“You insult me with your... your rudeness, Isobel,” called Hooke. “Of all the ungrateful—”
“Mind yourself, sir,” Isobel warned, spinning around. She stood in her open doorway, stance wide, her reticule swinging from her clenched fist. “If it is rude or ungrateful to make choices about my own future, then—”
“It is the very heart of rudeness. Considering who you are and from whence you’ve come.”
“And what exactly do you mean by that?”
“You may speak prettily and serve fine ladies in the shop,” he snarled, “but pretty speech can be learned and you areno lady.”
If Hooke expected her to flinch, he was disappointed. She was as steady as the sun. Her eyes flashed hot, blue rage.
Like an idiot, Hooke continued. “I’d hoped it would not come to this, but you force my hand. I’ll say it.” A deep breath. “A girl like you isfortunateto receive an offer of marriage from the likes of me. Very fortunateindeed. Your age alone puts you at a disadvantage. Most men want a bride closer to twenty, not thirty. Furthermore, think of the many pressing questions about your past—questions that have never been answered. Your well-placed uncle may have impressed my parents, but . . .”
“Questions?” A dare.
“Fine,” said Hooke. “I’ll say it. What of your father or mother? Who are your people, MissTinker? Would you be alone in the world without Everland Travel and the Hookes? Taken as a whole, your life’s story is a very great mystery.”
“What mattered to your parents,” Isobel bit out, “was my work.”
“Perhaps,” Hooke said, “but my parents are dead. And the notion of a person’s breeding matters very much to the rest of the world. Especially when it comes to a young woman who serves fine ladies in a shop, who advises them and arranges for their well-being. However, I would be willing to overlook all of it. If you were married to me, you’d not have to think of your advanced age or your parentage or misspent youth ever again.”
“I don’t think of my—”
He cut her off. “But if yourefuseto marry me, well... I cannot predict the future or your place at Everland Travel.”
Isobel was silent for a long moment. Jason was reminded again of a fuse, burning to its explosive fringe. Her anger looked incandescent. Hooke took a small step back.
“Pray, find the words, Mr. Hooke,” said Miss Tinker quietly.
He retreated another step. “I should have knownyou would force me to phrase it so very frankly. Like a transaction.”
“Any union between us has always been, and will always be, a transaction, Mr. Hooke.Whateverdo you mean?”
“I mean,” he hissed, “I cannot allow my travel agency to be run by a lot of single women. If you wish to continue in this job, you will forsake your misplaced pride and consider my offer.”
“But what of our collaboration?” she ground out. “The profits? Think of all the money I’ve made you. If we married, none of that would be the same.”
“I’ve no wish to ‘collaborate’ with you, Isobel,” he said. “I wish to—”
“I do believe I’ve heard enough,” she cut in, holding out a hand. “How long do I have?”
“How long until...?” His strident voice faltered. He sounded as if he’d not rehearsed this bit.
“How long to consider this threat of expulsion?”
“Well, I’d hoped you’d not consider it a threat,” he whinged.
“That is exactly how I consider it.How long?”
“Well, of course, I’ll not name anything so vulgar as a date. When you’ve had time to think... when you can comprehendmypoint of view, I will call upon your uncle and ask for your hand properly. I wish to do thisproperly,” he insisted. “If only you would see my intent.”
“You’ve made your intent very clear,” she said. “When you decide upon a deadline for my sacking, do let me know. In the meantime, good night.”
Slam.
The door closed so suddenly Jason jumped.
Hooke threw up his hands, the reaction of someone who couldn’t catch a ball flying at his face. He stared atthe closed door. There was no sign of life from inside—not a curtain flutter, not a puff from the chimney.
