“I mean corporations are moving to these giant metal barges, but smaller businesses still have wooden ships. Yet fewer andfewer places want to repair them, or even know how to. Farnsworth certainly isn’t interested. He wanted to convert the Hollisters’ shipyard so it could build at least one, if not two, steel ships every year.”
“Wait. This is the second time you’ve mentioned Farnsworth in conjunction with the Hollisters’ shipyard.” Alexei scrubbed a hand over his face. “Please don’t tell me he was trying to buy it.”
“Oh, ah... about that.” Yuri scratched behind his ear, then released a torrent of words that included how he’d become aware that the shipyard existed and how he’d felt uncomfortable even listening to Farnsworth’s plans. He then went on to express his dislike of Farnsworth, and he used no shortage of words for that either.
Alexei pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m contemplating marrying Farnsworth’s daughter. Did you have to give him a reason to hate me?”
“You are?” Yuri grinned. “You said Laurel was just a friend.”
“She was. Six months ago when we started exchanging letters.”
“And now she’s more?” Sacha asked, a teasing glint in his eyes.
“Maybe.” He sighed, thinking of Laurel with her clear green eyes and a pleasant smile and a knack for baking delicious desserts. “I enjoy writing her, at least. Did you give her the letter I sent along with you?”
Yuri nodded. “The Farnsworths invited me to dinner to discuss the price of theEmberfall. I made sure to give the letter to Laurel before I told Farnsworth we wouldn’t be buying his ship.”
“How thoughtful.” He tapped his fingers on the desk. “What did Farnsworth say when you told him you made an offer to purchase the Hollisters’ shipyard?”
Yuri shifted. “I didn’t exactly volunteer that information, and Farnsworth didn’t ask.”
“No. I daresay he didn’t.” Because the last thing the shrewd businessman would have expected was for happy-go-lucky Yuri to buy a shipyard out from under him.
“Laurel seems nice, though,” Yuri added. “Too nice for that household, really. It’s like she doesn’t fit.”
Those had been his exact thoughts when he’d visited San Francisco last summer and decided to start writing her.
“I approve of the marriage.” Yuri sent him a wink.
Alexei just shook his head. “I haven’t proposed yet—and I might not ever be able to, considering what you just did.”
Yuri only grinned again. “A smart businessman will respect everything I just did. If Farnsworth doesn’t, then maybe you’re better off not marrying into the family.”
“Maybe.” Alexei narrowed his eyes at his younger brother. He wasn’t sure whether to thank him or strangle him. Maybe both. “You really should have spoken to me before making an offer on that shipyard.”
“If I had sent a telegram asking if I could buy a shipyard and then waited in San Francisco for your response, would you have let me do it?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Exactly.” Yuri crossed his arms over his chest, looking far too pleased with himself. “That’s why I didn’t ask.”
“How lovely.” Alexei stood. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to pack.”
Mikhail laughed. “Planning to head to San Francisco, are you?”
“Hopefully on the ship Yuri came in on. I’m not going to sign a banknote to purchase a shipyard I haven’t seen with my own eyes.” And he should probably talk to Farnsworth and try to smooth things over so he could still write to Laurel.
“Do you want me to come with you?” Sacha stood.
Alexei eyed his brother. “Do you really want to leave Maggie with her expecting?”
“No, but this won’t be a long trip, will it? And I’m the one who knows how to build and repair wooden ships.”
Alexei bristled. “I’m a naval architect. I know how to build ships.”
Sacha slung an arm around his shoulder. “And when was the last time you picked up a hammer and drove a wooden peg into the hull of a ship?”
“Fine. Come with me, then.” Alexei shrugged him off, then jabbed a finger at Yuri. “I’m in the middle of doing our semiannual audit, making sure the shipping manifests match our warehouse inventory and sales revenue. You should be able to finish it by the time I return.”
