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Chapter Twenty-Two

T he next morning, John set out in his brother’s curricle, promising to return in time for dinner. He hesitated on what the best course of action should be but ended up deciding to go first to look at the site where the mill was being built and see what he could from the outside. Since he would not likely have a chance to visit the inside, there was not much else he could do there. Then, he would go on to visit Mr. Bradshaw with the letter of introduction that Barnsby had given him.

When he arrived at the site of the mill, he was able to confirm that what the manager had written was true. The foundation was built as far as the ground floor, but nothing further. He could see the empty interior through the windows and had a view of the canal beyond it. He didn’t bother to stop to investigate, but rode farther along to where housing was meant to be built for the workers and their families. This was nothing more than a pile of bricks. John clucked his tongue. There was not much he could do with the information, but at least he had confirmed it with his own eyes .

From there, he rode to Mr. Bradshaw’s mill where the flurry of activity distinguished it from the ghostlike structure he had just left. He inquired within whether he might see the owner and handed the letter of introduction to the foreman.

A few minutes later, Mr. Bradshaw himself hurried down the stairs with a broad smile and came over to greet him.

“Come with me, Mr. Aubin. You shouldn’t be left standing down here with this loud racket.”

He had spoken true. The machines made a loud noise, and there were wafts of cotton floating through the air. Mr. Bradshaw led the way upstairs into his office and shut the door, which partially muted the sounds.

“May I offer you something to drink?” he asked, gesturing for John to be seated.

John shook his head. “I do not wish to take up too much of your precious time. I’ve come to inquire about the mill that is being built in Ancoats near the canal. Would you be willing to tell me what you know of it?”

Mr. Bradshaw leaned back, his expression grim, although John could tell it was not directed toward himself.

“The investor is some earl or other, but I do not know who he is. For some reason, the information has been something of a closely guarded secret. Now I’m beginning to think I know why. There has scarcely been any work done in the last three months, and it makes me wonder where the money is going that was destined for this project.”

John nodded, unsurprised. “I am somewhat interested in this venture, but I am reluctant to spread about too broadly why that is. I hope you will forgive my lack of forthrightness. Would you be able to tell me where to find the mill’s manager? Or the one handling the construction? I would like to speak to him.”

“Of course. If you are able to do something to get this project moving forward, I would be much obliged to you. You may think that we are in competition with one another, but it is actually to my interest that Ancoats has a reputation for stability.”

At John’s inquisitive look, he explained, “We are more likely to receive and retain the skilled laborers that way. It does nothing for me to have an abandoned project sitting on the edge of town, and a bunch of workers who have grown sick of waiting and seek to move elsewhere.”

“I understand,” John said.

“You will find Mr. Gover’s house by the canal to the left of the mill. It is not far. Follow the path along the canal maybe an eighth of a mile, and you will find it. Although, you might first try looking inside the mill itself by going around it to the back entrance. There is a public path on the other side bordering the canal, and the entrance is open there much of the time. It would not surprise me if Mr. Gover were trying to get something done even without the funds.”

“I am much obliged to you for the information.” John got to his feet. “And please allow me to congratulate you on your daughter’s upcoming marriage. Mr. Barnsby is a fine man. And he considers himself lucky to have secured the hand of Miss Bradshaw.”

Mr. Bradshaw beamed with satisfaction. “I could not ask for a better son-in-law myself. Let me show you out, Mr. Aubin.”

John turned his brother’s curricle back toward the mill, cognizant of how fortunate he was to have been given this introduction to Mr. Bradshaw. He had no possibility of using what he learned against Lord Goodwin, even if that had still been his intention. But he wished to find out just what the earl had done with his supposed investments.

He unhitched his horse and led him around to the canal to allow him to drink, then tied him to the post in front. Instead of following the path toward Mr. Gover’s house, he decided to take Mr. Bradshaw’s advice and see if he could be found inside the mill. He wasn’t sure exactly what questions he was going to ask the manager, but any information he gleaned might prove helpful. Upon rounding the corner of the mill, he spied a figure that caused him to stop in his tracks. It was the earl.

Lord Goodwin turned at the sound of John’s footsteps, and as soon as he saw him, his face flushed in anger.

“Get off of my property, Aubin.”

A head popped out of the opening, before the man came fully into view and stepped behind the earl.

“I am on the public path that borders the canal,” John said with a confidence he was far from feeling. “I am not on your property.”

“What do you think you are doing here?” The earl seemed uncharacteristically nervous, John thought, and was covering it with a sort of bravado.

John took a moment to allow his gaze to roam over the entire structure before answering. “I am not here to expose you, if that is what you are wondering.”

“Good. For you would catch cold at it. I am glad to hear you’ve learned your lesson.”

Indignant at the earl’s condescension, John brought his gaze back to him. “It is for your daughter’s sake that I will not expose you—not for your own.”

Lord Goodwin looked startled and paused before asking, “What does my daughter have to do with anything?”

“I love her. I wish to protect her,” John said simply. “For that reason, I will not sully your reputation. I came for my own satisfaction—to see if the rumors I had heard were true, and I see that they are.”

The earl looked as though he wished to say something about John’s mention of Lady Geny, but he refrained, and instead chose a different tactic.

“You know nothing about what I am doing here. ”

“I know that you have promised to build a mill and housing for workers, and that you have taken investments from peers and other gentlemen of standing to do it. I also know the work is not progressing as it should, and it causes one to wonder what precisely you are doing with the investments.”

Lord Goodwin swiveled to stare at the man standing behind him, and he gave a gesture of dismissal. “Leave us, Gover.”

The man folded his arms. “If it’s all the same to you, I think I will stay right here.”

The earl pulled himself into a haughty posture as he turned back to John.

“I am simply increasing the donations I’ve received, so that they will become more lucrative. They are set to triple what they currently are, and then we will finish the mill and the housing, return the donations to the asylum, and have money left over to encourage the investors to keep giving.”

He glanced at the man standing behind him again and then back at John. “By investing in revolutionary bonds, we also open up trade routes to get cotton and dyes that will be used in the mill, which will benefit the laborers, for there will be more work for them. You should steer clear of matters you do not understand.”

John listened, astonished at the earl’s selfishness. It was evident he thought he was doing a good thing.

“Is that what you did with the foundling asylum? Did you take the donations meant to go there and attempt to increase them by diverting them to other projects? The asylum has not even enough funds to pay for the broken wall in the stable.”

At this Lord Goodwin looked self-conscious, John thought, before he deflected. “My investments are none of your business. The other investors have been perfectly happy thus far.”

“Maybe it is because they do not know what you are risking with their money,” John said looking around critically at the unfinished construction before turning his gaze back to the earl. Nothing more could be done, and it was time for him to take his leave, but he would have the satisfaction of telling the earl precisely what he thought before he did so.

“As I said, it is not my intention to expose you. But I give leave to tell you that I don’t think your method of using investments entrusted to you by peers and friends for purposes other than that which you have indicated is the act of a gentleman. That is all, sir.”

Lord Goodwin’s eyes flashed as John turned to leave. The earl called out, “Stay away from my daughter.”

John kept going as though he had not heard it. He would obey the earl’s order, no matter how little he liked it. He would have to, because he was certain Lady Geny would never want to see him again.

He remained two days more at his brother’s house, sharing more aspects of his life. It was as though now that he had decided to be open with his brother, he wanted to leave not even the smallest detail hidden. They discussed his plans for the estate, and he asked Greg whether he thought their father would approve of certain changes he planned on making. In an effort to be more communicative, he told his brother he would go back to London to visit his club before likely settling down permanently on the estate.

When it was time to leave, Greg walked outside with him as the groom led his horse and carriage around to the front.

“Feel any better than when you first arrived?”

John considered the question. He did feel better. It had been a relieving thing to express everything he had been holding back—to no longer have secrets he feared would cause his brother to lose his good opinion of him. He had said everything, and his brother loved him the same.

He nodded.

“Good.” Greg slapped a hand on his shoulder. “Now use this reprieve to your advantage and go on acting honorably. Or, as our Lord would say, ‘Go forth and sin no more.’”

In the past, John had always derided his brother for his pious words, but this time he felt the truth of them in his core. He did not want to lose the freedom he had been given by having been open and would strive to continue on a more virtuous path.