Page 18 of Lady of Providence
Which was exactly why many men would shy away from Elizabeth. Gabriel was sure that once she had committed herself to something such as this, it would remain her top priority. Where would a husband fit into that?
Not his business, he reminded himself. Though this meeting, this bank, certainly was.
The meeting continued on in this way for a time — partners politely questioning Elizabeth and her upcoming commitment to the role, how she would handle various aspects of the business. She answered it all with polite grace.
“Now,” she said finally, “I do not want to take too much of your day today, but there is one last matter which we must discuss. I previously mentioned Mr. Mortimer’s illness. Unfortunately, his health is failing, and he has decided that he is going to give up his share in the bank. As much as we will miss him and his wisdom, I’m sure we all understand his decision. He has not yet named a successor, but I anticipate him doing so very soon. If not, he will forfeit his shares, and we will determine whether the remainder of the partners will absorb them, or if we will choose to name another in his place. In the meantime—”
Her words stopped suddenly as the door swung open, emitting a familiar figure, who stood looking at them with a smug smile on his face.
Henry Clarke.
CHAPTER9
“Cousin,” he said, entering the room and taking one of the free seats at the table before looking around at the rest of the partners. “Gentlemen.”
“Henry,” Elizabeth said with a tight smile, for the benefit of the rest of them assembled around the room. In actuality, she would prefer to fling herself across the table and bodily push her cousin from the room. “While it is always a pleasure, I must ask you to wait outside until our meeting is concluded. This is for partners only.”
“Ah, yes, I am well aware of the fact,” he said with a self-satisfied grin. “Meet your newest partner.”
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes as he slid a piece of paper across the table.
“You will find there, Cousin, that John Mortimer has signed his share over to me, Henry Clarke. I must tell you just how pleased I am to be here. Now, what have I missed?”
Elizabeth read the short note three times. It was as he said, though she wondered at the note’s legitimacy. She was also unsure of how advanced Mr. Mortimer’s illness had progressed, and whether he had the full capacity to make such a decision. Knowing Henry, she had a feeling that perhaps the man had been coerced. It sickened her, but there was nothing she could do about it at this moment.
“I do not believe we can accept this as fact, Henry, until we have heard from Mr. Mortimer himself. This is a document, but not a legal document. We require that or his very presence to provide us with this information. Is that not right, Mr. Bates?”
She looked to the bank’s manager, who sat on the outskirts of the room as an observer, and he nodded.
“Come, Elizabeth, that is not very charitable of you, seeing how sick Mr. Mortimer is,” Henry said, tilting his head as though he were the benevolent, gracious one when clearly he had taken full advantage of Mr. Mortimer’s illness. In fact, Elizabeth was aware that poor Mr. Mortimer was suffering a malady of the brain, one that had left him devoid of most memories, be they more current or in the distant past. His family, however, was not particularly inclined to share such information, and Elizabeth would never betray their confidence. How she was to prove Henry’s manipulation, she had no idea, but she certainly couldn’t do it while entertaining this table of partners.
“I suggest we conclude for today,” Elizabeth finally said. “Also, please remember,” she shot a pointed gaze at Henry, “That as senior partner, I maintain final approval on the naming of all new partners.”
She could tell some of the partners were slightly uneasy at this information, as they shifted in their chairs, for they were aware that she not only held the power to name partners but remove them as well. Regardless of their discomfort, however, she knew she must not relent.
“Now, it was wonderful to see you all. I wish you good day, and look forward to working with you in the future.”
And with that they were soon gone, filtering slowly out of the room, with but a couple of exceptions — Henry, and Gabriel. Elizabeth sighed. Two men she no longer had any desire to verbally parry with. She was tired and wished to retreat to her office — alone — before going home for some well-deserved rest.
“I do hope you are not threatening me, dear Cousin,” Henry said as he rose from the table, leaning forward against it with his fists on its surface. “You should be welcoming me to the bank — it is a family affair, is it not?”
“Grandpapa had every opportunity to name you a partner, or to leave the bank to you, Henry, and he chose not to,” she said, rising as well so that she was nearly as tall as he was. “What do you suppose that says about his faith in you?”
“So you played the part of the perfect little princess every time you saw him,” Henry responded with a sneer. “You played it well, and look what you have for yourself. But it won’t last. This is a man’s world, Elizabeth, and not one where you belong.”
She opened her mouth to retort, but another voice interrupted.
“Upon her conduct throughout this meeting, I would say that she belongs very well indeed,” came Gabriel’s deep, smooth voice from the corner of the room. In the last few moments, Elizabeth had almost forgotten that he was there, so silent he had been while Henry had taken all of her focus. Gabriel had likely been the one partner who had not questioned her throughout the meeting. She had watched him, as much as she tried not to. He had sat back, his fingers steepled under his chin, his blue eyes shrewd as he listened to her as well as others around the table.
“Ah, the Duke of Clarence,” Henry said, turning to look at him. “What an interesting statement, coming from you.”
The way he looked at Gabriel, Elizabeth felt there was something unspoken behind his words, though she had no idea what that could be. “I do remember a time when you would have been her savior. Though not only Elizabeth’s but plenty of other women’s as well, am I not correct?”
Gabriel’s eyes hardened, and Elizabeth couldn’t stop the memories from rushing into her own mind.
“That’s enough, Clarke.”
But Gabriel’s words of warning certainly weren’t enough to stop Henry, a man who had no respect for the nobility — nor most people in particular, if Elizabeth thought on it.
