Page 17 of Sweet Siren
"And increasing your fee as your prestigegrows?"
She wrinkled her nose. "Whynot?"
He lifted his chin, his profile strong and straight and true. "Spoken like a shrewd businessperson."
She waved a hand. "I'll take that compliment from a man who is termedshrewd."
He snorted. "Shrewd on a good day. Ruthless on all others. Am Iright?"
He was. But she would not say that and once more be rude to him. "Perhaps they do not know youwell."
"Or know me too well," he murmured. "And of your clients, have you anyAmericans?"
"Ido."
"Would I be a potentialclient?"
Her heart hammered. "Many men now seek to cement their status in society by building homes that rival thearistocrats."
He looked out to one of the flat-bottomedbateauxas it serenely sailed past them. The wind picked up and ruffled a shock of his midnight hair, making him appear impossibly young and debonair. "I've contemplated doing that very thing. I've looked at plots of land, but found nothing yet that speaks to me ofhome."
Most men purchased land in a heat. On a whim. For cheap. Or to impress. Killian Hanniford, Irish immigrant, self-made millionaire, blockade runner and robber baron, wanted land that spoke to him of home and hearth. Admiration for him flooded her veins—and the part of her that shunned the scoundrel in him sat quiet,stunned.
She walked a few steps away from him, irritated with herself, trying to recover her composure. "Do you plan to stay in Europe for longperiods?"
"Ido."
Thrills of delight that she might see him often ran up her spine. "Then you might do well to plan a house. Land sells for a penny. Many like your son-in-law have inherited terrible problems from their fathers who were poor stewards of their estates. They're in debt to their eyeballs and cannot get out. They must sell any unentailed land or any asset that might bring themcash."
"That I well know. Julian has had to sell some of his assets to make ends meet. My financial adviser here in Paris tells me of two estates in England up for sale. I hesitate to buy them,though."
She had thought him unprincipled. How many ways could he disabuse her of that idea? "Why is that? If I mayask?"
"If I've been painted as 'ruthless', with my daughter married to a duke and my niece married to a prince and leader of the artistic community, I do not wish to continue that portrait. To buy land for a low price would endear me to noone."
Dear god. He has ethics even on the price of land?"True. But do consider, in your case, you're poised to change your own rank and perception. The purchase of the late duke of Seton's shares in his railroad did put you high on the social register in England. And I understand you negotiate with the Parisian Rothschilds to construct chemical plants in the north nearAmiens."
He paused before her, his gaze probing and intimate. "You know a lot about me. How isthat?"
She shrugged as if to indicate her knowledge of him was to be expected. But she had followed his achievements for years in newspapers. "You are a new element in our universe. Your businesses, your past, your family and future are all detailed in the papers. Killian Hanniford, former Confederate blockade runner turned industry titan. Father to three equally daring children and a charming niece. One of 'those notorious Americans' who've come abroad to sweep all vestige of the past away and create new worlds with your money and youroptimism."
He scowled at the gently flowing river. "You really do have a poor opinion ofme."
She would not lie tohim.
"Come now. I hear it in yourwords."
"Yes, you're right. I did have a negative opinion. But...it changes."God helpme.
"For the better, Ihope."
"What you should hear is my applause for your boldness and your skills." That was true. He was aggressive. That she did revere. She'd known so few men who had the courage to name what they wanted and found the means to take it. She huddled into her cape to cut the wind and to find warmth when she had been too honest and turned their conversation chilly. "I apologize. I do not mean to becombative."
"You've spoken your mind. I likethat."
"You must deal with some very irreverent businessmen if you think my conversation has been kind. You've been a gentleman and I've been rather a witch. I'm embarrassed andsorry."
"Don'tbe."
