A footman came by just then with some coffee. Darcy took one almost absently, his thoughts absorbed by the scheme Philips described. “Who else do you have in it?”
“There is Beaumont—he specialises in finding the investment opportunities. Has a good nose for them too. Langley is our accountant. Just loves to make sure all the farthings are accounted for.”
“And what is your part in all this?”
“I help Beaumont seek out opportunities and I suppose you could say I weigh those opportunities,” Philips told him. “We do not pursue justanything. Our specialty is finding opportunities thatappearrisky but are perhaps less so upon closer examination.”
“How so?”
“There is risk, and then there is… I suppose you could say less risky risk.” The younger man chuckled. “Pure luck is much less a factor than many people suppose it is. For most things, one can reasonably calculate the probability of success. Take a ship, for example. You have any number of factors that go into the success of the voyage—the experience of the captain, the likelihood of bad weather, the activity of pirates, the likelihood of smuggling, to name but a few. What I have found is that if one can gather about twenty-five variables on any given investmentand calculate the odds of each variable, you arrive at a model for success that is robust.”
“Twenty-five variables!” Darcy exclaimed. “A tedious business, is it not?”
“I find a strange enjoyment in it,” Philips replied. “Some amuse themselves with a book. I find it excessively pleasant to sit down to a page of calculations.”
“And in return for all the work, you likely take a percentage?”
“Twelve percent,” Philips said with a nod. “Divided among the four of us.”
“Not unreasonable. Can you make a profession of it?”
“I think we can. We have all built up a tidy sum over the years at university.”
“If I could…” Darcy stopped to reflect. It would not do to be too forward here, but he liked what the fellow had to say. A small investment, a trial of sorts, could not be untoward? “I may be interested in what you do. Will you be setting up in London? Perhaps we might meet?”
“Oh no. No, I could not,” Philips demurred. “I am honoured, sir, truly, but I would not wish to capitalise on the connexions of my cousin and her bridegroom. Forgive me if I spoke out of turn.”
Darcy liked him even more for saying so. “I perceived nothing in your manner that seemed reaching. I asked you about it, if you recall. In any case, no promises, just a meeting. Would that do?”
Philips flushed a deep crimson and looked down. “I cannot tell you how much that means to me. I shall send my card to you when we are both in town, and if you should be inclined to take the meeting, I would be most grateful to you. If not, if upon further reflection you wish to refuse, then that is just as well.”
“Not at all,” Darcy replied firmly. “In fact, I insist upon it.”
“And what does Mr Darcy insist upon?” Elizabeth had come to them from the side, unseen by Darcy. His heart leapt at the sound of her voice.
“Nothing to worry your pretty little head over, Lizzy,” said Philips with a smirk. She replied by pinching him on the arm and scowling prettily.
It was then that Darcy perceived the source of familiarity in Philips’s looks. His eyes, indeed, the entire shape of his countenance, were the more masculine version of Elizabeth’s. He mentally shook his head, thinking it took no great feat of discernment there. They were, after all, cousins.
“Your mother is asking for you,” Elizabeth informed her cousin. With a little frown of sympathy, she added, “I believe she is attempting to arrange lodgings for you with Mr Morris.”
“Hey-ho! I had better get over there and stop her!” Philips turned and bowed to Darcy. “Thank you, sir, for your patient ear in hearing me rattle away.”
“No, no, think nothing of that,” Darcy said. “My pleasure entirely.”
Philips left, but to Darcy’s delight, Elizabeth did not follow him. She looked up at him, biting her lip.
“I hope my cousin was not importuning you in any way. He is very enthusiastic about his business prospects.”
“I approached him,” Darcy reassured her. “I find it a very interesting idea, in truth.”
Elizabeth smiled, looking relieved. “I suppose it is. He has managed to amass a fortune of, oh, I think it must be two or three thousand by now, so?—”
“Two or three thousand pounds?” Darcy exclaimed. “From…nothing?”
“I am not entirely certain where he began, but knowing my aunt and uncle, I have to imagine it was all they could do for him just to send him to Oxford.”
“Extraordinary.” Darcy looked at the place where Philips had disappeared into the crowd.Two or three thousand pounds on three percent of the returns? Surely she is mistaken?
