She nodded. Gwen and Diana were the easy ones to persuade. They were both very independent in their thoughts. It was the rest of her family–her mother and brother—who were more traditional. Fortunately, Elliott wanted her to be happy and he had married an artisan tradeswoman. He might support her. Mama, however, was likely to declare it a calamity of historic proportions. “My mother will not help,” she said firmly.
“You will have to persuade her. She has the most reach out of all of you.”
Her adoptive mother was indeed the most influential society matron out of all of them. “We are getting ahead of ourselves. There is no business yet to support. I haven’t found a location or—”
“But I have! And best of all, it’s already established by a drunken sot who has somehow managed to survive these last years.” He grinned as he sat back down. “Your dowry is enough to buy him out. Then you can take over his business, train his clients so they are good at their jobs, and voila! You have a thriving career and a happy life.”
“My dowry!” she gasped. “But that is all the money I have!”
He leaned forward. “One must spend money to make money. Surely you know that.”
She knew nothing of the sort. What she did know was that no one did something for free. “What is your part in all this, Mr. Bates?”
“Mine?” he grinned. “I’m doing my friend Lucas a favor.”
“That cannot be all.”
She expected his expression to dim, but strangely, he brightened even further almost as if he were cheering her on. “I shall give it to you straight. I want the drunken sot gone. He is a blight on my neighborhood.”
He paused then, and she arched a brow. Did he really think she would accept that as his sole purpose? She did not.
“Ah, you’re a canny one,” he said with a sexy drawl.
“And you sound more and more like a swindler. I cannot believe you and Lucas are friends.”
He touched his hand to his heart in horror. “You wound me, Miss Rees.” When she did not change from her severe expression, he winked at her. “But I do have another purpose beyond being a help to yourself and Lucas.”
He took a deep breath as he dropped his elbows forward onto his knees. “I should like to be an investor in your business.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “An investor? How?”
“Alas, I cannot offer you money. That you will have to find on your own, but I can offer you protection. The neighborhood is not the best for a gently-reared lady. I have a vast network of friends throughout London. We shall keep watch over you, to the best of our ability, and in return, I should like you to help my friends and family in obtaining positions.” He grinned. “I should require you to teach my friends their skills for free. That is fair recompense for your protection. And naturally—because of our great friendship—they will get preferential treatment for any jobs.”
Truly this was a man who could charm a bird from the trees. The way he said things made his words sound as if they were eminently reasonable and he the most beneficent of souls. She did believe him when he said he was a friend of Lucas’s. Diana had even mentioned him a few times, though this was the first time she’d met the man face to face. But she did not believe that he was acting out of the goodness of his heart. This was clearly a business transaction for him and one she would do well to investigate.
“Let us take this one step at a time,” she finally said. “Where is this registry that you think I can buy? What makes you think the…the drunkard you speak of will sell to me?”
“Oh well,” he said as he held up his hands. “As to that, I can negotiate on your behalf—”
“For a small fee, no doubt.”
“The smallest, I assure you.”
She snorted. “The smallest amount is free.”
“Ah well,” he demurred, “my time is valuable, you know. I am only here—”
“Out of your great friendship with my brother-in-law.”
“And a civic duty to oust that sot from blighting my favorite London street.”
She shook her head. “I will negotiate myself.”
He arched his brows in a doubtful expression. “You know what permits are required to run a registry? You know all the things that a man or woman must do to establish a London business? What taxes are to be paid and to whom?” He leaned back in his chair. “Miss Rees, the requirements are daunting, and I am here to assist you with all of it.”
Of course, he was, but thanks to her discussion with Lord Kittrel a week ago, she’d already researched a great deal of what was required.
“Actually, Mr. Bates, I do know what is required, and I will manage it myself.” She folded her arms across her chest. “Do women always fall for your charm?”