Page 43 of A Cinderella to Redeem the Earl
He cut into the pastry with the edge of his fork. ‘Mrs Lamb, or may I call you Pamela?’
‘You may. But only when we are in private, My Lord,’ she said primly. He liked prim. It was very sensual. At least with regard to her.
‘Then you must call me Damian.’ He ate a mouthful of the dessert. It was light, it was chocolate and the creamy filling was like nothing he had ever tasted. It was delicate and rich and nutty. ‘Oh, good Lord.’
Her eyes widened. ‘Is something wrong?’
‘I have never tasted anything like it. It is absolutely amazing.’ He finished the rest of it. ‘Is there another.’
She laughed and got up. ‘I thought you said you couldn’t eat another bite.’
‘That was before I tried this.’
She put another one on his plate and sat down. ‘I have a feeling you were going to ask me something before we got on to the subject of dessert.’
He finished the most amazing pastry down to the last crumb. He forced himself not to ask for another.
‘I am sure you guessed I was going to ask if you had considered my offer.’
‘With regard to the partnership?’
He leaned his elbows on the table and leant forward. ‘Yes.’
‘I gave it some thought while I was cooking. I am not opposed to the idea and I certainly appreciate the honour you are doing me by asking...’ She took a deep breath. How did she explain her misgivings?
‘But?’
‘I still do not understand why you would wish to reduce your own profits for no benefit that I can see. I am already undertaking the work you need of me. Usually a partnership requires some sort of equal financial investment. I have very little to offer in that regard.’
Of course. He certainly could not make it sound like some sort of charity. ‘Naturally, you will no longer receive wages, but rather a draw from the profits the same way Pip and I do.’
‘Should there not be some sort of legal undertaking? A guarantee that I would not make any less than I do under our current agreement?’
‘Naturally. If you agree to this plan, I will contact my solicitor and have him draw up the agreement.’
She frowned. Was she going to turn him down? He really hoped not. ‘Do you have other concerns?’
‘There are things going on in this house, other than gambling. I see couples leaving the ballroom and returning throughout the course of the evening. I know they go upstairs and I have strong suspicion they pay for the privilege. There must be something amiss or it would not be done so secretively.’
‘Ah, that.’
‘Yes, that! Not to mention the giggles of the maids when they speak of cleaning and tidying the rooms up.’
He frowned. ‘The girls are not supposed to discuss what goes on in those rooms. Indeed, it is why we all wear masks at my parties. Discretion is the watchword and one of the reasons thetonattend.’
‘They said not one word. Just giggled and shushed each other. And I did not ask them to explain. However, I do not see how I could become a partner in a business when I am not fully informed of what the businessis. I will not mince words. I will have nothing to do with loose women.’
Without a doubt, she was nobody’s fool. ‘Of course. As a partner, you would not be kept in the dark about any aspect of the business.’
‘I would need full disclosure before coming to any decision.’
She was definitely intrigued, but would she be shocked? It was a gamble. She might pack her bags and leave. He thought not. Well, it was time to roll the die.
‘Why don’t I show you? Then you can make a decision.’
She looked surprised, as if she had expected an argument.
He rose to his feet. ‘Are you ready? I just need to collect the keys from my study.’
