“Aye.”
He let out a grunt of disbelief, but he was also chuckling, which made a strange combination. “God’s Bones,” he muttered. “Isthatall?”
“Nay,” she said, looking to her ledger again. “There are also twenty-three properties in and around Bristol that all produce income. Lord Chester owns the land where seventeen farmers plow and plant, but the properties in town are residences and buildings. He also owns the town hall and the land it sits upon.”
An astonishing situation only grew more astonishing. “The income everything draws must be… substantial,” he said.
Desdra nodded. “You asked how much money you have, and I shall give you the figures,” she said. “With all of the enterprises your uncle possessed, and the accumulation of wealth over generations of your family, everything totals to around twelve thousand pounds a year. The total amount in your coffers, not including the value of the buildings owned, is a little over eight hundred and eight thousand pounds.”
She heard a thump. Startled, she looked up to see Jareth sitting in a chair, though he was listing heavily to the right. He sat so fast that he’d nearly missed the chair and had to put out a hand to brace himself against the table so he wouldn’t fall over. He was staring at her in utter shock.
“Would you say that again?” he said, sounding breathless.
Desdra nodded, looking back at the ledger. “You have eight hundred and eight thousand pounds in your coffers,” she said. “The money is split up, of course. It is not all in one place. Some is at Redcliffe, some is here, and the rest is spread out between the gold- and silversmiths that surround The Feast. Did you notice we are located on the Avenue of the Jews?”
Jareth had his hand over his mouth, looking at her with an odd expression that bordered on awe. “I did,” he said.
“That is because they are all holders of your money,” she said. “They protect it, exchange it, but it is there if you need it. It is too great an amount to keep in one place.”
Jareth still had his hand over his mouth, nodding quickly. “I realize that,” he said. “But an amount like that… I am not entirely certain I am comfortable with it being spread around.”
Desdra looked at him thoughtfully. “Then you could have it distributed between The Feast and Redcliffe,” she said. “Lord Chester did that for years before he gave some over to the Jews. He had an excellent relationship with them. They are very trustworthy.”
Jareth didn’t want to talk about his uncle’s business relationships. He was still lightheaded from having heard just how much money there was in the de Long coffers. He’d never heard of anyone other than kings and God himself having that amount of money, so hearing thathewas now in possession of it was a distinct shock.
He needed to get out and clear his head.
“Thank you for telling me all of this, my lady,” he said, rising from the chair but still feeling woozy. “We can discuss the storage of the money at another time. I must think on it. I will speak with you later.”
Desdra could see that he was somewhat dazed. “I realize this is a good deal of information,” she said. “I am sorry if I was indelicate about telling you everything.”
He looked at her. “There was nothing indelicate at all,” he said. “I asked the question and you gave me an answer. I feel better knowing my empire is in such capable hands. But I must truly think on this for a while. Go about your business and I will come to you later.”
She stood up as he headed for the door. “I have been looking at these accounts for the better part of three years,” she said. “I forget how shocking the amount is. But it is true, all of it.”
He paused by the door, leaning on the frame. “I believe you,” he said. Then he smiled weakly. “You are correct—it is a bit of a shock.”
He turned to leave, but she stopped him again. “There is something you should know,” she said, coming out from behind the table. “Lord Chester was very good to me. He saved my life and I swore to repay him the only way I know how—by protecting his legacy. I am not a member of your family, but I feel as if Chester is the only family I have, and I am very loyal to him. Other than Lord Chester, I am the only one who knows how much money the House of de Long has. I am the only one whoknows where it all is. I… I swore that if the nephew of Chester de Long was unworthy of his legacy and only wanted to spend his money recklessly, I would not tell him where it all was. I was going to lie about it. But with you… I can see that you are worthy of the legacy.”
“Oh?” he said. “And just how would you know that?”
She shrugged. “Because you listened,” she said softly. “The women who went to speak with you yesterday… youlistenedto them. You let them use their voices and their minds and tell you what this place has meant to them. Only a man of character would have done that, like it mattered. Like thewomenmattered. Even if your friend had not told me that you were a good man, your actions yesterday afternoon alone would have told me that. Lord Chester would have been pleased.”
A smile crept over his lips. “Thank you, my lady,” he said. “I can understand your concern and I am glad that it has been alleviated. As for my uncle, I can see your devotion to him. I am sorry that I suggested that it might have been anything else.”
She waved him off. “I suppose given what Aphrodite’s Feast is, that was understandable,” she said. “But I only looked at Lord Chester like a father. My own father is a caddish man, selfish in every way. Lord Chester was the first man who showed me that not all men are like that. Other than my brother, he was the only man who was ever kind to me.”
Jareth’s smile grew. “Then I hope in some small way, I can show you that also,” he said. “Now, I really must get some fresh air before I faint like a weakling. I will speak with you later.”
Desdra let him go. She’d said what she needed to say, hopefully enough to prove to him that she was necessary here. And she would remain here for as long as he would allow it. Feeling somewhat relieved, she returned to her ledgers as the sun rose and day broke. She could hear the shouts from the street below, from people going about their business.
It promised to be a normal day.
“Des?” There came a knock at the door. “May I have a moment of your time?”
Desdra looked up from her ledger to see Anosia standing in the open doorway. She waved the woman in.
“Of course,” she said. “How are you feeling today? Better?”
