Page 53 of Lady Charlotte and the Lending Library
“I’m done for the evening,” he said loudly over the din in the room and stood up.
“Come, come, Lord Ashford. Your luck might change.” Mr. Landry had won most of his current spoils from Ashford.
“I shall take my leave as well,” Cecil said as he raked in his winnings. “I could use a meal.”
“They serve a delicious cut of beef upstairs,” Landry replied. “Better than the food at those ridiculous clubs you gentlemen frequent.”
Cecil looked to him. When Ashford nodded, his friend said, “We will take you up on that suggestion.”
Although he had no desire to spend more time in the hell, sharing a meal with James Landry would allow Ashford to speak to the man in relative privacy. Once upstairs, they were seated in a room with red drapes, red carpet, and red furniture. He felt suffocated by red.
“And to finish, you must try the butter bread pudding,” Landry suggested as the men ordered their meal from a waiter attired in stark black livery.
The meal was excellent, and the Portuguese wine was a superb vintage.
“You were right about the beef,” he said to Landry as he took a bite of bread pudding. It was delicious.
“Surprised again, Lord Ashford? I like to keep people on their back foot.” The man leaned back in his chair, a self-satisfied smile on his face.
“What is it that you do, Mr. Landry?” he asked idly.
The man squinted at him. “Surely Lord Wycliffe has told you all about me?”
Ashford replied with a twist of his lips, “He mentioned that you’re a grocer and are currently attempting to acquire a large piece of land.”
“Oh yes, I acquire land.” Landry raised a brow. “I think you knew that, Lord Ashford.”
So, the masquerade was over. The man knew why he was at the gambling hell.
Ashford leaned in and said, “I would see it as a personal favor if you would leave Thorne’s Lending Library alone.”
“I don’t do favors.” Landry added in a low voice, “Leastwise, not unless I get something in return.”
“What could I possibly give you in return?” he asked with raised brows.
The man grinned. “A lord. Any lord. I want my daughter to marry into the peerage. I thought Lord Cecil might become my future son-in-law, but he hasn’t come up to scratch.”
Cecil remained silent, merely sipping his wine. Ashford wondered what information his friend thought he could get from Landry. He wanted something from the cit, or he would never spend so much time with a man he would typically loathe on sight.
“You should take some time to think about my proposal, Lord Ashford.” Landry shrugged. “An alliance could be beneficial to us both.”
There was nothing to think about. Ashford would never marry the man’s daughter or press another peer to do so. Was there someone in the peerage desperate enough for funds to marry the daughter of someone in trade? Lord Meers came to mind.
Landry suggested returning to the gaming tables.
“I am all in,” he said to the other man, “but I will give some thought to your proposition.”
Ashford got to his feet, and Cecil followed.
Landry stood up as well and gave Ashford his card. “Send a message in two days.” He paused before adding somberly, “And tell your friend Lady Charlotte to stay out of my business.”
The man turned on his heel and left the room.
Ashford met Cecil’s gaze. What had Lady Charlotte done now?
* * * * *
When she arrived at the shop the next day, Charlotte was delighted to see Thorne's running a brisk trade. The front windows of the library were sparkling clean, the curtains open wide to allow bright sunshine into the shop.
