“After you opened personal correspondence of mine and left it strewn about the office,” David responded, his face reddening.
“I was looking for papers which belonged to my father,” she explained, folding her arms.
“I hope you two don’t do this to the staff,” Weiss interrupted, with more than a bit of nervousness in his expression.
“Of course not,” David snapped. “Neither of us would ever mistreat or be discourteous to someone over whom we have power.”
“Never,” Isabelle agreed. “We are only interested in fair fights, so to speak.”
“We’re very kind to most people,” David added. “As there are very few people who are our equals.” And, wonder of wonders, he gave her a small wink—like he used to when she was small and he’d let her have sips of his coffee when no one was looking, even though her grandmother told her it would stunt her growth—making something unclench inside Isabelle.
She smiled at him. “No,” she agreed. “Very few.”
“Well.” Weiss slapped his hands on his thighs. “It seems that you two agree about quite a few things, including that you are equals. Perhaps it won’t be so bad working with you.”
“Working with us?” It was Louis who asked the question. “What do you mean, Mr. Weiss?”
Right. She hadn’t explained that yet. Well, no time like the present.
She glanced at the three. Louis’s hands were tightly closed, but Roger’s expression was thoughtful, and David certainly had her full attention. She threaded her fingers together. “I’ve considered the matter and think that even though I’ve been trained by my father, I lack experience in the business. Moreover, as you’ve said, I’m a woman and rather young, so making contacts is challenging for me, especially in gentile society. Expansion is important, and I came to the conclusion that adding an outsider, with different personal connections than our families, might strengthen my contribution to the company. Help us all.”
“Truly?” David’s eyes narrowed as he turned toward Weiss. “And, I take it, marrying Mr. Weiss will accomplish that?”
“No.” She shook her head. “But he will provide the assistance I spoke of.” She gave the man a soft smile before turning back to the brothers. “I will pay him a salary out of my own profits, not out of the business’s funds, and both of us can work together, with the understanding that one day, provided you all approve, I might transfer him some of my stake. As a friend and partner, not as a husband.”
Isabelle gazed at David again, willing him to accept the proposal. To allow them both to save face and begin not anew, but differently. Better. Looking to the future, instead of holding on to the past.
It was Roger, however, who spoke. “That seems rather reasonable. Not that I should truly have much say. After all, it isn’t as if either of us pull our fair weight.” His lip quirked as he pointed to himself and Louis before releasing a long, slow breath. “And while you’re a lovely woman, and it would be an honor to marry you, I don’t believe we would suit. Or at least I’m not ready to find out, so this choice benefits me.”
“But you’re still going to continue with the festival tonight?” It was David who asked the question, his eyes once again sharp.
“I am.” She gave a nod. “The community is expecting it. As are the gentiles. And we can’t afford to insult or disappoint either. Especially with the bill. Even if it turns on the people, not the gentry, I don’t want to be an excuse for them not to give us our due.” Her stomach flipped a little. “But I’d very much like you to be there with me, as part of the family. Like my father would have wanted.”
David didn’t respond, but he gave a nod of assent.
“What are you going to announce?” It was Roger who asked the question.
At that she had to laugh. With everything going on, it had been the least of her concerns.
“I haven’t the foggiest idea,” she confessed. “The truth is, while there is someone I’d like to marry, I, um—I don’t think he is interested in the union.” She glanced down at her lap as her throat tightened. Not just at the loss, but because she most likely wouldn’t be able to tell him about any of what had just transpired. And Aaron would’ve loved the story, including the part where she had to admit that Weiss, of all people, had been right. And that Aaron had been as well.
She swallowed, forcing herself to focus on the present task and company. “Though you don’t need to worry about him. He has no interest in the business either.”
David gave a grunt. “Sounds like a fool.”
“Some people have more-valuable things to offer than business acumen,” she told him, gritting her teeth. “Things like kindness and care and an ability to listen and to love. Things I wish I could do half as well.” And the lump in her throat nearly choked her as the pressure grew behind her eyes.
Aaron wasn’t the fool. She was. A thousand times over, and if she could do it all again . . .
“Still a fool,” David proclaimed, folding his arms tight. “If he doesn’t want to marry you.”
And now her eyes were wet. Dash it all.
“You don’t know what I did to him,” she whispered.
“I’m sure you’ll make it right,” David said with a confidence she certainly did not feel. “It takes a very brave person to do what you did here, so you should have no trouble with this man. And if he is indeed a fool, we will stand by you.”
“If the man is Aaron Ellenberg, he most certainly is a fool.” It was Louis who spoke, gritting his teeth audibly. He lifted his gaze and frowned at her. “And he’s already gone.”
