Page 97 of Would I Lie to the Duke
“It is.” Jess drew in a steadying breath. “Remember what I told you.”
“Don’t touch anything and don’t stare at the customers,” Cynthia echoed, then rolled her eyes. “Remember whatItold you. I’m not a child anymore.”
Jess smiled ruefully. “Point taken. Ready?” She straightened the collar of her pelisse, though she fought the urge to perform the same service for her sister.
Cynthia hefted the satchel in her arms. “Ready.”
“Here we go.” Jess pushed open the door to Daley’s Emporium. Inside was exactly the same as it had been weeks ago when she’d first visited here, with the same shelves and counters full of high-quality merchandise, the shop itself filled with elegant people.
“Mr. Daley,” she said to the pale man watching the clerks with a sharp eye.
His expression brightened and he came out from behind the counter. “Ah, Miss McGale.”
“This is my sister, Cynthia McGale.”
Cyn curtsied. “Thank you for meeting us, Mr. Daley.”
“I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have you here at last.” The shop owner guided them toward a quiet corner. “The number of customers asking for your soap surpasses all expectations.”
“We’ve three dozen bars of soap in here,” Jess said, patting the satchel Cynthia carried. “There’s a crate holding five dozen more back at the coaching inn, which we can bring if we come to a mutually agreeable arrangement.”
Mr. Daley nodded. “My emporium wants exclusive rights to carry McGale & McGale soap.”
“For how long?” Cynthia asked.
The shop owner blinked, clearly surprised at the question. “I imagine... a year to begin with.”
Jess and Cynthia shared a look. “Three months to start,” Jess said.
“Oh.” Mr. Daley blinked again. “Six months.”
“Four,” Cynthia countered.
After a moment, the shop owner inclined his head. “Very good. Four months at the onset.”
“At which point we will renegotiate,” Jess said crisply. “We must be candid, Mr. Daley. The repairs to our operation still need to happen, especially if we’re to meet your customers’ demands. Surely we can revisit your decision regarding the provision of the necessary capital required to fund these repairs.”
“It is quite unusual for the Emporium to enter into such an arrangement,” Mr. Daley said uncertainly.
“Unusual, but possible,” Cynthia said. “Consider what that investment will secure you—exclusive rights to sell McGale & McGale soap, and the possibility to gratify all of your customers’ wishes.” She nodded slowly.
“True, true.” Mr. Daley mirrored Cynthia’s nods. “I think we can supply the means to accomplish those repairs. I employ a bookkeeper—you can send him the estimate.”
Jess had never been so proud of her sister than she was at that moment. Cynthia’s negotiating skills wereincomparable, and remorse pinched Jess to think of how much she’d underestimated her siblings.
The rest of the meeting went smoothly, with handshakes securing the partnership and wide smiles from Mr. Daley. When it was at last concluded, Jess and Cynthia emerged from the shop and walked half a block before ducking into an alleyway.
“We did it,” Cynthia said in wonderment. She grabbed hold of Jess’s hands and swung them.
“We did.”
“McGale & McGale, sold on Bond Street!” Cynthia let out a little scream of excitement.
“You were brilliant, my love. Had him agreeing to our terms and nodding along with you.”
“Only following in the path blazed by my big sister.” Cynthia peered at Jess. “Aren’t you happy, Jessie? We’ve just rescued McGale & McGale, and you look positively dejected.”
Jess made herself smile. “I’m happy. Iam,” she averred when Cynthia looked like she wanted to argue the point. “Only tired, and there’s much to do, many things to consider.”
