Page 13 of A Duchess to Fight For
Chapter 4
By the time Frederick distributed the profits from the last shipment, more investors were lined up to put their money in the fund for the next investment.
Several gentlemen approached Frederick at his club, White’s, asking about contributing to the investments he oversaw. He told each potential investor that he would keep him in mind.
He considered taking on more investors and capping each investor’s share, but he rejected the idea. His investors expected a big payout, and they wouldn’t appreciate it being diluted for someone new.
Frederick didn’t have to invest. He ran his properties well, and compared to most of his peers, he was financially solvent. He did it because he enjoyed it. What else was he to do with his time?
A potential investor, Barton St. John, the Duke of Hamilton was a very suspicious man. He never quite believed what people told him.
So he ‘researched’ everything and everyone on his own. He was usually a tight wad when it came to money. However, he spent freely on private investigators.
Enemies, friends, lovers, potential brides, family members. No one was off-limits. He found it never hurt to be prepared.
His favourite hobby besides overeating and drinking heavily was his horses. He acquired them then sold them. He sometimes bred them. But he did it for fun.
When he went to the Tattersall’s horse auction, he would gather a crowd while he explained why a horse was or was not worthy. He had a reputation for acting like a know it all, but when it came to horses, he knew much more than most.
Frederick approached him one day at the club and asked for his advice. Frederick was in the market for a gelding and the go-to gentleman was Barton.
Frederick spent some time with Barton at the club giving him an overview of what he wanted to buy. It was the first time Frederick had talked with Barton. He saw him around the club, of course, but they never had a chance to meet. He found Barton fascinating, but for all the wrong reasons.
He obviously ate a lot more than was necessary, and he had the colouring of a drunk. But Barton was fascinating because Frederick couldn’t figure out Barton’s age.
Was he youngish and had abused his body so much that he looked older or was he older with a baby face and smooth hands? Frederick could never quite decide.
“But that is only if you plan to hitch him to a wagon,” Barton finished.
Frederick was jolted back to the here and now. “No, no wagon Barton.”
“That’s good. A workhorse should be used for pulling a wagon. A gelding is best to carry a single mount.”
“I agree, Barton. I think we are of one mind about the right horse for me.”
At the time of delivery, Barton’s research on Frederick was complete. Frederick was very pleased with his horse. During his research, Barton found out how lucrative his investments were and decided to become one of Frederick’s investors. And with anything Barton wanted, he had a way of getting it.
“I’m pleased we had a mutually beneficial sale for your gelding. I would like you to consider adding me to your investors’ list. Do you think that could be done, Frederick?”
“I’ll see what I can do, Barton. I might not be able to squeeze you in on every deal, but if one of my other investors passes on an investment or there is room for one more, I’ll let you know.”
“That’s all I can ask,” he said with a smile.
He did not want Barton as an investor. It was times like these that Frederick wished his word were not his bond.
*****
Hobart let Frederick know that he would need the money to buy the crates of exports he planned to deliver to India. Frederick went to the dock with two of his largest footmen acting as bodyguards. They stood on each side of the closed door of the office in the warehouse while Frederick and Hobart conducted business inside.
Frederick dug under his shirt to a pouch two fingers tall he had wrapped around his chest.
“Here,” he gave Hobart the pouch. “Everything you need. I could have taken in more, but I capped it. I’m glad I did. I can’t let these transactions get unwieldy.”
“I'm one of your investors this time. I know it’s unusual. I’ll give it a try.”
Hobart laughed. “Don’t think you’ll add any pressure to this run because your money is in it?”
Frederick grinned. “It never even occurred to me.”
