Gideon especially liked this table because it allowed him to see the entire room. Several large chandeliers spread ample candlelight and provided him with an excellent view of all that was going on. However, no one could see into the alcove withoutactually poking their head in. Nor could the diners occupying the nearby tables hear their conversation.
“It is a pleasure to see you again,” the man said, sounding quite obsequious. Well, he probably suspected Gideon was an important personage, since the manager treated him like a king whenever he dined there.
It would not be a large leap for him to figure out Gideon was a silent partner. However, Gideon had been adamant about the truth of his ownership being kept confidential.
The maître d’ eyed Berry. She was not the usual sort of lady seen on his arm.
Gideon had taken Jasmine and Chloe here last week, and those beauties were quite memorable. Tall, lithe, and unabashedly mercenary. They were every man’s fantasy, and yet he had never felt a tug to his heart for either of them. Not even a glimmer or a twinge.
But Berry put his heart in spasms.
Not that he would ever admit it to her.
No, he could never. They were from different worlds and could very well destroy each other if ever they got too close. Worlds colliding. Would not end well.
It would crush him if he ever hurt Berry.
Besides, why change anything? Why upend his comfortable existence? He was better off with meaningless dalliances, escorting ladies like Jasmine or Chloe who looked out for themselves first and only.
And he was no good boy, either. He liked to provoke those Upper Crust wastrels like Hawthorne.
This was why just last week, he had walked in here with those two stunning ladies on his arms, ordering the best champagne, and tossing coins to the help so that they clustered around him and ignored their other well-heeled patrons.
He had done it purely for the joy of shoving his wealth and power in the faces of so-called gentlemen like Hawthorne.
It was completely foolish, childish, and unbecoming of him.
He did it anyway.
Berry had never been here before, and her eyes were wide with curiosity. “They gave us the best table in the place,” she remarked as he held out a seat for her. “Is the owner a friend of yours? I noticed the maître d’ turned away several diners, but he led us right in.”
“Yes, the owner and I are the best of friends.”
She cast him another of her disarming smiles. “Well, he ought to be very proud. This is a lovely establishment. I cannot wait to try the duck cassoulet.”
Lord Berwick eyed him speculatively, no doubt suspecting he was more than a mere patron here.
Gideon ignored the man’s stare and ordered wine for them. He then made suggestions about the fare, for he knew which dishes were the most popular besides the cassoulet.
Once they had ordered, he began the business discussions. “Lord Berwick, will you tell me your thoughts on what ought to be done with the funds raised at Lady Berry’s charity affair?”
He then turned to Berry. “I’d like your opinion, too, Lady Berry. I’ll listen for now. I would like to learn your process, watch how the two of you make your decisions on how those funds are disbursed, what reserves to hold back, and what the priorities for your spending are, since it has obviously worked out well for many years.”
“The children are always the priority,” Lord Berwick explained. “We budget for their needs first. Food, shelter, clothing, education. We estimate our spending for the month, the quarter, and the entire year. We also allocate for supplies and building maintenance. Unexpected repairs are always a concern.”
“There’s also wages for the teachers and staff,” Berry added.
Gideon added the numbers in his head, and then frowned. “Seventy mouths to feed daily, the upkeep on clothes, wages for five teachers, would you say? And an equal number of clerical staff?”
Berry nodded.
“But there must be a shortfall.”
“Yes,” Lord Berwick said. “Lady Berry makes it up from her personal investments every year.”
“My needs are fairly modest,” she explained. “My largest expenditures are my own staff, my horses, and my gowns, and those are easily covered by my income, which always exceeds my expenses due to Lord Berwick’s wise management. But what we have not been able to do is expand the size of the orphanage. No matter how we look at it, we cannot support more than seventy orphans a year.”
“But that is seventy lives that you have saved, Lady Berry,” Gideon said with sincere gratitude, for he had been one of those orphans. “It is very generous of you.”
