His wife was arrested in her answer to him by his butler coming into the dining room and informing Phineas he had a caller.
“Surely it’s too early, Markham.”
Phineas didn’t bother to pull out his watch. He couldn’t read it without also taking out his spectacles and it seemed like too much bother.
But it would please his wife.
He chuckled and put his hand inside his tailcoat, reaching for the spectacles.
Markham bent over and whispered in his ear. “It’s Mr. Denby, sir, from Denby and Sons. He said he’s here because of your wedding yesterday.”
Why would the wine merchant come because of Phineas’ wedding? Edmund had paid for the wedding breakfast and the wine that had been served.
Oh, Caro’s dowry. And his unpaid bill, his credit stretched again and again. Denby was here to get payment before the dowry money got spent.
“I’ll see the caller in my study.”
The butler left the room. Phineas took another sip of his coffee and then stood. “Please excuse me, darling.”
Phineas felt Caro’s eyes on him. And as he left the dining room and went into the hall and then his study, he heard another knock on the front door. Likely, another merchant. They were vultures, all of them, and as the indebted groom, he was their carcass to gnaw on and pick over. Phineas closed the study door.
“Lord Burchester.” Mr. Denby bowed.
“Mr. Denby, you have granted me very little grace. I am not yet twenty-four hours married. By all rights, I should still be in bed with my wife.”
Phineas raised his eyebrows in what he hoped was an approximation of an uxorious leer. He should probably hate himself for using Caro this way, but Mr. Denby had always expressed a vicarious interest in Phineas’ sexual exploits in the past, and he hoped to distract the fellow.
But Mr. Denby had no curiosity about the sanctified activities of a married man. His voice was curt, his expression stern. “I must have your bill paid, my lord. You have the largest outstanding balance of any of my customers.”
“The largest? A questionable accomplishment on my part. I promise you, Mr. Denby, as soon as the dowry is settled, you’ll get your money.”
“When will that be?”
“I’ll see my brother-in-law today, and we’ll arrange the transfer of funds. Maybe next week?”
“I want to be the first creditor you pay, my lord.”
“I give you my word,” Phineas vowed.
He ushered Mr. Denby to the study door, anxious to get him out. But when the two men came into the hall, Phineas was astounded to see four merchants lining the walls and his beautiful wife standing in the doorway to the dining room.
Mr. Denby surveyed the other men and turned back to Phineas. “I’m first. I have your word.”
“Yes.”
Caro was coming toward him, her brows knit together. She walked past him and into the study.
Phineas nodded his head to the other men who bowed and murmured, “Lord Burchester.”
“Mr. Knatchbull, Mr. Cure, Mr. Egerton, Mr. Seymour. I’ll be with you shortly.”
He walked into the study and closed the door behind him. Caro was staring at him. Suddenly, he realized he might become personally acquainted with shame a good deal sooner than he had hoped.
“You wanted to speak to me, darling?”
“Who are thothe men, Phineath?”
“They’re merchants.”
