Smith cocked his head. “You’re dancing about a question, aren’t you, son? I should warn you, in my line of business, I’ve come to appreciate frankness.”
Henry widened his stance. This was it. The moment when he discovered whether he’d been a fool to dream. “I care for your daughter. Greatly. And I believe she feels the same about me. You would gain nothing from our union, except free legal representation whenever you wished. But she would be well taken care of. And well loved.”
Smith crossed his arms, resting them on his rounded abdomen. “You’re asking for Katherine’s hand.”
It wasn’t a question, but Henry nodded nonetheless. “I am.”
“Katherine is my youngest.” Smith pursed his lips. “Unlike my older daughters who knew a bit of struggle as I built mybusiness, she has only ever known luxury. You think she would consent to being the wife of a solicitor?”
The back of Henry’s neck heated. “I might not be at the top of society, but I am hardly a pauper. I am well-respected in my profession and earn accordingly.”
Smith arched an eyebrow. “Even if she were willing to live with less, do you think she should give up the status she could attain? She could be a countess, be the pearl of society.”
Henry knew Katherine didn’t care about such things. “I believe I heard you say you didn’t care about Perrin’s rank. As to your daughter’s feelings, you should ask her whether being the wife of an attorney would be acceptable.”
“How much business do you do in London?” Smith ran his thumb and forefinger along his jaw.
“Quite a bit.” Henry’s heart pounded faster. Was Smith wondering how much he’d see his daughter if she lived in Exeter? That could only be a good sign.
“And your London clients, many of them are men of business?”
Henry’s stomach knotted. He didn’t like this turn. “My clients are from varied backgrounds,” he said warily.
“And I have various business interests.” Smith rubbed his hands together. “It could be most useful having a solicitor in the family.”
“Sir, I have to say, I—”
“Yes, yes, nothing comes for free.” Smith flapped his hand at Henry. “Any deal you broker between your clients and myself, you will of course receive a commission. And with your inside knowledge of their strengths and weaknesses, we should be able to secure most favorable terms. Perhaps we could set up a sliding scale on Katherine’s dowry. If you meet a certain number of goals in bringing me new business, you gain a percentage of said dowry at the end of each year. After, say, ten years, if all goeswell, you will have earned the full amount I would pay to any earl or viscount’s son. That is more than generous, would you not agree?”
“Exceedingly generous,” Henry gritted out. The curtain at the window fluttered, but he ignored it. If Lady Mary wished to eavesdrop, he no longer cared. No doubt Mr. Smithwasbeing generous for even considering Henry for the husband of his daughter. And when Henry refused the terms, no doubt said generosity would disappear as fast as one of Cook Clem’s cakes. “I must say—”
“You don’t have to thank me, my boy,” Smith said. “If you are what my Katherine wants, I can make it work.”
“Most kind.” Henry drew his shoulders back. “That is not what I was about to say, however. I would do many things for your daughter, but abusing my position isn’t one of them. I owe my clients a duty to place their interests above my own. A duty I would show to you had you been one of my clients. If those are your terms, I am afraid I must decline.”
Would Katherine consent to an elopement? Would she risk the wrath of her father, the cut direct from her family and friends, just for him?
Smith grabbed his elbow before Henry could leave. “Don’t be hasty, Evans. I like an honest man.” He lowered his ear toward his shoulder. “To a point. But more importantly, I want a good man for Katherine. That was just the opening volley.”
Henry’s shoulders lowered an inch, but he still remained tense. “What do you mean?”
Smith gazed heavenward. “There was a benefit in seeking husbands among noblemen. At least they knew the starting point for a negotiation. I would have expected better from an attorney.”
A negotiation? Meaning Katherine’s father was open to different terms. As long as Henry won Katherine and didn’t haveto compromise his ethics, he would give just about anything to Smith in return.
But since Henry was a good solicitor, one skilled in negotiation, he kept that knowledge to himself. He crossed his arms over his chest. “All right then. These are my terms.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Katherine
For the firsttime since Cook Clem had returned to the kitchen, Katherine couldn’t enjoy her dinner. She gave it her full attention, keeping her gaze down on her plate as she cut her roast chicken into ever smaller and smaller pieces, but the bites she finally did put into her mouth were flavorless.
Exceedingly generous.
Henry’s words rolled over and over in her mind. He’d bartered for her. Received a liberal offer in return for brokering deals with his clients. She didn’t know which hurt more. The fact that Henry had been like all the others, seeing marriage to her as a path to financial prosperity or that he would agree to betray his clients for his own gain.
She’d thought him honorable. Forthright.
