‘Yes,’ she agreed. ‘You are.’ And then she folded her hands in front of her. She looked almost demure though he knew there was a dragon beneath that quiet exterior. ‘There’s something else you should know.’
He was still reeling from his own realization, but it was easy to look at her. Easy to wait for whatever blow was coming.
‘I looked at the account book. You made a miscalculation.’
He winced. Good God, now what? How much had he lost?
‘You don’t ownThe Integrity,’ she said. ‘Declan does.’
‘I know,’ he said, weariness entering his tone.
‘So the costs of the ship’s repairs fall to Declan. Not you.’
He frowned. Was that true? He’d been the man on board, the one handling the accounts alongside Captain Banakos. As Declan’s representative, of course he paid for the repairs. So he’d applied those expenses to his own tally. But he didn’t own the boat.
He didn’t own the boat!
‘I spent… The repairs…’ He blinked, mentally reviewing the costs.
‘They will all be returned to you. Cedric, you have made an enormous profit on this venture. Enough, I think, to cover the expenses of a Season for both your sisters. And to give them a modest dowry.’
He gaped at her. ‘I have money?’
‘A very great deal.’ And with that, she turned and left the room.