She knew it made her insides happy to see him smile. But could she be developing feelings for Dorian?
“Yes, imagine that… Falling in love with a man from the rookery,” she admitted. “His life may have taken an unfortunate turn, but he is still a gentleman. With me, anyhow.”
“Evelina,” Victoria murmured as she leaned in, her gaze questioning. “Have you ever asked yourself if there is more to this marriage than what he told you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you think a man who has lived his whole life on the fringes of society suddenly rescues you from the kindness of his heart?” her friend pressed.
“Men like those rarely act out of pure benevolence. And please do not think I am trying to ruin your connection with him, I just feel there is more to what he told you.”
Ellie frowned. “Isn’t saving me from being married and being subservient to a crooked brute not enough?”
“It is,” Victoria agreed as she sagged back into her chair. “Now it's time for me to apologize. I—I suppose I have feared such horrible things happening to you that I have overwrought myself thinking about them all.”
The lingering irritation from Victoria’s pushing and prodding faded as Ellie knew those words were coming from a place of love and concern.
“Dorian is proud, demanding, and cunning at times, but as far as I can tell, he has never lied to me. There is no reason to do so,” Ellie said. “There is nothing for him to lose or gain by lying to little old me.”
Victoria rubbed her arms through the blanket. “I suppose the semantics of this marriage are more minimal to the real question.”
“And what is that?”
“Are you happy?”
The time was trailing beyond ten in the night while Dorian worked on his plan to get into Carrington’s study. With numerous strategies swirling around his head, he’d taken to writing them down, simply to sort out the morass.
“No,” he grunted at the last set of writings. Crushing the paper into a ball, he threw it into the fire. “He’ll see through that in seconds.”
By an abundance of caution—or compelling distrust—gained from a lifetime of being in the stews, it made him sure not to leave any speck of evidence.
“Sir?” Weston knocked. “There is a Sir Harcourt here for you.”
Dorian felt his gut tighten with a rush of anticipation. He stopped writing and nodded to Weston to show the gentleman in. Harcourt plucked his hat off as he entered.
He was a portly fellow with a pleasant smile and spectacles that made him appear antiquated. He was certainly not how others would imagine the owner of a prosperous horse breeding business to look. Nonetheless, Harcourt was the man Dorian had longed to see.
Shaking hands, he greeted, “Welcome.”
“Thank you,” the man responded. “I have received numerous requests, at home and at White’s, to see you. I must say, Your Grace, I did not expect such elegance in a gaming hall.”
“Then I shan’t show you the fighting pits in the basement,” Dorian replied flatly. “Would you like port, whisky, or brandy?”
“I’ll take a coffee if you have it,” Harcourt lifted a finger.
“Wonderful.” Dorian called for the tray. “I will keep this short, Sir Harcourt, as I appreciate you are a man who wants to be by his wife before midnight. Frankly, I am surprised you’re here at this time. I want to buy your business.”
“I know,” Harcourt said. “As do your two other business partners.”
Dorian had expected that. “Whatever they bid, I will double, no, triple it.”
“I assumed you would say such a thing,” Sir Harcourt paused as Weston came in with a coffee tray in hand. After it was set down and Weston made both cups, the portly man nodded his thanks and reached for the steaming drink.
“As you must know, I am more than ready to hand over the reins of that business, as it is about time for me to settle in my bed and plan trips to the coast,” Harcourt began. “But I shall only hand it over to the person I know will care for it.”
Perching on the edge of his table, Dorian said, “And I will.”
“Seeing as to how you are with this current venture of yours, I do agree you will,” Harcourt expressed, making a point to look around the vast office space. “But is it worth it to make a rift between your friends and colleagues?”
