Page 80 of Beauty and the Rake
“Muddy and rutted. There are sections of the road where you need to make sure not to get into one of the ruts left by an earlier carriage or you’ll get stuck.”
“Hopefully the rain is gone, and everything will get a chance to dry out,” Arthur added.
“It’ll take at least a week if not longer, but at least everything will be greener for it,” Graham said.
Crenshaw grunted. Obviously, the man did not make small talk or like it because he jerked the conversation back around to him and why he was there. “I must admit the two of you are quite persistent.”
“Really?” Graham shot back. “Because the only thing I see us being persistent at is trying to find out why the sudden change of mind and why the ships were moved north.”
“In regard to the ships, they were in need of maintenance work before going back out to sea.”
“There are plenty of good shipyards here to do that,” Arthur said.
“True, but I wanted a more thorough inspection before sending the ship back out. I had a scheduled time, so it isn’t as though it was a last-minute decision,” Crenshaw said.
“So you intend on keeping the ships?” Graham asked.
Crenshaw peered down at the floor as though knowing this question was coming but still not sure how to answer without causing a potential argument among them.
“Yes, I intend to keep both. I apologize if you feel I misled you. I thought and thought about it and realized I wanted to keep my father’s dream of not only trading in goods from India but also taking people who wish to see the beauty of the region.”
The room fell silent. Graham and Arthur glanced at each other. They had expected this since the investigator had advised them of his findings. Neither of them believed Crenshaw’s story. Arthur felt Crenshaw didn’t want to sell to them because it might lead them to things he didn’t want to be rehashed. His parents’ unusual deaths and how nothing added up. The answers they received about the incident were ever-changing depending on who they spoke with.
“No one can fault you there,” Graham said, stretching his long legs in front of him.
“Though you could have just told us the moment you changed your mind,” Arthur added.
The man shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “You’re right. I didn’t handle that right.”
“I find it interesting that you accepted our invitation. You could have just as easily told us your decision and how you came to it in a letter. Especially with the roads as they are,” Graham bit out. He couldn’t just let this man go this easily. He had to find out what happened to Roxanne and Arthur’s parents. If he let the man go, they might never find the answers they were looking for.
“It was something I felt needed to be done in person,” Crenshaw said.
“We appreciate that,” Arthur replied.
Crenshaw rose to his full height. “Again, I appreciate you seeing me. I need to get back to London. Hopefully one day we might be able to do business together.”
“You’re going back? So soon? I thought you accepted my invitation to dinner,” Arthur said.
“My apologies, but I cannot. I need to go now because I don’t care to travel in the dark with these roads in such a state.”
Arthur and Graham both stood up and faced Crenshaw.
“We appreciate you coming all the way out here. Good luck with your ventures,” Arthur said, shaking Crenshaw’s hand.
“Yes,” Graham added. “It shouldn’t take you too long to get the import business back up and running. I’ll have to get some information about your trips to India. My bride and I are to take our wedding trip next spring and India would be a far better choice than Italy.”
Crenshaw gave an odd look but quickly headed to the door. “You needn’t see me out. My carriage is still out front.”
“I wouldn’t be a very gracious host if I didn’t give you a proper send off,” Arthur said.
Arthur led Crenshaw and Graham to the front hallway. The butler opened the door, handing Crenshaw his hat. He stepped into his carriage and a moment later, the horses began walking down the drive.
“That was certainly odd,” Arthur said as the two men stood and watched as the carriage slowly made its way down the long drive.
“He knows something. I think we made him uncomfortable because we’re close to whatever he’s hiding.”
Arthur nodded in agreement. “Shall we keep on looking into him, or did today satisfy you?”
