Page 56 of All is Fair in Love
A grinning Jonathan nodded. “Yes. I will keep my lips shut about the spice contract. It’s no one else’s business, and I would never do anything to harm your prospects of making it a success. I am sure you will be the winning bidder.”
He pointed toward number twelve, the offices of Saunders Shipping Company. “If I can give you one piece of advice before I go, it would be to keep your lips sealed until after the official announcement. It’s clear that you and Mister Francis Saunders are on good terms. If he knew you were competing against him, he might not be so friendly.”
Poppy glanced at the warehouse next door. It was still closed up, with no one about at this hour of the day. “I am sure Mister Saunders has plenty of other irons in the fire, but yes, I won’t be saying anything until after the official announcement is published in the gazette.”
Jonathan took one step away, then stopped. He turned and came back to Poppy, pulling her into a brief hug. “Good luck. Take care of you,” he said.
He had drawn back and was most of the way down toward the end of the wharf before Poppy finally pulled her gaze from his retreating figure.
There went the man she was supposed to have married. The man her father had chosen to share her life. She should be feeling utterly bereft. Shattered at his leaving. At his abandonment of her all alone in London.
As he disappeared behind the bulk of a ship and was lost from sight, Poppy whispered, “Thank god, he is gone.”
With Jonathan out of her life for good, she was finally free to make her own choices—to decide on her future.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Francis watched Poppy and Jonathan’s parting with more than a little interest.
He had arrived early this morning, keen to get in a full day of working the books of account, but the sight which met his eyes as he made his way from the superintendent’s office tore his thoughts from the long columns of numbers and dates.
From where he stood, it appeared that Jonathan Measy was leaving. The sailor was carrying a large duffel bag slung over his shoulder. He was going somewhere. And Poppy was staying behind.
Perhaps it was just a short voyage to a nearby port and he would soon return.
But what if it isn’t?
What if his silent prayers had been answered and Poppy was now free?
Francis continued on toward the warehouse, torn as to what he should do. By rights, he should go into number twelve and get on with his work. Mind his own business. That was what the Francis of only a week ago would surely have done.
What if she is heartbroken over him? I know the man is a pig, but they must have a long history together. They were about to get married.
His mind was still not made up by the time he got to the front door of Saunders Shipping. Do I go and see her? Or should I give her a little time to compose herself?
He didn’t know what he would do if he found Poppy in tears. Wrapping her up in his arms was the obvious solution. But that might only complicate matters.
The little voice of reason sitting in the back of his mind cautioned him against going next door. It might seem callous to leave Poppy to her own devices but sometimes you had to be cruel to be kind.
It would be better to wait for Poppy to come and see him. Let her decide when and what she was going to say. If Jonathan had indeed gone for good, then that most surely changed the dynamics of the friendship between him and Poppy.
She didn’t need Francis and his growing attraction to further complicate things.
Poppy is a smart girl, and right now, I expect she is reconsidering a great number of things in her life. When she is ready, she will talk. Until then, you should give her time and space to think.
And for once, Francis actually showed some restraint.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The following morning, the foyer of the Saunders family home was piled high with travel cases and boxes. There were only two people travelling to Scotland, Lady Adelaide, and Charles, but they had packed enough luggage that an expeditionary force would view it as overkill.
“How long did you say you were going to be away?” asked Francis.
His mother shot him a look of disapproval, which he calmly ignored. She had been throwing them his way since the day she had discovered her youngest son was not making the trip north.
“We will be back late January. If you were coming with us, you wouldn’t have to ask,” replied Adelaide.
Grin and bear it. They will be gone within the hour.
