“I do. I am in business with my cousin Gordon, and we have expanded into the southern part of the United States and Asia. We are hoping to continue that pattern.”
Lady Elspeth remained still, but he noticed that her maid scribbled on a piece of foolscap braced on top of a book. Lady Elspeth shifted her reticule a bare inch. “Do you enjoy traveling to so many different places?”
“Without a doubt. It has changed my outlook in many ways.”
“How so?”
Timothy glanced at Luke, who nodded his encouragement. “I do not mean this as disrespectful in any way, but living solely among London’s elite kept my view of the world very narrow. I had no idea how people in other countries lived, worked, ate... even in the United States life has become rather different. Here in London we tend to think—or at least I did—that we are somehow better than everyone else. The truth is that we are not. We are just... we have more money.”
“Does not having money mean that we are, in fact, better? That we are blessed by God?”
Luke snorted, and Mrs. Dove-Lyon tapped one finger on her desk.
Timothy looked at the three of them. “I may not have the correct words for this. I am... not a scholar. I do not believe evil people are blessed by God, no matter how wealthy they are. Wealth can make you comfortable, but it cannot make you good or happy. I know some people equate having money with being successful, but all it took was one trip to Hong Kong for me to see there are many roads to success. I also now believe that God is not the only one who blesses.”
“Is that blasphemy?”
Timothy took a deep breath. “Perhaps. But I do not believe God condemns people because they are poor or curses them because they were born in the Rookeries.”
Lady Elspeth paused, studying him a moment. “What is the most exotic place you have been to?”
“Probably Hong Kong. Thrilling, although not my favorite place.”
“Why not?”
“The food did not agree with me.”
Lady Elspeth gave a low laugh, covering her mouth with one gloved hand. She sniffed as she sobered, then asked. “Would you be willing to take your wife on your travels?”
Timothy straightened, a spike of hope tightening his chest. “If she were willing. Travel long distances is not easy for men and muchharder for women. I have not met many willing to leave harbor.”
“Do you have places you would still like to visit?”
“Many. Gordon and I are planning to expand our enterprises into Brazil. When I left, he was searching for someone to teach us Portuguese.”
“Would you not prefer an interpreter?”
“We will probably do that as well. But Gordon has discovered that business moves much smoother if our hosts know that we understand their language, that an interpreter is there for clarification when we do not hear or speak as fluently as a native speaker would.”
“What would you do with my dowry?”
He hadnotexpected that question. He glanced at Mrs. Dove-Lyon, then back to Lady Elspeth. “I am not sure I understand the question. My contract with Mrs. Dove-Lyon specifies that a percentage will be used to pay her fee.”
“But how would you disperse the rest?”
Timothy shook his head. “I had not given it much thought, to be honest. I do not need it in my own accounts, so I supposed I would relinquish it to you for your personal use.”
The room fell silent. Lady Elspeth licked her lips, then chewed the lower one for a moment. “Would you be willing to turn some of it back to my father as either a gift or a loan?”
A sudden understanding flooded through Timothy, and he gasped as he leaned back in his chair. Mrs. Dove-Lyon had explained to him the urgency of this proceeding—that Lady Elspeth was being forced to marry a man she greatly disliked. She had not told him, however, why—after all these years—her father had resurrected his financial and social control over his daughter.
Now the pieces fell into place. Viscount Godwin had the triumvirate of qualities desired in a Society suitor—money, title, and position. Especially money. And the Earl of Inmarsh clearly needed a boost to his estate.
His voice dropped to a whisper. “He is selling you?”
Her eyes glistened and her grip on her reticule crushed it into a ball. “I am sure Society would not see it that way.”
“To hell with Society.”
