Arranged: An Array Series (Book #1)(58)

Reddington strolled over to her. “Very nice to meet you, my Lady.” He kissed her hand and released it. “I should have changed before I came by. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

“Nonsense,” Eve beamed. “Ava and I don’t worry about such things. Bampshire isn’t as formal as the palace.”

“You must stay here,” I insisted.

Reddington shook his head. “Not necessary. I have lodgings at the inn being set up.”

“But—”

“Don’t fret about my wellbeing, Ava. My heavy boots striking your wood floors will startle the house, and your father needs his rest. I will be just as comfortable there.”

“How thoughtful,” Eve mused, nudging my back again.

“Then you must rest my nerves and at least eat supper here, so I can make sure you are properly fed. Mrs. Reynolds is a marvelous cook.” That earned me a large smile.

“If eating helps rest your nerves, my Lady, I will eat as much and often as you wish.”

I raised my chin, returning the smile. “It’ll ease my nerves, thank you.”

“Lord Reddington,” Eve sang sweetly. “While you are here, you must let Ava show you the empire her father built with the trading business. She practically runs half of it.”

Reddington flashed a smile. “I heard, and I would be honored to see it. Perhaps you could direct me on my business ventures. I could use a fresh mind.”

“I would love to assist. We could brainstorm some ideas and bounce things around.”

“Fantastic.” Placing his brown hat back on his head, he grinned. “I must get to my room and clean up. I feel like I’ve left piles of dirt from here to the door.”

“We’ll see you for dinner later then,” Eve reminded him. Reddington bowed his head and said his goodbyes. Eve watched him intently as he left the room, then waited a few moments before turning to me, delight shining in her eyes.

“My word,” Eve breathed, fanning her face with her hand. “He is…very attractive.” I laughed. “And why are you still carrying a torch for Cranfield when you have the blond gentleman traveling miles to check in on you and your father’s needs? I’m disappointed that you didn’t write about him. In fact”—she raised her eyebrows—“you didn’t write at all.”

I cringed. “I know, I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you.”

“Oh, you will. I want to know everything about Reddington,” Eve remarked. “And you will accompany me home, so I can pick a more suitable gown for dinner. I’m inviting myself.”

∞∞∞

“This is...magnificent,” Reddington chimed, looking over the storage unit at the docks. I watched him look up and down the rows of goods and couldn’t help but admire his lean body. Eve had come over this morning while Reddington visited for breakfast, and then suggested the trip to the docks today. I wanted to stay with Papa but couldn’t refuse the man who came all this way to help.

“I’m not telling you to throw your heart at him. But he is a great means to practice to flirt, since he is an eligible man of age,” Eve had told me.

She was right. There was a life after my short tryst with Garrett, if that’s what I’d even call it.

Reddington pushed his blond hair out of his face as he read each type of good that was stored in our unit. He turned to look at me over his shoulder. “Do you do the inventory on your own?”

“Oh no, I have a man that helps me with that.”

He happens to be Garrett’s man, actually.

I was going to speak with Mr. Torres today, while I was here, about his alter ego.

“And the negotiations?” Reddington inquired.

“I mostly handle those, but I run them by my father first. Just to make sure I am not overlooking something.”

He turned around, his eyes full of admiration. “My dear Ava, I wish you had entered my life sooner.”

I beamed and gestured for him to follow me out the back exit of the storage room. “Out here are our shipping docks. Papa wants to build two more. I’m hoping to build more trade deals by the end of this year. Spring and summer are, of course, our busiest times. Papa has an idea to build a ship with metal plates, to break the ice in the winter, so they can still drop off goods. When the crop is out of season, cloth, spices, and personal household goods are still needed.”

“I see where you get your creative mind. Your father must be a genius to behold. I can’t wait to meet the man who spawned the beautiful, intelligent Ava Barlow. How is he faring?”

“Well,” I replied, crossing my arms against the sea’s breeze, “your doctor spoke highly of father’s improvement. His fever broke, and he opened his eyes last night for the first time in days. I spoke with him for a short time, promising to be back to bring him his lunch.”

“And a sweetheart,” Reddington put in.

“Why, Lord Reddington, are you flirting with me?” I asked in a sweet tone.

Reddington chuckled. “I confess it is hard not to.” He shoved his hands into his pants pockets, and the bustling of men around us forced us closer together. “I’ve never met a woman like you, and I’m afraid I never will again.”

“Don’t be too harsh on my gender,” I scolded, quirking my lips. “Many haven’t lived the same life I have. I look at things quite oddly.”