Page 50 of A Match of Misfortune (Bachelors of Blackstone’s #7)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

N ash hoped his intuition was correct and Blackstone would know where a man with his current reputation could get a loan.

His father had insisted he would wait until insurance paid out to recoup his share and that Nash need not guarantee any of his profits.

So, with both him and Lord Chatting excluded, Nash only needed to come up with twenty-two thousand pounds.

He had a small portion of his own money that was not tied up in investments, but he was hesitant to dwindle his personal funds too much more, considering how uncertain his future felt at the moment.

Nash released a heavy breath, trying not to feel discouraged.

He likely should not have guaranteed the profits at ten percent, but he feared he’d lose all his investors otherwise.

And more troubling than that, his father’s bank might not recover if gentlemen began withdrawing their funds.

No, this had been the correct choice. His only choice, really.

“Lord Blackstone is not in at the moment,” the porter said when Nash asked for him upon entering the club. “But if you wait upstairs in the sitting room nearest the gallery, I expect he will return within the hour. ”

Nash really had no other option but to wait, so he trudged upstairs and took a seat on the settee across from Lord Blackstone’s gallery.

Nash’s gaze shifted to a snake of Herculean proportions stretched along the floor of the far wall, and though he knew it was not alive, it made him shiver.

He didn’t recall it being there the last time he visited.

“Mr. Markham, you have returned.” Mr. Ellington, the first gentleman he had met at Blackstone’s, took the seat next to him, a second gentleman settling himself in a chair nearby.

Nash was not at all in the mood for a conversation, but he also didn’t wish to cause offense.

“Might I introduce you to one of Blackstone’s most intimidating figures aside from the taxidermied moose in the dining hall?

And possibly the head of the bull elephant.

” With a jovial expression, Mr. Ellington glanced at his companion, whose glower was most impressive.

“Mr. Markham, this is Colonel Halstead, a former military officer in His Majesty’s Army. ”

Nash did not doubt the claim with the man’s bearing and sheer size. Nash dipped his head in unison with Colonel Halstead. “It’s a pleasure.”

“The pleasure’s mine,” Colonel Halstead said. “Am I to assume you are the Mr. Markham seeking investors for a shipping company?”

“Yes.” Nash was not exactly certain of anything at the moment. Well, for the last several weeks, really. “Potential investors, anyway.”

“With what Mr. Yardley shared with me about it, if you are not opposed, I’d appreciate being kept on that list. I have a sum of money that needs investing, and this seems just the sort of venture I’d support—privatizing shipping and making trade more accessible to those outside of the East India Trading Company. ”

For the first time since he’d left Cecily, Nash found the corners of his lips tempted to lift into a smile. If only a slight one. “I shall be glad to add your name to the list.”

“I should like to hear of this investment opportunity as well,” Mr. Ellington said. “If you have the time for it.”

Hesitant at first, Nash began speaking of the concept for his shipping company, his mood lifting with each nod of agreement from his audience.

When that had concluded, it led to a discussion about India, the East India Trading Company, and current politics surrounding both.

Nash didn’t even know what time it was—ten, possibly even eleven—when Lord Blackstone came around the corner from the direction of the stairs.

His face brightened when he saw Nash sitting with the other gentlemen. “Mr. Markham. Plockton said you were here and that you had hoped to have a word with me?”

Nash stood. “I know it’s late, but if you have a spare moment, I would very much appreciate it.”

“Of course, of course. I’m more of a nocturnal creature, anyway.

” He gestured for Nash to follow him, and Nash bid Mr. Ellington and Colonel Halstead farewell before stepping in next to Lord Blackstone, finding that he felt much improved as long as he did not allow himself to think of all the hurdles that lay before him.

Despite both the late hour and Nash’s insistence that he did not wish to keep Lord Blackstone long, it took the two of them nearly thirty minutes to make their way through the gallery on the way to Blackstone’s study.

The man pointed out each of his more recent additions and explained characteristics of the animal and where he had obtained it.

“As for Indian animals, your friend Mr. Crauford has sent me a handful over the years.” Lord Blackstone’s declaration was hardly a surprise to Nash.

Of course he would have a relationship with Mr. Crauford.

He had a relationship with everyone excepting Johnathan Steele, which Nash now counted as a credit to him.

“The peacock and the peahen are from him, as are the red-faced macaque and the gibbon. I’ve recently written to request he be on the lookout for a langur, though I do not have high hopes of such a find. ”

“Monkeys are considered sacred to the Indian people, particularly the langur. To kill one would be viewed as blasphemous.”

Lord Blackstone looked at Nash as though he’d offered him some great offense with his explanation. “Oh yes, I am very much aware. I would never want to see any animal harmed. Which is why I insist any specimen added to my collection has died of natural causes.”

Nash’s brows lifted. Unless Lord Blackstone presumed a hunter’s rifle to be a natural cause of death, he had to be speaking in jest. That was not how nature worked.

Either an animal would be sickly or injured and in a state not worth preserving, or they would have been killed.

And yet, the man appeared to believe it to be true.

“None of these were hunted?” Nash asked, watching his reaction.

“Oh no, not one. That is very important to me. I also do not put them behind glass and have the servants move them around periodically because I want them to be as free in death as they were in life.”

Nash scratched at his brow, repressing his misgivings so as not to give a second offense.

Despite Lord Blackstone’s eccentric tendencies, each member of the club Nash had spoken with held him in high regard, and they all had seemed like gentlemen worth trusting.

Father had suggested he speak with him, and even Mr. Crauford apparently had some sort of business relationship with the man if he sent him taxidermied animals from India.

Though perhaps Nash was merely justifying his choice because he had nowhere else to turn. “That is an honorable thing, indeed.”

Lord Blackstone opened his study door, allowing Nash through ahead of him. “Oh, I meant to ask if you received my invitation for membership today. I needn’t have your answer yet, but I want to make certain it arrived.”

Nash cautiously took a seat in the chair across from Blackstone’s, ensuring it did not wobble as he did so. “It did, and I must say, your paper choice was most festive.”

The man’s smile brightened. “I do love pink. It reminds me of the aquatic flamingo. One of my favorite birds. They hypothesize it gets its pink hue from the food it eats, for when they’re placed in captivity, they lose most of the color.

It’s such a shame that with all their extraordinary qualities, people have caused them to leave their native habitats and find refuge in more uninhabited places.

” He swatted a hand through the air. “But that is not why you are here. What is it you wished to speak with me about?”

“I was hoping you would know of a bank, even a less reputable one, that might loan me a relatively significant sum.”

Lord Blackstone quirked his head, clearly not understanding.

“It seems Mr. Johnathan Steele has … cautioned many of London’s reputable banks against loaning me money.”

“Yes, I recently heard that was the case.”

“He means to sabotage my efforts at starting a shipping company by ensuring I have nowhere to turn for means. He has even gone so far as to undermine the reputation of my father’s bank. A handful of clients have already withdrawn their funds and closed their accounts.”

“That is most unfortunate,” Lord Blackstone said, his gaze distant as though in deep thought. His eyes locked with Nash’s again. “How much is it you require?”

Nash paused. “Twenty-two thousand pounds, to be exact.”

Lord Blackstone’s thick, errant brows raised.

Nash leaned forward in his chair. “In order to retain my investors and hopefully prevent them from withdrawing their funds from my father’s bank, I have guaranteed to front them their original sum plus an extra ten percent.

That is, if news comes that the Dawn of India has wrecked.

I will then recover the money when the insurance pays out. Which could be some time.”

“You are guaranteeing a portion of their profits?”

“I know. It is foolish and?—”

“It perhaps is not the wisest business move, but your intentions are what matter here. As you said, if your ship is indeed wrecked, your insurance will recover the loss of the cargo, and your potential investors will view your generosity most favorably. That is, if you can find the money. Besides the insurance payment, what do you have as collateral for a loan?”

Nash glanced at his hands. “Besides the fifty thousand pounds I had invested in the Dawn of India , thirty in the ship and twenty in the cargo, I have some money tied up in Mr. Crauford’s current shipment, at the sum of about ten thousand pounds.”

“So, nothing concrete?”

Nash shook his head.

“What of your betrothed’s dowry? Is it not twenty thousand pounds?”

“It is, but it is hers. She has her sister to care for, and even if we marry, I would not touch it.”

“ If you marry?” Lord Blackstone gave a knowing nod at Nash’s unintentional slip, as though he could understand why a potential mate would question a marriage to Nash.

“Countering what I said at our last visit, it might be for the better, then, if you postpone your nuptials until things are a little more settled for you financially. It takes an exceptionally well-laid-out marriage settlement to fully protect a dowry, and even then, it can sometimes still be accessed by creditors.”

Nash hadn’t even considered that aspect of all of this, and the thought of his losing Cecily’s dowry made him physically ill.

He could not deny that, over the last few days, a hope that had only ever seemed distant to him now seemed nearly achievable.

That if he could start his shipping company in India and return to England, he might actually convince Cecily to marry him.

But he could not do that until his own fortune was secure.

Until he was certain that he could protect Cecily and her sister indefinitely.

Which suddenly felt a long way off again.

Nash could not recall ever feeling so desperately hopeless, but the only direction to move was forward.

He had to figure out this first dilemma so that he could figure out the next.

And he would. It was his only chance of being with Cecily.

“Might you know a bank that could loan me the money I require?”

Lord Blackstone’s eyes were full of pity. “No, I’m afraid not. Without collateral and with your current reputation, even less reputable institutions will view you as a liability.”

Nash raked both of his hands through his hair. He had already given his word.

“Have you considered a private loan?” Lord Blackstone asked. “From a family member or friend?”

He would not ask his father, and Rothsburg did not have the funds. Mr. Crauford would likely loan him the sum, but it would take months to even get him a letter, and months more for his response. “No, I’m afraid I have no one I might ask.”

Lord Blackstone gave a thoughtful hum. “What of the owner of a gentlemen’s club? Say this one?”

Nash’s gaze shot to Blackstone, certain he had misunderstood him, but the smile on the man’s face made it clear he had not.

“You would loan me the money?”

“Any man who is so set on assuring the interest of his investors is a man I want to work with. So, in the chance you require it, I will loan you the money for a fair interest rate and under two further conditions.”

“What are those?”

“First, that if you eventually start a shipping company, you might find room on your ships for some of my animal specimens coming from India. Free of charge.”

“Of course,” Nash said, hoping his next stipulation would also be so feasible.

“And you must accept my invitation and join Blackstone’s.”

Nash smiled, his heart lifting in gratitude. “I was planning to join, regardless.”

“Capital.” Lord Blackstone clapped his hands together. “You will be quite the addition to such an exceptional group of rejects!”

Nash’s lips parted at Lord Blackstone’s offhanded comment before his dismay was replaced with hilarity.

Not only at what he had called them, but that he apparently collected misfits as readily as he collected animals.

Though if Lord Blackstone gave the gentlemen even a portion of the care which he lavished on his animals, Nash would count it a good thing.