Page 60 of Lady of Providence
"I am the senior partner of Clarke & Co.,” she said proudly. "An establishment of which you, Henry, will no longer be a part. Now please leave my office, or I will ask the clerks to help you do so."
Scowling, he turned to leave, but then with one motion, he turned back around, sweeping an arm across her desk in anger, knocking over not only all of the papers that filled it but also her quill pen set — the one that Gabriel had given her. As she watched the ink slowly leak out of the well, she froze, staring at the liquid, which reminded her of her own relationship with him, spilling all over the floor.
Elizabeth didn't even realize that Henry had left or that Mr. Brant had come rushing in to ensure that all was well.
"Lady Elizabeth!" he exclaimed, bringing her out of her reverie as he rushed over to tidy the mess Henry had created. "Are you all right?"
"I am, Mr. Brant, thank you," she said, bending now. "Here, let me help."
She picked up the pen set, running her finger over the inscription that Gabriel had commissioned, causing the ache in her heart, the one she thought she had defeated, to begin anew.
Once all was righted, Mr. Brant cleaned up the ink, which thankfully had spilled only on the wooden floor below, missing the carpet entirely.
"I received word from the Duke of Clarence, Lady Elizabeth," he said. "It seems he is indisposed and will not be able to meet with you for the foreseeable future."
"Very well," Elizabeth said, somewhat relieved that she didn't have to see Gabriel again, though she realized how cowardly she was behaving. "Please send him the necessary documentation."
Mr. Brant nodded, turned smartly on his heel, and left. While Henry's termination had left Elizabeth feeling free, letting Gabriel go was heavy on her heart. But she couldn't see him again, couldn't have him remain such an intricate part of her life. For every time she thought of him, it was as though she had been stabbed in the chest. This was the one instance in which she would allow emotion to rule her. Others may criticize her for it, but it was what she had to do.
Elizabeth had to move on. And that meant cutting Gabriel from her life completely.
CHAPTER28
Gabriel took the piece of paper between both of his hands and ripped it down the middle before throwing it into the fire licking at the grate in his study.
Dismiss him as a partner? What was Elizabeth thinking?
It was one thing to turn him away as a suitor, as a man. But to be rid of him as a partner in the bank was utterly foolhardy. All she was doing was proving others right — that a woman could be far too overcome by emotion to make the proper business decisions.
But as he sat there, staring into the flames that overtook the paper, he put himself in her place to consider her decision, and wondered — would he have done the same? If their roles were reversed, would he have chosen to see Elizabeth as often as each partner's meeting, knowing what it would be like to see her, to know she was so close and yet so far from him?
No, he would not. But it would be far easier to explain the dismissal of a woman than it would a duke. He was interested to see just how she would play this one, to explain herself and keep from losing the support and confidence of the partners.
Gabriel picked up the drink he had been nursing and walked to the window, looking out onto the dark night below. The truth was, he was a coward. He hadn't even been able to bring himself to respond to her meeting invitation. And here he was, judging her.
He snorted, downing the rest of his drink now in one gulp as he turned from the window and the people he saw beyond it. They all looked so merry from up here, the couples returning to their homes, arm in arm, or within carriages pulled by magnificent horses. He probably looked the same himself, he supposed, despite the fact he was now miserable. It was all a matter of perspective.
Gabriel poured himself another brandy as he sat back down, this time in the leather chair in front of the fire. He could have gone to White's or another club tonight — perhaps one of the seedier ones, where he could lose himself in drink and women. The only problem was, the thought of any woman other than Elizabeth left him feeling nothing but disgust at himself and his current situation. He wanted her, and only her. He just didn't know how to rid himself of this damn emotion that wouldn’t quit, no matter how much he tried to push it away.
So he took another sip. He'd numb the pain tonight, alone, and then tomorrow he would move on.
* * *
"Elizabeth?"Her grandmother peeked inside the door of Elizabeth's bedchamber with a bit of trepidation on her face, and guilt coursed through Elizabeth at just how much she had disregarded her grandmother's own feelings over the past couple of days.
"Yes, Grandmother?" she asked.
"Tonight is a dance at Lady Featherstone's. I was wondering if you'd like to accompany me?"
"Oh." Elizabeth had no wish to go, to potentially see Gabriel, of course, but also some of the clients she had lost since becoming a partner in the bank. There had been, however, a few prospectively interested. Perhaps she should go, if for nothing else than to show that she was not afraid of what others may think of her. She wondered if Henry had done any additional damage since she had dismissed him. "I suppose for a short time," she said. "When would you like to leave?"
"Is a couple of hours enough time for you?"
"Of course," said Elizabeth, managing a weak smile.
Precisely two hours later, they were within the carriage when Elizabeth finally remembered what she had been meaning to ask her grandmother.
"Grandmother, some years ago, did Grandpapa say anything to you regarding a situation at the bank? Of a clerk and a partner he was concerned with?"
