what if said clerk is working not only for himself but along with one of the partners?”
“Then the partner should also be released of his responsibility,” she said without hesitation. “Why, is this what has occurred?”
“I believe so,” her grandfather said with a sigh. “You know, Lizbeth, I have always been so careful as to who I named partner, for it is much easier to welcome a new partner than to remove a current one. And yet… it seems I have made a mistake.”
He looked so disappointed with himself that Elizabeth leaned forward across the desk and placed a hand upon his.
“It is not your fault,” she said. “People often hide their true characters. As you well know from your experiences with the people of theton— no one is who they profess themselves to be."
He shook his head, his gray hair still rather full, emphasizing the stately look he had always upheld. The only real acknowledgment to his age and the years spent analyzing books was the spectacles he now wore low near the tip of his nose in order to read the words scrawled amongst the bank ledgers.
"I shall never understand why your mother was so determined to find a way to make herself one of them," he said with a sigh. "But, fortunately for her, your father, the Viscount Shannon, was enamored with her beauty and, with a little help from the significant dowry I provided her, she was able to receive everything she ever wanted in life. Everything that was, apparently, only attainable with a title. Unfortunately, she now thinks herself above the rest of us, but somehow her daughter turned out to be the most magnificent woman — next to your grandmother — that I have ever met."
Elizabeth's cheeks reddened. She was aware of how lucky she was to have her grandfather in her life, particularly because her own father hardly noticed that she existed. He was far too busy at his clubs and with games of chance, which she never understood. She preferred what was a sure thing.
“She must, deep down, appreciate all you have done for her. And I am forever grateful to what you have provided me throughout my life."
Thomas snorted.
"I am well aware you are, Lizbeth, but as to your mother — it is kind of you to attempt to placate an old man, but I am well aware of the truth. Now, as to this matter at hand. I currently have the power to choose which partners remain and which we hire on," he explained. "It is both a privilege and a curse."
"I can understand why you would feel such a way," Elizabeth said. "What will you do?"
“I will discuss with the partner what I believe has occurred, and remove him if I must. If I do so, once I have proof of his actions, I will be sure to provide a full explanation to the other partners, of course,” her grandfather said, leaning back in his chair. "It's important, Elizabeth, to be able to trust all of the partners of the company. This bank has been founded on integrity, loyalty, respectability, and honor, and if that were ever to change, I fear what repercussions there might be."
