Page 39 of An Amiable Foe
Perry had held his uncle’s gaze, but now he broke away. “I…I don’t know.”
“Hmph.” The baron sipped at his port, then set the glass down. “At least you are honest. It is a good thing she is moving out tomorrow, as I will leave again two days hence, and you will do better without the temptation. I can’t dictate what you do, much as I would like to. Just give me your word that you will not take an irrevocable step without careful consideration.”
His uncle placed his hands on his waistcoat and leaned back in his chair, his eyes on Perry. “Remember how hard you’ve worked to get to where you are.”
Perry nodded, not ready to give any promises. Fortunately, Lord Steere was in the mood for talking and did not require one. “My brother did you no favors when he married your mother.”
At all times, Perry was respectful toward his uncle but brooked no nonsense when it came to her. “Not a word against my mother, if you please.”
The baron softened. “Very well. She turned out to be a better bargain than I had given him credit for. He was the one who ended up ruining your future for you, eating through his entire fortune save for what had been set aside for your mother. When you’re caught by the pretty face of a merchant’s daughter, it’s not so easy to be welcomed back into society, as he soon found out. If he had but listened to me…”
Lord Steere shook his head and sipped his port. “In the end, he spent everything he had trying to regain his position among the ton.”
“He would better have done to have stayed home with Mama and made peace with his life.” Perry would not be moved on this. His father had been wrong, and Perry had watched his mother suffer for it.
“He wished to pave the way for you,” his uncle said, equally unmoved from his position. “That is what caused him to try so hard to reintegrate in society.”
Perry looked up in surprise. Could his father have had such an altruistic motive? Memories flitted back to him of his father’s infrequent visits and how Perry had tried to get his father’s attention to no avail. He shook his head, meeting his uncle’s gaze.
“I think he did it for himself.”
Perry suffered a check.And you are like him. Why had Perry tried so hard to insert himself into society, putting up with the rejection and derision at school with as good grace as he could muster, then accepting the dubious friendship of London society men who did not treat him with true friendship—except Raife. That had been a surprise. He was more kind than Perry would have supposed from him. However, even without this unexpected display of goodness on Raife’s part, Perry had been ready to accept anything at their hands.
Never again.
* * *
The next day, Perry had Beau saddled and wasted no time in going off to see Joe about the smithy. He knew Marianne would be pleased when she found out and suspected she would be even more so than she had been with the apiary. He hoped to be back in time to oversee her move into the cottage.
He found Joe sitting outside of the smithy, his shoulders slumped and his arms over his knees. When he saw Perry, he leapt to his feet and bowed.
“Mr. Osborne, what can I do for ye?”
Perry stepped forward and looked around for the two children he remembered from his visit with Marianne. Not knowing exactly how to broach the idea he had in mind, he asked, “Where are your children?”
Joe’s shoulders dropped again. “My little Beth is out of sorts. Ant’ony is caring for her, but he’s a mite small for the task.”
“It’s not easy raising them on your own,” Perry observed. “Where is your house situated?”
“About a quarter of a mile from here, which is why I keep ’em about the smithy whilst I work. I keep a better eye on ’em that way.” Joe straightened himself with the will of a man used to difficulties in life. “But ye did not come here to talk about my children. How may I serve ye?”
Perry nodded, figuring it was better to plunge right in. “I’d like you to come and open up the smithy that’s been sitting unused at Brindale. I believe you’ll find the forge in good working order, though I’m a poor judge of such things. There is a house next to it which is yours if you want it, though it will need a little work. But I believe it can be put in good order. There are no tools, but I assume you have what you need? I think you’ll find the rent reasonable.”
Joe’s eyes widened in astonishment. Then almost immediately, they grew hooded as a sense of despair seemed to overtake him. “That sounds grandly, but I cannot accept. I owe Art Reacher too much money, and he ’ull claim it if I leave. I’ve ’naink set by.”
“How much do you owe?” Perry asked.
“Five guineas.” Joe shook his head at the impossibility of the amount. “I ’us to pay off a guinea a year, but I cannot—not with how little I earn.”
“I’ll advance you the sum,” Perry said without giving it a thought. “If you think you might attract customers this far outside of Cliff’s End, then you should be able to pay me back without too much of a problem. You’ll be working for yourself and not on slave’s wages for Art Reacher.”
“Ha!” Joe let out a huff of air in a dry laugh. “As for customers, it’s been s’long Art’s worked at the smithy, most ’ull stay loyal to me.”
He dropped his hands at his side, perhaps stunned by his windfall, then exhaled loudly as he raised his eyes to Perry. “Sir, I can scarce believe my luck. I accept, and I’m right grateful.”
Perry grinned, happy to be the bearer of good tidings and delighted at the idea of surprising Marianne. He would let her discover Joe’s new position herself.
“I’ll have Mr. Mercy come by to see you today if he can. He’ll arrange for the loan to be paid off and for the rent of the cottage and the smithy. Like I said, I think you’ll find the terms reasonable.” He gave a nod and left Joe, finding that his step had a certain extra lightness to it.
