Chemistry of Magic: Unexpected Magic Book Five (Unexpected Magic #5)(59)
Pascoe, ever the diplomat, led the way. “What business takes you to Harrogate?” he innocuously asked the visitor as he steered him toward the foyer.
Following, Emilia kept a tight hold on Dare’s fist. “Killing your heir won’t help your mother,” she whispered.
“My late father banked in Harrogate,” Peter replied, “and my meager inheritance is still there, so I’ve continued the practice. They hold my mortgages. Every so often I travel up from London to reassure them that my prospects are still good.” He put his hat back on and bowed to the group. “My pleasure, ladies, Sir Pascoe, Dare.”
He rode off while Dare glared at his departing back.
“Obnoxious twit,” Pascoe observed. “Does he have any income of his own?”
“His father left him a small property where he houses his wife. Mostly, he borrows money, and he and his courtesan live on my expectations,” Dare said with dryness.
“His poor wife,” Bridey said generously. “Have you ever met her?”
Dare shrugged. “I wasn’t invited to the wedding. I believe it was an arranged marriage when they were both quite young. Her father’s property abuts his, and she brought him what must have seemed a decent marriage portion at the time.”
“If he’s dealing with Harrogate bankers, we need to be wary of him,” Pascoe warned.
Emilia frowned at the possibility of Dare’s heir conniving with the people trying to run railroads through her land, but she preferred to leave business in the hands of those who understood it.
“I will not let suspicion and distrust mar my days. Peter Dare is simply an annoying insect.” She kissed Dare’s cheek as their visitors prepared to leave. “We have better things to do. Bessie has almost finished copying my book, and I need to add the old pages to the ones Bridey already has. I’d also like to help with the infirmary as much as possible. The sooner the school is in operation, the sooner I can have my laboratory. Bridey has already said I might go with them.”
“Let Ashford’s expensive team eat them out of house and home,” Dare said with callousness. “We have the gig now and don’t need the berlin.”
“Your generosity overwhelms,” Pascoe said dryly. “But a crested carriage does add prestige when I harass the bankers. We’ve already sent word to Erran about the deeds, so let me work with him on that angle for now. You work with your consortium in securing my corner.”
“You really ought to spend more time in the fresh air instead of writing letters, Dare,” Emilia admonished. “But I do hope you’ll arrange the deed to my swamp be entrusted to me.” She tucked her portfolio of papers under her arm and waited to be assisted into the berlin.
As the carriage drove off, leaving Dare standing in the drive, glaring at the road, Emilia prayed he did not do anything foolish like ride after his cousin and beat him into a pulp for being a reprehensibly self-centered fop. Like mice, even fops deserved to live.
Surely, he would not sell her land. If he’d talked Pascoe into selling his instead, Dare had to understand how much it meant to her.
The carriage let them off at the rear of the abbey where Bridey had established an entrance exclusively for the school and infirmary. Pascoe went on with the horses to the main house.
“How is Tess doing?” Emilia asked as they followed the ancient stones to Bridey’s office.
“She’s marvelous! Quiet, but she handles the paperwork admirably. I have great hopes for her once she gains a little confidence.”
She pushed open the door to where the topic of their conversation worked. Tess stood up, but Bridey gestured for her to return to her seat. “Put your pages with the others,” she told Emilia. “I’ve been reading the pharmacopeia as I have time and making a few notes, but you’ve incorporated almost everything I know. It’s a brilliant work.”
“Thank you,” Emilia said with relief, knowing Bridey’s expertise equaled hers. “I need to ask Lord Erran if he knows the best way for me to publish it. I hate spending my own money to have it printed while our expenses are so uncertain. Dare is trying to make me understand budgeting.” She added the papers from the portfolio to the metal box under the counter. “I am not very good at more than knowing what I can buy with the coins in my pocket.”
Bridey laughed. “There speaks the rich girl who has been given everything she wants. Welcome to the real world. You’re in luck this time. Pascoe sent a carrier pigeon to Ashford at Wystan yesterday asking Erran to come down and help us with this railroad affair. His wife’s baby isn’t due for weeks, so we expect him to jump at any offer to escape.”
“When the tracks are laid, will we be able to take a train from here into town?” Tess asked with fascination, looking up from her work. “My father. . .” She ended that sentence abruptly.
They’d not been able to persuade more from Tess or her aunt about the girl’s parentage. Emilia pretended to concentrate on removing her gloves. “Your father has interest in railroads?” she asked as if it didn’t matter at all.
“They are supposed to be beneficial.” Tess returned to her work.
The girl took taciturn to new levels. Emilia exchanged a look with Bridey and left Tess alone.
They were just finishing up their work at the end of the day when Pascoe and Lord Erran arrived. Pascoe was only older than his nephew by a few years, Emilia knew. They both had the strong cheekbones and dark Ives good looks. Pascoe was a little more lean and sophisticated. Erran was broader in face and stature and dressed more fancifully. His wife was an accomplished seamstress and did little to discourage his preference for embellished waistcoats and fancy linen.