Yuri let out a groan.
“You’ll also need to answer as much correspondence as possible while I’m gone,” Alexei continued.
“Perfect. Just what I dreamed of doing after conquering San Francisco. Battling ledgers instead of merchants.”
Alexei sent him a dark look. “I cannot afford to get behind. And if, by some miracle, we do end up purchasing this second shipyard, I’ll expect you to be the one who moves to San Francisco to run it.”
“Me?” Yuri’s eyes widened.
“Who else do you think wants the job?”
“But I?—”
“Do you want me to go to the library meeting for you?” Mikhail asked. “The first one is tomorrow night.”
“Library meeting?” Yuri’s brows furrowed. “Since when does Sitka have a library?”
The library. Alexei had forgotten.Drat.“Since Andrew Carnegie decided to donate money for us to start one. Severalbusinesses have also made donations, including ours. I’ve been named the president of the library committee, but you can fill that role for me, too, while I’m gone.”
“Me? Mikhail just offered.” Yuri shoved a hand at Mikhail.
“Yes, but this will be good for you. Think of it as training for when you’re running the new shipyard.”
“But...” Yuri opened his mouth, likely about to protest, but the outside door to the office banged open, and a trio of light footsteps rushed up the stairs.
“Yuri!” Freya Eriksson was the first to reach the top of the steps, followed by Jane Henshaw and Millicent Duret.
“They told me you were back, but I didn’t believe it.” Freya rushed toward him, whisps of golden hair flying from her bun. “Rosalind said you’d be gone for several weeks.”
“The most marvelous thing has happened.” Jane practically skipped across the room toward Yuri, a wide smile plastered across her face. “The town is going to have a library!”
“Yes, Alexei was just telling me about it.” Yuri sent Alexei a glare over the top of Jane’s head.
“Mr. Carnegie himself donated some of the money.” Millicent came to a stop beside Yuri.
“So I’ve heard,” Yuri muttered.
“And the Caldwells also made a large donation!” Freya clasped her hands together and tucked them beneath her chin. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
“It certainly sounds wonderful.” Yuri sent Freya a wink. “Sitka has needed a library for years. Alexei was just telling me that I’m to have a spot on the committee.”
“You are?” Millicent beamed. “That’s so wonderful. Rosalind is going to be on the committee too.”
Yuri stilled. “She is?”
“Yes,” Millicent nodded. “Her father got her the position, but it’s perfect for her. You know how much she likes to read.”
“I’m glad to hear she’ll like the job.”
“Where do you think the library will be built?” Freya asked.
“Do you think it will be big?” This from Jane, who had sidled between Millicent and Yuri.
“I hope it has large windows to let in the light for people who want to sit there and read,” Millicent said.
Alexei shook his head. The library committee position had gone from something Yuri despised to something he seemed genuinely happy about, and all because he’d seen how excited his friends were about the idea.
“You all right?” Sacha’s meaty hand landed on his shoulder. “I thought you wanted to see about leaving on the ship that just came in.”
