But there was so much more to his need to keep Lady Alice safe, even if Jamie refused yet to acknowledge it.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Alice sat ather desk working through the accounts and ledgers that kept her father’s estate and townhouse running, while she tried to push aside that moment in her carriage four days ago with Lord Stafford.
“For pity’s sake, Alice, move on. I’m sure he has,” she muttered. “Focus on the bookkeeping.”
Shutting her eyes tight, she reopened them and studied the ledger before her.
Alice kept two sets of records, which was possibly wrong, but she had to be prepared for the day that she’d thought would never come. The day when her father wanted to be involved in running his life. That day appeared to be here.
She had a knack for making money. Her investments had returned excellent yields, and she’d managed to increase her family’s coffers substantially. Alice had also taken the meagre amount of pin money he’d given her and grown that with calculated investments until she had a tidy sum of her own and did not have to rely on her father for financial support.
She had more than enough money to set up a household for herself and Aunt Gwen.
Her father’s words when he’d appeared unexpectedly to inform her she needed to wed told Alice that securing somewhere for them to live was best done sooner rather than later.
There was also the matter of the clinic, which she’d set aside money for in the second set of books. After two hours, she’d worked through and checked everything. She and Aunt Gwen would be all right, as would be the clinic in the near future. But now, her need for others to help fund her dream was vital, so she had to talk to some of her peers and get them on board.
Alice listed a few she thought would be interested before closing the ledger.
A knock on the door had her putting the ledgers in the desk drawer and locking it, before saying, “Come in.”
Phipps stood in the doorway.
“What is it, Phipps?”
“A Mr. Nevis, from Newbury, Fletcher, and Nevis has called and wishes to speak with you, my lady. Here is his card.”
She took the white square card from Phipps and read the words,Newbury, Fletcher, & Nevis Solicitors. It seemed her father had wasted little time after she’d told him she would no longer take care of his business affairs. How lucky that she had prepared herself for this.
“A young boy has arrived at the back door also, my lady, and wishes to speak with you. He will not be deterred, even though Ezra tried to send him away.”
“Thank you, Phipps. I shall come at once.”Was it the boy she’d met the night she’d watched Lord Stafford fight?
She took some money from her desk and left her rooms. Hurrying down the rear stairs and into the kitchens, Alice saw Ezra’s stance as threatening. Legs braced, arms folded, taking up every inch of the doorway.
“Thank you, Ezra, you can move now,” Alice said, tapping his shoulder. It was harder than rock.
“He could be—”
“Move now, Ezra.”
Reluctantly, he took a single step back, and Alice was able to slip around him and face the boy she had met that night, and who did not appear in any way intimidated by the large footman. She was sure in his brief life he’d seen his fair share of threatening behavior.
“Hello, do you have something you want to tell me?”
He nodded.
“What is your name?”
His eyes went over her shoulder, and she knew Ezra would be there looking menacing.
“For pity’s sake, Ezra, he’s a boy, and clearly no threat. Stand down at once.”
Her footman grumbled like a disgruntled dog.
“I’m Bobby Mott,” the boy said, face expressionless.
