Page 25 of A Caribbean Heiress in Paris
“You seem to know an awful lot aboutPride and Prejudicefor someone who views it with such distaste.” His cheeks flushed, and he looked so alluring she had to focus on her food to keep from sighing.
“Of course I’ve read it,” he groused, but she had a feeling the peevishness was more for her amusement now. “It’s practically a matter of survival for any man preparing to endure a London season.” He sounded so utterly flustered by the whole thing she found herself grinning again. Her face hurt from it, like spending a day with Evan had put muscles into use that had remained idle for too long.
“I am sure your efforts were appreciated,” she told him, envisioning the distiller charming his way through London ballrooms with his impassioned censure of Fitzwilliam Darcy. Unbidden, a prickle of jealousy niggled at her, a thorn in her side. But Luz was no debutante, and Evan was certainly no beau.
“Is Austen popular in the Caribbean?” he asked before taking his own bite of food. His eyes were on her, alight with curiosity.
“She was quite popular in my finishing school, but that was Switzerland. In the Americas we have our own love stories. There are quite a few women authors writing them.”
“Will you ever go back?” he asked, surprising her.
“I haven’t thought that far,” she confessed. “After my father’s death, I was focused on finishing the plan he’d had for expanding the distillery.” And on her own hopes of possibly building something that was just her own. “I suppose I’ll have to eventually, but there’s a lot I need to accomplish before that,” she said, at length. “Today’s sale and the meeting with Mr. Dairoku was a good step in that direction. Thank you.”
“You must stop doing that,” he told her, visibly uncomfortable from the praise. “Besides, it was a business agreement,” he said, with a tone of finality.
“You could’ve said no or taken it back.”
“I don’t go back on my word. Never.” She believed him. “Your composure today was admirable. I didn’t expect you to be so...poised.”
“I can’t afford to be unprepared,” she said with equal candor. “Men don’t usually take me seriously. Whenever I find myself in a position to be listened to, I must capitalize on it.”
“That’s admirable.” Direct and honest, always. She truly did not know what to make of Evanston Sinclair. But shewasproud of how she’d handled herself today.
“Do you have a plan for when you get to Edinburgh?” he asked, just as a lovely cup of berries was placed in front of her. Their meal was coming to an end, and she found she was sorry for it. She popped a plump raspberry in her mouth, and a whimper escaped her as the sweet juice of the fruit burst forward. She looked up to find his eyes tracking the movement on her face as if he were attempting to memorize every inch of her visage. The sound that came out of Evan made her think of a badly wounded bear.
“I like berries,” she said in apology. He kept staring at her mouth. She could feel the heat of it like a caress.
“And they like you. The fruit has tinted your lips a very appealing red.” The gravel in his voice brought on a shiver. Luz was not one to be swept away by a man’s sweet words. She was much too cautious of what they weren’t saying, of their intentions, to let a compliment go to her head, but with Evan everything seemed to strike right at the heart of a place she hadn’t known existed. For a moment she forgot what he’d asked her.
“To answer your question, I don’t have any business associates in Scotland. I was hoping I’d make some advantageous connections here, but I may not have much more time...” She hesitated, not sure how much to say regarding her situation with Childers. “I have to resolve some issues pertaining to the funds I’ll use to set my business in Edinburgh.”
His brows furrowed and his jaw moved like he was working out what to ask. “What exactly is the problem with the trust?”
He was prying, asking her personal things, but thus far no one seemed to be able to help her with Childers, and he was clearly connected. Perhaps he’d at least offer some advice.
“My father left an inheritance in trust for me, but when he set it up I was just a girl. A child, really, and so it’s quite well protected. The only way I can access it is through the trustee or through my spouse in the event that I marry. Since I am unmarried, I am at the mercy of the trustee who is not complying with my request that he release the funds to me.”
His expression changed then, almost like he didn’t want her to notice his interest.
“And you don’t have profits coming from the distillery to keep your finances afloat?” The way he spoke it was more than mere curiosity—almost as if he was confirming facts in an inquiry.
“Not really. I gave most of the shares back to the employees before I left. Clarita and I now own only ten percent. But my hope is that I can expand the business—not just growing the rum’s distribution but introducing other products as well.”
“Like the Dama Juana,” he said, and she smiled at his careful pronunciation.
“Yes, but Dama Juana is just one thing. I also have a couple of cordials that I’d like to market specifically to women.” He perked up at that, eyeing her with interest. It was truly sad how little the man had to do to make her feel appreciated. It was sadder still how desperately she soaked it up. “I hope that there’s interest in buying products that are made without exploiting the workers.”
“If you’re so invested in growing the profits, why did you give up your shares?” He was clearly fishing for something, but she could not for the life of her surmise what that could be.
“My personal enrichment is not the only thing that matters,” she explained, expecting a comment about her idealistic views and poor business sense. None came. “Caña Brava was always meant to be an endeavor that benefited the collective, not just my family.”
He looked ready to ask more questions, but a throat cleared in the back, and Evan’s head snapped in the direction it came from. An older gentleman was standing a few feet away, clearly trying to attract their attention.
“It seems the Fourniers need to get things ready for the evening meal.”
Luz didn’t think she imagined the tinge of disappointment in his voice at having their conversation cut short. Or maybe she was attributing her own feelings to him. “I do have to get back,” she said, and her shoulders instantly felt heavier than they’d been a moment ago. She checked her pocket watch and saw that she only had twenty minutes before she was to meet Clarita, Amaranta and the Leonas. “My sister will be waiting for me soon.”
“Yes,” he said, pushing his chair back and standing. She pulled her coin purse from her bag, and he held a hand up. “Please, it’s taken care of.”
