Grumbling under his breath, Cornell intended to give the intruder a piece of his mind, but stopped abruptly when he caught sight of the face beyond the frosted glass.
Lord Haverton.
His brother.
With a heavy sigh, he unlocked the door but didn’t move out of the way so the earl could pass through. Narrowing his eyes irritably at the features that were so like his own, he waited for the other man, who was only three years younger, to speak.
After a moment of shivering in the icy wind, Xavier asked, “Might we be allowed to converse where it’s a bit warmer?”
Cornell stepped to the side and waved a hand.
“Thank you.”
He shut the door but didn’t lock it back behind Lord Haverton. He didn’t plan on the man staying that long. The earl walked over to the fire and held out his gloved hands toward the flame. “I’ve heard several compliments about your work of late.”
Cornell remained by the door but couldn’t keep a laugh from escaping. “Don’t tell me you’re here for a pair of boots? Just because we may be blood related doesn’t mean you get special treatment.”
“No. I’m not here for any footwear,” the earl countered, as he turned back around to face him. “How is your assistant faring? I assume she told you what happened at Madame LeFleur’s?”
“She did, actually,” Cornell returned. “And I’m still torn about giving the lady a piece of my mind.”
“As am I,” his brother admitted. “Although, I fear the Home Office wouldn’t like my interference when I’m supposed to be on covert business to learn more about who might be causing trouble within the livery halls.”
“So you’re here, hoping I might have a lead as to who’s responsible.” It wasn’t a question.
Xavier eyed him silently for a moment. “That would be helpful, yes. But no, it’s not my purpose in seeking you out. As a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers, due to my interest in the East India trade, I will uncover the truth sooner or later.”
“I have no doubt. Men in your position have unlimited resources at your disposal.” Cornell hadn’t wanted to sound bitter or resentful, for the man standing before him hadn’t proven he was like their father in any way, but he still didn’t trust the aristocracy. Their mettle had been tested and found lacking more times than he cared to count. During his time as a naval captain, he’d treated duke’s sons and butcher’s brothers alike, even if the former liked to act as though they were superior simply because of an accident of birth. It hadn’t taken them long to figure out Cornell treated everyone equally.
As if reading his mind, the earl said quietly, “I’m not your enemy, Cornell. I’ve told you more times than I can say that it was wrong of father to treat you as he did, to shut you out of his life completely. If I would have known of your existence years ago—” He swallowed. “The point is, while I’m not trying to make up for our sire’s failings, I would like to recognize you as my relation—”
“You already know my answer to that.” Cornell’s gaze hardened. “It hasn’t changed in six months, since the first day you appeared on my doorstep.”
His brother sighed. “I’d still like for you to meet my wife, Althea, and to get to know your niece and nephew.” He smiled. “If you could only see Louisa and Frederick…” His voice trailed off, and Cornell saw the pride on his face. It was obvious he was a big presence in his children’s lives.
Although it also engaged Cornell’s heart that Xavier was trying to get him to be a part of their life, their worlds just didn’t coincide that easily. They were like oil and water. It just didn’t mix. In the end, he just said, “I’ll consider it,” knowing that it would never happen.
Xavier glanced down at the floor. “Then I suppose I’ll have to accept that.” He walked over to Cornell and held out his hand. After a brief pause, he took the offering. “Goodbye, Cornell.”
He nodded. “Lord Haverton.” It wasn’t until his brother opened the door, that he added, “If I hear anything about the guild hall, I’ll send word.”
The younger man’s face softened. “I would appreciate that.”
And then he was gone.
Chapter 5
The following week passed by rather uneventfully for Pleasant. Since she hadn’t had to constantly cover her hands in lye, she noticed that they weren’t quite as red and raw as they had been a few days ago. The house also smelled much nicer without the stench, and with the advance Mr. Reed had given her she’d bought a bit of greenery to wind around the staircase bannister. The scent of evergreen was much more festive, and slowly but surely, the interior was starting to look a bit more cheery. Even her siblings, Niall included, were starting to appear less strained.
In the evenings, Pleasant spent more time with her stepmother, and she assisted with the mending, easing the burden just a little bit more.
She hadn’t fallen asleep at the shop anymore, and it had become something of a habit for her and Mr. Reed to share lunch together; at least, when they had time to do so. The number of special orders had increased dramatically, and they seldom had two words to say to one another during the day, each too busy with their own tasks. But occasionally, he would make something in his rooms above the shop and bring it down to them, while other times, she might bring a light, picnic style meal from home. Their conversation was usually simple, either remarking about the weather, what still needed to be done, or something equally mundane. But even if a silence did fall, it wasn’t awkward or stilted, but just…companionable.
It wasn’t until Pleasant left the following Saturday that she mentioned taking Fiona and her brothers to the park. “You’re welcome to join us, if you wish.”
“I’ll consider it,” was all he’d said, so she had assumed that meant no.
To her surprise, he knocked on the door bright and early the next morning. He had a rather sheepish expression as he held up a package. “I brought breakfast.”
Inside were several of those delicious bakery scones, and Pleasant’s stomach instantly rumbled. After she’d passed some around to the rest of her family, she bit into the sweet, flaky crust and sighed in delight. “This is just as heavenly as I recall.”
“They are quite good,” he concurred from where he sat beside her, and then he lowered his voice so that only she could hear. “But the sounds you make when you eat them are even better.”
Pleasant nearly choked on the bite she’d just taken, his wicked laughter sending off a flurry of butterflies in her midsection.
Once they had finished their treat, Pleasant rounded up all her siblings and went to her stepmother and gave her a light kiss on the forehead. “We’ll be back later this afternoon.”
Pleasant was surprised yet again when Mr. Reed hailed a hackney. Her brothers and Fiona climbed inside, but he waited to assist her. “You surely didn’t think we’d walk all the way to Hyde Park?”
It wouldn’t have been the first time for Pleasant, although such excursions were generally few and far between anyway. During the summer, she’d been buried in laundry, so she’d seldom had any time to herself, let alone any for a frivolous outing.
Now, as she sat next to Mr. Reed, with her excited siblings across from her, she thought of how she might thank her employer for his thoughtfulness. But as his leg suddenly shifted to brush hers through her skirts, any further contemplation scattered like autumn leaves in the wind.
The hackney soon deposited them at the gates leading to the park, and Niall, Connor, and Fiona all bounded out of the vehicle. “Be careful and keep an eye on your sister!” Pleasant called after them. “And don’t go too far!”
Mr. Reed stepped to the ground and assisted her down. “You’re quite the mother hen, aren’t you?” He offered her his arm, and as the hackney rolled away, they began to meander through the park.
They had finally had a break from the recent snow and ice, and the weather was rather fair. A light dusting of white covered the dormant grass, although the sun was shining brightly, the brisk wind having dulled to a cool, light breeze. As Pleasant walked along the path attired in a simple, cotton bonnet tied beneath her chin, a plain gray dress and worn cloak, she might have imagine that, if things were different, she could have been courting the handsome man beside her in his greatcoat and hat.
But since such foolish fantasies would only get her into trouble, she replied to his earlier statement, determined to keep their time together on neutral ground. “As the eldest, it’s my responsibility. And with Mama’s health—” She shrugged. “I don’t mind. They are good children, even if Niall is starting to show a bit more temperament as he gets older.”
“That’s only natural,” he countered. “All teenage boys go through a rebellious spirit.”
She glanced sideways at him. “Even you?”
His eyes slid to her and he winked. “Especially me.”
Trickles of warmth stole over Pleasant’s body, for while it was an innocent enough action, he made it entirely wicked. She turned to face forward. While there wasn’t much activity this early in the morning, most of the fashionable set still abed, there were a few people milling about. Keeping her siblings in sight, she wondered, not for the first time, about the man at her side. For all that she’d worked for Mr. Reed nearly a fortnight, Pleasant didn’t know that much about him.
But in this relaxed atmosphere, now seemed the perfect opportunity to engage, so she asked, “How long have you been a cordwainer?”
“About twelve years, I would imagine.”
“How did you get into the trade?” she prodded, enjoying the deep timbre of his voice.
“Rather by accident. I worked on board a naval ship. I started out as a cabin boy, but eventually worked my way up the ranks. When I became first mate during the War of 1812, many of the crew started to complain about the nature of their shoes. Taking it upon myself to see what could be done, I started to repair them. It turns out I had a talent for it.”
“The men must have been grateful.”
