“I wouldn’t be my father’s daughter if I didn’t,” I lied. I wanted to clench my fists, protest, use the heat of my fury to melt his coldness. I forced my breathing into a slow rhythm.
“Good. We understand each other then.” He drained his cup and indicated the footman should refill it. I wasn’t offered any more and understood I’d but a short time left to present my suit. He waved his hand, prompting me to continue.
“My proposition is very simple, your lordship. What I ask is that you lease Holcroft House to me.”
Lord Rainford slowly took the goblet away from his mouth. “I beg your pardon?” Laughter infused his tone.
“I ask, my lord, that you lease the home you leased to my father, Holcroft House, to me.”
Lord Rainford held out his goblet for the footman to take. “I thought that’s what you said.” He shook his head. “You certainly have my attention now.” He leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs, resting his elbow on its wooden arm and holding his chin between thumb and fingers. “It’s not common practice to lease to a woman, certainly not an unmarried one; someone so untutored in life, in business.” In any other context, his look would be an insult. That his words rang with truth did not salve my feelings. “Pray, how do you intend to meet the obligations that come with such a lease? It does not come cheaply.”
“Of that I am aware. Along with my steward, Adam Barfoot, I’ve studied the ledgers and I believe that, given time, I can meet the costs—at least, I would like the opportunity to attempt to do so.”
“Ah.” Lord Rainford nodded. “There it is.”
“Your lordship?”
“The flaw in your proposal.” He released his chin. “You’re simply clutching at straws and have found one with ‘time’ etched onto its stalk. You piqued my interest, Mistress Sheldrake—for a moment. As it is, you’re the same as any number of the villeins and laborers who come to see me. What you really want is a loan. After all, time costs money but since you have none, it’s me who will be bearing the expense of your suggestion. It’s me who will be paying for this time you’re requesting.”
“That’s true, my lord. But what if I said to you that I’m not asking for it for nothing. I intend to buy this time from you.” Lord Rainford opened his mouth, but I continued. “I know I’ve no funds with which to pay you now, but given the chance, I’ll not only repay in full, but with interest.”
“You think I’ve not had these kinds of promises made to me before?” He took another drink and deposited his goblet heavily on the table. “How do you intend to do that?” His voice was flat, disinterested.
I took a deep breath. “By starting a business myself.”
That he did not laugh in my face went some way to mollifying my anger. “Really? What sort?” There was something in his tone that made me color again.
“I intend to brew ale, my lord.”
Lord Rainford studied me in silence. I endured his scrutiny, refusing to look away. So much depended on him believing me capable.
“I’ve been told by a reliable source that your future was assured, that you and your younger brother and sister were to be taken care of,” he said quietly. “That leaving the house would not be a hardship.”
An unasked question answered.
I dipped my chin. “In one sense, this is true. Mistress Jabben and Master Makejoy have offered me a position in their household after they wed. Me and my siblings.”
Lord Rainford reclined further. “And you don’t wish to avail yourself of this generous”—his mouth twitched—“offer?”
“Not unless I’m left with no choice.”
He uncrossed his legs. I noticed the elegant buckles that decorated his boots. “I see. And that, I assume, now depends on me.”
I inclined my head.
“You would rather try your hand at being a brewster than live with your cousin and my clerk in respectability?”
I choked back a laugh. “You mean as a servant. At least as a brewster I’ve a chance to make my own way.”
Lord Rainford threw back his head and guffawed. I cast a look at the servants to see what they made of their master’s outburst, but they remained as unmoved as the portrait staring at me from the opposite wall. “But you won’t be attempting this on your own. Let’s be frank with each other, Mistress Sheldrake, your plan requires my complicity. You need my cooperation in order to even make an attempt. To be blunt, you need my money.”
“I need to borrow your money. As I said, I intend to pay it back.”
Lord Rainford examined his fingernails. “Why should I give to you what I wouldn’t offer to anyone else, Mistress Sheldrake, not even my sons? Why should I make an exception for you?”
It was time to play my final card. I licked my lips and squared my shoulders. “Because of Tobias.”
This time, his laughter went for a long time. My cheeks blazed. I desired nothing more than to flee the room. Only Mother’s voice in my head and an image of the twins kept me seated.
When he’d finished being amused, he dashed a hand beneath his eyes and, taking a kerchief from within his doublet, blew his nose. “I understand now that you sought to use leverage over me. Clever. May I ask, how long have you known about your brother?”
“Mother told me on her deathbed.”
“I see,” said Lord Rainford. He held my eyes for a moment then swiftly stood, tapping his fingers on top of the chair before stepping to the window. “Pray, what did she tell you?”
Speaking to his back, I answered. “She said that Tobias was a Rainford. That . . . she erred in her judgment and fell pregnant. She told me that if ever I needed anything, I was to seek you out, that you would understand and make amends for what you did”—I cleared my throat—“what you did to her, to Father.” My voice hardened toward the end.
“Did you ever raise this . . . this matter with your father?” He turned.
“I . . . that is . . . The time was never right and now . . . well . . .” I folded my hands in my lap. “But I’m raising it with you in the hope you see fit to make redress by helping me.”
Only the rise and fall of Lord Rainford’s chest, the slight narrowing of his eyes, suggested any humanity. I could hear my breath in my ears. Wanting to move, I dared not. What was he thinking behind that impenetrable face?
When he swung back into his seat, the move was so swift and unexpected, I jumped. “I want to make something very clear, Mistress Sheldrake. Despite what your mother may have said, I owe you and your family nothing. I owe your father nothing. On the contrary . . .” He paused. “I more than compensated him for what happened. I gave him the house, the land, the lifestyle to which you’ve grown accustomed. Beyond that, I’ve made certain Tobias is taken care of and, as far as I am concerned, always will be. I paid what was due. It was more than he deserved.” His eyes narrowed. “Frankly, Mistress Sheldrake, you and the twins are not my concern.”
How I managed to speak, I don’t know. Fury overtook me, making me tremble. Fury that he could be so dismissive, and rage at my impotence. I brought it under control. “And yet, here I am.”