Page 64 of Lady of Providence
“Mr. Cartwright,” she said as he still stood there, seeming somewhat perplexed. “We shall have another partners’ meeting this week. It seems we have much to discuss. I hope that will satisfy you, as well as the other partners.”
“Yes, Lady Elizabeth,” he agreed. “I’m sure it will.”
“Would you mind telling me just where you learned such information?” she asked, looking at him pointedly, and he nodded, which told her that, if nothing else, at least she retained his loyalty.
“Your aunt,” he said. “Mrs. Betsy Clarke.”
“Of course,” Elizabeth murmured and, seeing her mother begin to head her way once more, decided now was a good time to leave the party. “Thank you for coming directly to me, Mr. Cartwright. I shall see you this week.”
And with that, she turned on her heel and left, feeling as though all was coming crashing down upon her.
* * *
It didn’t take longfor Gabriel to hear of the rumors regarding him and Elizabeth. Interestingly, no one seemed to care about his role within the garden liaison, though all seemed very concerned that a lady such as Elizabeth might behave so scandalously. If only they knew, he thought with a rueful grin. He actually rather enjoyed her scandalous behavior.
He wasn’t surprised when he received a summons for a partners’ meeting that week. She would need to meet with them all to not only renounce his partnership along with that of Henry Clarke but now to deny their previous encounter.
Gabriel had been asked about it at White’s. He had been asked about it after Parliament. And he had been asked about it by everyone he had encountered in between. Gabriel would simply smile and ask whoever it was whether or not he had ever found himself part of a liaison outside of the marriage bed. It was usually enough to convince his interrogator to move on in another direction.
Now he read the summons of the meeting with a sense of dread overcoming him. He had no wish to see Elizabeth again. No wish to return to the bank. To be met by the faces of the other partners, men who would look upon him and Elizabeth with their knowing gazes of just why exactly she was choosing to renounce his partnership.
Gabriel hated failure above all else, and this could be described as nothing but that.
He should deny the invitation. Then he could avoid it all. He refused, however, to act with cowardice. So he sighed and resigned himself to one last meeting with Lady Elizabeth Moreland. And after that? Well, that was the problem. For he had no idea what direction to take from here, but he better decide quickly.
Before the meeting, he decided he would visit Elizabeth’s office to speak to her just once, on his own. If he continued to refuse her invitation to do so, then he was no better than even Henry Clarke. It was part of his responsibility as a partner, despite what his heart was telling him. And so it was the next morning that he called Baxter to help him dress in his favorite breeches and waistcoat. If he was going to see Elizabeth alone one last time, then he would be at nothing but his best.
CHAPTER30
Gabriel was astounded at the sight in front of him when his carriage rolled up to the front entryway of Clarke & Co. The bank certainly did a great deal of business, but never had he seen such a clamoring at the door. The closer the carriage came, however, the more Gabriel’s curiosity was replaced by a feeling of dread. For there could only be one reason for a sudden demand at an institution such as a bank.
The bank sold no goods that would come so suddenly in demand, nor was there any way for nearly every bloke in London to unexpectedly have such pressing business at its doors — except for one reason.
That they were all drawing their money out.
Gabriel felt a slight panic begin within his chest. There was the concern for his own wealth and property, true, for as a partner he was responsible for all interests of the bank. His personal wealth could be at stake, though no more than the percentage of his shares, which for him, was not nearly as substantial as for others.
But for Elizabeth, whose entire fortune rested on this bank, who would feel responsible for everything that occurred within its doors… this could be her ruin, and the destruction of the bank as a whole.
Gabriel began to disembark from the carriage before it even came to a stop, as he leaped out the door and ran up the stairs, trying to push through the throng of people.
“Whatever is happening?” he finally asked a man when his forward progress was thwarted.
“It’s been said that the bank is folding. The partners are in disagreement. One of the partners, a member of the family no less, is being asked to leave, and I’m told the bank has no funds available in which to provide anyone with their savings. Those here are the first to know, so we want to receive what we’re owed before it’s all gone."
Gabriel raised himself to his full height.
“I believe you are sorely mistaken,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “For I am the Duke of Clarence, one of the partners in said bank. I can assure you that the partners are not in disagreement and, in fact, will be meeting later this week. The bank is in full health and retains all the funds necessary for its clients. Where did you hear such a tale?”
The man looked confused, as though he wasn’t sure whether or not to believe what Gabriel told him.
“From a friend. Who heard from a friend. Who heard from one of the partners himself.”
“Clarke,” Gabriel muttered and pushed onward until he made it into the inner foyer of the bank. A place typically recognized as one of peace and order, it now seemed completely chaotic. Gabriel glanced around him as he saw the manager, Mr. Bates, attempting to maintain control, while the clerks looked panicked, as though they weren’t sure whether to continue in their mission of helping all of the clients as quickly as possible or if they should be refusing any service.
Gabriel looked around at the lot of them, determining how best to act. He would have to make a speech of some sort, dispelling them of their beliefs. The best place would be from the staircase, where it began to spiral up to the top, he decided, and began to make his way there.
He was stalled, however, when another figure filled his destination, coming from above. This one, however, was much more beautiful, a vision in her long aquamarine gown.
