Page 49 of A Deal with her Forbidden Duke
“I did,” he muttered. “And now I am pursuing business. Do not let me neglect it so. What news of late?”
“Nothing much has changed,” Horace told him. “I have switched suppliers for the rum, as you asked. The new shipment came in and I undertook the switch a few days ago. Furthermore, I have closed two more accounts, and banned Lord Hargrove as you requested last week.”
“And the open accounts?”
Horace sighed, leaning over his desk. He man looked older with each day, Alexander thought worriedly. “That is not for you to worry about right now. In fact, I ought to be toasting your marriage with that fine bottle of whisky you bought me for Christmas. You remember? The year you appointed me as manager of this place.”
“Do not bother,” Alexander said, waving it off. “It is done, and I do not need a toast.”
“What you need is more time off from the Raven’s Den to enjoy your wife.”
Horace gave him a knowing look but Alexander glared at him. “That is none of your business.”
His business partner held up his hands and mockingly backed away, sitting in his seat. “I ain’t thought you’d be in such a foul mood, what with that beauty in your home.”
“Business, Horace.”
It was both an order to switch the topic and the reminder for his manager to stay out of what was not in his interests.
“Ah, there was one more thing, actually.” He appreciated the swift switch from the joker to the man he had entered business with. “It is regarding our disappeared man who turned up dead.” He winced. “The authorities have arrested some thug for Donald’s murder.”
“Really?” Alexander asked, interested, as he leaned closer. “Say more.”
“There ain’t more to say about it. They’re still investigating.”
“And in the meantime, have you spoken to the new Lord Kinsfeld regarding Donald’s debts?”
“Not yet. Not had a chance to send collectors, or meet with him myself.” His accent came through thicker and stronger when he felt under scrutiny, or if he had failed as a manager of such an establishment.
“Has the new lord attended the Raven’s Den? I wonder if he is indulging through his new status.”
“Also no,” Horace said, sighing. “I haven’t seen sight nor sound of the bloke.”
Alexander nodded. He saw Horace’s fingers twitch towards the Kinsfeld file, thicker than most but not the thickest they owned.
“I shall cover the debt from my other sources of income. Trading and investments, and such. I do not need a connection to the Kinsfeld line, and the longer the new lord stays away, the better for us. I have the money available, and with Donald dead and his brother lying low, we cannot afford to let the Raven’s Den be at such a loss.”
Besides, he did not want to deal with the man who had threatened his wife in such a way. He had heard the gossip at the Banbury ball, and read the opinionated scandal sheet, and, whether Madeleine wanted him to or not, he had a mind to go after everybody who dared darken his wife’s name.
“You will cover the Kinsfeld debts?”
“Yes,” Alexander confirmed.
Horace blinked, surprised, and Alexander shrugged, but before he could explain his reasoning, a loud noise crashed through the main hall of the Raven’s Den, and he dashed to his feet.
Neither man wasted any time in rushing out to the upper level, grasping the railing of the balcony that overlooked the floor below.
Two men opposed each other—Lord Banbury’s younger brother, and a man whom Alexander recognized as Lady Anna’s father.
“Take back what you said about my brother! He is more than worthy for Lady Anna! He is honorable andgood?—”
“Good!” Lord Mortimer cried in disbelief. Both of them swayed on their feet. He had Lord Banbury’s brother braced over the table, the cards they had played with, scattered. “He is a scoundrel! He is a young man who has given away his fortune already. Do you think I should entrust my daughter’s dowry in such?—”
“You judge my brother while you are here, squandering your own fortune?”
“How dare you!”
A punch was thrown before Alexander could make it down the stairs fast enough. But as soon as he did, he yanked Lord Mortimer back.
