Thomas picked it up and opened it, eyes on Harlan the whole time. When he read it, his eyebrows rose. ‘It will take you twenty years to earn your money back, and that is assuming business returns to normal.’
Harlan shrugged. ‘I’m a very patient investor.’
‘Did Blake set you up to this? She is a cunning girl.’
Harlan was careful not to bite. There was more he needed from the man. ‘Blake has been too busy trying to keep herself and her family alive. She knows nothing of this.’ He paused. ‘So what do you say to the sale?’
Thomas continued to stare down at the piece of paper. ‘All right. The shop is yours. Just do not come complaining to me when those women send you spiralling into debt.’
Harlan rose and offered his hand.
Thomas eyed it suspiciously before standing and taking hold of it. ‘I’ll have the agreement written up and sent to you at the barracks.’
‘You can send it to my home, here in the borough.’
Thomas’s eyebrows rose. ‘Your home?’
‘I’m moving into the old house.’
‘Do not tell me the warden kicked his own son out of the barracks.’
Harlan forced a smile. ‘No, nothing like that. There’s one more thing I wanted to talk to you about.’
Thomas gestured for him to sit again. ‘Go on.’
‘It’s about Blake.’
Thomas all but rolled his eyes. ‘If you are going to lecture me about providing for the family—’
‘I’m not here to lecture you about anything.’ Harlan sat forwards and drew a slow breath. ‘I would like to ask you for Blake’s hand.’
Chapter 44
Blake removed her boots and stepped into the icy water. When the foaming waves rolled in to meet her, she did not bother lifting her skirt. She let it twist around her legs as she stared out to sea. The fishing boats had gone out, and Blake wanted to be waiting at the port when they returned.
Queen Fayre had organised food to be delivered to each household, including a portion of ox bones that could be boiled up to make broth. She also had the lazaretto gate opened and a cart brought in to remove and bury the dead.
It was time for life in the merchant borough to restart.
‘Waiting for Odo?’ came a familiar voice.
Blake turned and found Harlan standing at the edge of the water. Relief rolled through her. He was still in uniform with all his limbs intact, so that was a good sign. ‘Looks like Prince Borin went easy on you yesterday.’ She made her way over to him.
‘Actually, he wasn’t even there. I think Queen Fayre sent him to his quarters to have a good, hard think about what he’d done.’
Blake laughed, but it died quickly. ‘Thank you for the food parcel you sent last night. Eda was sitting up eating when I left this morning.’
‘Good.’ He nodded. ‘Sorry I didn’t make it to see you in person. I had a rather eventful day.’
‘I can only imagine.’
They stood two feet apart with their hands at their sides.
‘What are you doing in the port borough by yourself?’ Harlan asked.
She blinked up at him. ‘My bodyguard was indisposed.’
‘You could have waited for me.’
