An Affair So Right (Rebel Hearts #4)(71)
He had already made room for Theodora, but waited on her to realize it, too.
Chapter 28
“As you see, they are quite fine,” Theodora said, shifting the gems about on the velvet cushion with her fingertip. Behind her in the shop, the proprietor’s two sons were commenting on the pretty lasses walking past on their way to somewhere else.
Mr. Walter Brown, a man Theodora had met before in her father’s business dealings, nodded sagely. “Aye, they are still as fine as the day your late father brought them to me for setting. A shame the gold didn’t survive the heat, but it would have melted right off the stones.”
Theodora shuddered. She did not like to think about the heat melting the gold of the necklace, because the same had happened to her father’s skin in that fire.
Brown set the small magnification glass aside, returned the gem to the pile, and set his hands on the display counter. He thought in silence for a long time, and Theodora knew better than to interrupt. Negotiations required delicacy and patience, if a good result was to be reached.
Eventually, he raised his head. “What did you want for half of them?”
Selling half now, half at a later date, although not her original query, was a perfectly sensible outcome, as far as Theodora was concerned. Their value as a whole would have been well beyond Mr. Brown’s reach, but half was a good compromise and more than affordable for him. If they could settle on a decent price for half today, Brown might seek her out if he needed more of these same stones in the future.
And by that time, their value could only have increased.
Mama had expressed a wish for a quick settlement, so Theodora suggested a higher sum than she really wanted as payment for half the stones and waited to see what Mr. Brown said in return.
Mama wanted money to quietly purchase a little home somewhere beyond the busyness of London. She wanted the purchase completed well before the false engagement to Lord Templeton ended, so they had somewhere to go immediately.
Mr. Brown scowled, and made a counteroffer of a sum far below their fair worth.
She shook her head, and they began to haggle over the price in earnest.
Theodora had extensive experience at wringing the last shilling from her opponents in negotiations, and although Mr. Brown underestimated her intelligence at first, he soon discovered her his equal by offering an amount that was both reasonable and fair.
“Done,” she exclaimed.
“Done,” he said, gazing at her with admiration. “You are your father’s daughter indeed.”
For the first time, Theodora didn’t feel the pinch of tears at the mention of her father. He’d taught her the ropes of managing business negotiations, and it was fortunate for Mama that he had. Mama had no head for business, and had chosen to remain behind in the carriage outside. A fact for which she was grateful. Mama would have most likely taken his initial offer and prevented Theodora from arguing a higher valuation. “Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Brown. My father spoke very well of you, too. We can conclude our business today.”
“I believe we can.” He went to his safe and counted out the funds for half the gems, and put them in a small leather coin purse. He slid that across the desk to her, and remained silent while she put the funds into her satchel. “We’re all very sorry to hear of your father’s death, and your terrible loss. Honest men like your father are rare in my experience.”
“We are managing as best we can without him,” she assured him, and it wasn’t a lie. She was challenged every day, navigating in Lord Templeton’s complex world. She did not understand why Quinn wasn’t more excited by a future filled with endless possibilities.
“Your father would be pleased you landed on your feet, and now find yourself engaged to marry an earl who will be a duke one day,” Brown confided.
Rumors of the engagement had spread quickly through the ton. But what Theodora hadn’t expected was for a trader, wholly outside the upper circles Quinn moved in, to have already heard the news. Brown was usually the sole of discretion, and for him to have mentioned her situation was alarming. Someone had to have passed him information already knowing they had a prior acquaintance.
“The new Lord Templeton is a man of great character, compassion, and generosity.” Theodora smiled. “May I ask who told you the particulars of our current situation?”
He scratched his head. “Mr. Litton and I were talking about the news just yesterday outside his shop. I told him I was well pleased to claim to know your family well, and that, should your lord ever be in need of a goldsmith, my shop would welcome his business.”
She smiled, although unease gripped her. She had a slight acquaintance with Mr. Litton, but how he’d heard was beyond her understanding. He was a needle maker. One of her late father’s old acquaintances.
Feeling exposed and a little paranoid about being the subject of speculation everywhere, Theodora clutched the heavier satchel against her thigh. She had not informed anyone of her destination today because she had been carrying Mama’s gems and would be returning to Newberry House with a small fortune. “I must be going.”
“Oh aye. Best not linger here when you’ve somewhere better to be.” He smiled kindly. “Not when you’ve all that to carry about. Make sure you keep your mama’s fortune under lock and key from now on.”