Page 62 of King of Rogues
“I thank you for your gift, Monsale, and I accept your fealty. You and your wife may leave.”
He barely acknowledged Monsale’s bow, or Naomi’s curtsy as he stuffed his hand into the chest and let the coins run through his fingers.
Once he and Naomi were outside and, in the courtyard, Monsale nodded to her.
“You were right. He fully expected me to trip up with the language. And if you hadn’t thought that might be the case, I could be standing here right now, plain old Mister Andrew McNeal.”
She smiled sweetly at him. “You my love, will never be anything plain. Now let us go home; and while you are peeling this gown off my body, you can tell me how fortunate a man you are to have me as your duchess.”
Monsale raised Naomi’s hand to his lips. “Did I mention that a new shipment of yellow roses was arriving this morning? I suggest we adjourn to the hot house, so I may show you them.”
Desire flashed in her eyes. “Yellow roses. That’s new. I was thinking that perhaps you and I should swear our own oath. One which involves us having to find a different way to reach our climax whenever you take delivery of a new shade of flower. We could begin as soon as we get home.”
Monsale raised an eyebrow. “I must warn you, that there are at least twenty-four variations of color for roses. This could become interesting.”
They left Carlton House without delay.
Epilogue
“I can’t believe we are actually here,” said Bridget. She and Alice both giggled. Naomi shook her head. Her friends were behaving like young girls making their social debut, but she could understand their eager excitement. The first time she had set foot inside Monsale House, had also been surreal.
Until their recent marriage her husband had kept the place closed to all but a handful of friends. He was still reluctant to have guests, but to his credit Monsale was trying to change. This evening they were hosting their wedding ball, and shortly Monsale House would be filled with hundreds of guests.
“I hope to be able to host ladies luncheons and afternoon book clubs very soon. We are just waiting on the new wallpaper to arrive for the main drawing room,” said Naomi.
Alice gave a mock gasp of surprise. “He is letting you redecorate? Oh, Naomi what have you got over poor Monsale that would make him do that?”
Jane tittered. “It must be very good or very wicked. I can’t imagine him allowing you to make the slightest of alterations otherwise.”
A grinning Naomi let her friends have their fun. She was fast learning that actions spoke louder than words.
You shall soon know just how wonderful a man my husband is; how much he cares for his family, his friends.
She led them from the foyer and upstairs into the grand dining room. Monsale and the other members of the RR Coaching Company rose as the ladies entered the room. There were three other people present, Adan and the former stable hand Bob, along with Stephen’s young brother Toby.
As the other women took their places next to their husbands, Naomi walked confidently to the head of the table. Once everyone was seated, she addressed the room.
“My lords, ladies, and valued friends. Welcome to Monsale House. An extraordinary meeting of the RR Coaching Company was conducted a short time ago, at which it was decided to liquidate the company. This meeting is to establish a new company, the RR Coaching and Railway Company.”
“I’ve heard of railroads, they are wooden tracks, but what is a railway?” asked Jane.
Monsale got to his feet. “Railways are made of iron and will eventually replace railroads. They will also mean the end of the many coach services which travel up and down the country. In the north of England, there is already a proposal to expand the Stockton to Darlington tramway and make it into a railway. While the tramways currently move stock, there will come a time when they also carry passengers. Our company has made strategic investments in land as well as the metal bolts and materials that the people building and running those future railways are going to need.”
He pointed a finger in the direction of his estate steward and former stable hand. “Adan and Bob have been invited to invest in the new company, and I am pleased to announce that they have both sensibly agreed. Master Toby Moore is also to receive a parcel of shares which will be held in trust by his brother Sir Stephen until Toby comes of age.”
Lady Alice Steele got to her feet. “When you say we have made investments, what exactly do you mean? Where has the money come from?”
Monsale and Naomi exchanged a grin. They had been running a secret bet as to which of the wives would ask that particular question.
“Over the years, I have taken an extra cut of all the proceeds from the RR Coaching Company. And while some people assumed that it was to line my own pockets, it was, in fact, a form of savings. I’ve been preparing for the day when we all walked away from our…” He darted a glance at young Toby before continuing. “Previous business endeavors.”
There were gasps and loud exclamations from the other wives, followed by a hubbub of chatter amongst the various couples. It took some time for the noise to finally die down, at the end of which Stephen got to his feet.
“It has also been agreed that we shall all hold our shares for the next five years. After that time, if anyone wishes to leave the company, Monsale will buy them out.”
Naomi let out a small sigh of relief. Her husband had carried the weight of the new company for many years, it was only fair that the rest of their friends stand up and support him. And while she didn’t enjoy the prospect of everyone else potentially walking away from the venture at some point in the future, she trusted Monsale’s investment instincts.
One by one Harry, George, Gus, and Stephen all spoke. No one would be selling their shares. They all supported Monsale.
