Library

51. Chapter 51

Chapter 51

Jethro studied Mr Wade’s face across the empty dinner table as the butler brought in the spirits. What was the man playing at?

Cassandra had done her best, but she had not been able to divert him from the worrying notion of hosting a dinner party for them and the Framptons. And Alexander.

Jethro could not think of a worse combination of people to have in the same room.

The gleam in Mr Wade’s eye had not passed him by. It was as if he knew that the meeting could prove explosive, and he revelled in the disruption that might arise.

Was it some test of his character, or was he weighing his investment options?

The bland tone of Jethro’s voice did not betray his uncertainty. “Brandy or port?”

“Brandy.”

The butler poured the amber liquid into a glass and placed it on a tray, which he offered to Mr Wade. At a nod from Jethro, the servant bowed and left.

“What? No brandy for yourself? Aren’t you joining me?” Mr Wade asked, giving him a curious look.

“I don’t drink spirits.”

“No taste for them? ”

“On the contrary, but I do not care for the way they blur my reasoning. I like to keep my wits about me. It keeps me ahead of my fellow businessmen who sometimes indulge rather freely.”

“I am impressed—but don’t you ever stop? Aren’t there occasions when you can unwind and put your business down for a while?”

Memories flitted across Jethro’s mind, of walking up to the Lookout with Cassandra, of cinnamon biscuits in the warehouse, of reading to her in an evening.

When he was with her, he forgot about everything else.

“Ah. I see your smile. You are thinking of your wife—I would bet my life on it. She is an admirable woman.”

“Yes, she is.”

“What? No eulogies on your wife’s perfections?” Mr Wade said, a teasing look in his eye.

“I do not care to discuss my wife with you or any other person.”

“Hmm. That’s fair enough. I can respect that.”

“And now,” Jethro said, resting his elbows on the table and steepling his fingers together in front of him, “perhaps you will explain why you force on me a dinner party with my rival. What is your game, Mr Wade?”

The result was not what he expected. His visitor leaned back in his chair and chuckled.

“Are you always so direct?” he asked, confronting Jethro’s glare with his own.

“When it suits my purpose. Tell me, what do you hope to achieve by such a meeting?”

Mr Wade bent forward, keeping his eyes on him, as his fingers tapped a rhythm on the table.

Jethro said nothing, waiting for an answer to his question.

Mr Wade broke the silence with another chuckle, and Jethro’s scowl deepened. What was this man playing at?

“It is better to look your enemy in the face rather than have them sneak around behind your back. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Jethro gave a curt nod, but he did not drop his guard. Just who was his enemy here—Mr Frampton or Mr Wade? Was his investor meeting him now only to transfer his support to his rival?

“Then what have you to lose? Are you afraid your wife’s brother will embarrass you?”

“Why would you say that?”

“He has done so before, hasn’t he? To the extent that you threw him out of your house. ”

Every muscle in Jethro’s body tensed. Frampton must have been busy building up evidence against him. Word had got back to Mr Wade of Alexander’s last disastrous visit.

Was his behaviour that night going to haunt him forever? If only he had mustered a greater resistance to the captain’s taunts.

“Don’t look so severe, Hunt,” Mr Wade said. “From what I have heard, his expulsion was deserved. And yet, you welcome him back into your home. That speaks volumes about your character. You are blessed with a more forgiving nature than most.”

Jethro pursed his lips and gave the man a hard stare. “Forgiveness is a choice, Mr Wade. A choice we can all make if we choose to. Everyone can be forgiven, if they repent of their mistakes.”

“And if they do not repent?”

“I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. At least I won’t be riddled with guilt for withholding forgiveness.”

“Your response is encouraging. It gives hope to us all.”

“Then will you, too, show mercy, and excuse us from a dinner party that is sure to cause distress?”

“For whom?”

“For my wife. Mrs Frampton was engaged to be married to her brother. Given his change in circumstances, a meeting will result in more pain, and I don’t wish my wife to suffer.”

“An admirable sentiment, but I reckon your wife is less fragile than you think. I believe it was for your sake she objected to my suggestion, not her own. But I will concede. If your injured captain does not want to join us, then I make no demur. But you are to ask him. I tell you, it is my experience that a heartbroken man is better off in company than left to wallow in his misery.”

Jethro wondered what Mr Wade had sacrificed in order to be successful. In the past, he might have tried to satisfy his curiosity, but he knew better now than to make such ill-bred enquiries into another’s personal life.

If Mr Wade wanted to tell him, he would do so in his own time.

Meanwhile, Jethro needed to figure out why the man was bringing him together with his rival. He wished he could determine whether Mr Wade was on his side against the Framptons, or if he planned to choose between them.

Comments

0 Comments
Best Newest

Contents
Settings
  • T
  • T
  • T
  • T
Font

Welcome to FullEpub

Create or log into your account to access terrific novels and protect your data

Don’t Have an account?
Click above to create an account.

lf you continue, you are agreeing to the
Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy.