Chemistry of Magic: Unexpected Magic Book Five (Unexpected Magic #5)(48)
Dare frowned. “Harrogate is no Liverpool. They have limited space inside the city for laying track. Goods can be unloaded in industrial areas outside the city. Materials are far more profitable to transport and less dangerous than passenger travel, which is what they’re talking about. That can come later, after more investment has been made in safety. Buying property in town to establish passenger rail stations is an expensive venture as well. They’re putting the cart before the horse.”
Pascoe looked at him in surprise, but the marquess nodded sagely. “So I told them when I declined to join them. But the class of aggressive merchants involved are more concerned with building their businesses now than in waiting. Safety is not their issue.”
“Neither are morals or ethics,” Pascoe said dryly. “If this association is planning a railroad, they seem to believe all they have to do is lay track and worry about land ownership after.”
“Developers usurp public roads and path easements,” the duke said. “Had this same issue with the toll roads, and they’re raising the question in Parliament again with the railroads. Communities have to step up and stop the wealthy merchants from grabbing what they can at the expense of the general public.”
“That’s easy for us to say,” Dare said, having seen the other side. “We have power and access to wealth, but farmers do not. And they’re not likely to think in terms of safety or long-term effects. An association of their friends and neighbors offers them cash for some part of their land, and they see a new roof for their house or barn.”
“As your consortium knows,” the marquess said dryly. “At least your group consists of respectable gentlemen who understand the value of agricultural land. You’re to be commended for using honorable tactics and seeking wasteland. Have you and Pascoe found a way of overcoming Bridey’s objections to selling abbey property for that final parcel you need?”
Damn. He had no idea how the marquess knew so much about his business. Dare started coughing and grabbed his handkerchief as Pascoe glared at him in surprise.
But Pascoe was a cautious diplomat. Instead of exploding, he let the marquess continue.
“Parliament is looking into an act that requires railroads to acquire government permits for building,” Rainsford said, as if he hadn’t just upset the applecart. “That could cost a fortune. You’d best hurry and complete the track before they have time to act.”
By the time they left Sommersville, the gnawing in Dare’s gut had worsened, and he was almost gasping for breath. He took a furtive swig of the herbal water Emilia had made for him, then sucked on a horehound. He didn’t want to play the part of invalid while Pascoe rightfully rang a peal over him.
The baronet merely poked the opposite seat of the carriage and hummed thoughtfully.
“You heard Rainsford.” Dare finally broke the silence. “It’s a legitimate consortium of gentlemen. We attempted to buy the acreage we needed from the Crown before the king granted it to you.”
“I have wanted to invest in railroads,” Pascoe acknowledged. “I had just not thought of them at my back door.”
“It will happen sooner or later.” Dare leaned his head back and tried to control his breathing. “The race to the sea is too important. They’ve already planned a line from Harrogate to York. It’s best to get in on the ground floor.”
“Convince our wives of that, and I’ll listen,” Pascoe said dryly. “In the meantime, we’re no closer to learning who is behind the contretemps in my fields.”
“I’ve spent the last two days verifying that it’s not my group,” Dare said. “Next, we go to Harrogate, talk to bankers.”
If his head did not fall off in the process.
Chapter 15
Emilia was a city girl who knew exceedingly little about horses and grooms. But now that Dare had learned Mr. Crenshaw’s direction from the bankers in Harrogate, she was determined to confront the man. Besides, she needed to learn how to go about on her own.
In an excess of caution, besides taking Bessie with her in the gig, she had asked the new groom to accompany them on the second pony. She was glad to have them with her once they arrived at Crenshaw’s “estate.” It was little more than an overgrown field with a house not much larger than her own. The place had an air of shabbiness and despair that did not bode well for having her funds returned.
The groom knocked on the fading front door. Emilia could swear it took a full five minutes before anyone answered, but that could just be her fear talking. An elderly woman in a worn black gown and dirty apron finally answered and gestured for them to enter without even inquiring their names or business.
Leaving the groom to mind the horses since no one came around to help, Emilia led Bessie inside the dim interior.
“The master is not well,” the servant intoned. “Come this way.”
Without introductions, the housekeeper abandoned them in the doorway of a dark study. In a chair by the fire sat an extremely stout, balding man with a bandaged foot raised on a stool. He glanced up at their entrance with a frown. “I ain’t got nothing to give to any funds for the poor.”
“No, I gather you prefer to steal from them, Mr. Crenshaw.” Rather than take a seat that had not been offered, Emilia remained standing. She didn’t know what she’d expected, but this pathetic excuse for a gentleman had not been it. “I am Lady Dare, granddaughter of Sir Henry Malcolm. Are you the gentleman who was supposed to pay my staff?”