Page 217

“Your sentiments are appreciated, Amy, but you know that I will take no offence if you decide that you want to redecorate any of your homes,” Lady Rose said clearly as she thought about her Sed, as she so often did.

He had loved her decorating style, and it was very gratifying that Tom and Amy genuinely felt there was very little they needed to change.

As Rose looked around the room at her family in half-mourning wear, she was not displeased that they would return to wearing any colours they chose to in a fortnight.

Like her late husband had wanted, she too desired that they all move on with the business of living their lives.

She was snapped out of her reverie as she heard her sister-in-law talk.

“We are at your disposal, Liz bear, anything you need help with you have but to ask,” Aunt Rose said warmly, using a childhood nickname for her niece that she had not used for many years.

“I think that we have some estate business to discuss in the library,” Darcy said as he stood.

He kissed his wife on her cheek and led the men out of the drawing room.

There was only so much talk of redecorating that a man could stomach in one sitting, so the men followed their host toward the library.

On the way, Jeffries was instructed to bring a tray with libations and glasses.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

In the offices of Gardiner and Associates on Gracechurch street near Cheapside, Edward Gardiner had just completed a meeting of the principal known partners, to include his nephew Bingley.

He had issued a quarterly report on the health of their business which had shown consistent growth since Gardiner had founded the company some twenty years ago with the assistance of the then Marquess of Netherfield.

Other than the family, his brother-in-law chose to keep his partnership from general knowledge, and it was not known aside from Gardiner, the older Phillips and now Bingley.

Gardiner, who owned fifty-one percent of the company as he had his brother-in-law’s proxy, had surpassed twelve thousand a year income and had a very healthy amount in savings.

It had been his and his Maddie’s dream for him to retire from active participation and purchase an estate as close to her beloved Lambton as possible.

The Bingleys and the younger Phillips were both invited to dinner, but before they made the short walk to number twenty-three Gracechurch Street to the Gardiner’s town house, Bingley was asked to come to his uncle’s office.

“You wanted to see me, Uncle Edward?” Bingley asked as he closed the door.

Mr. Gardiner waved him to one of the comfortable chairs in front of the desk and offered him a small snifter of his best French cognac.

Both men held their glasses and took a sip of the fine liquor, and Bingley waited until Gardiner was ready to commence speaking.

“I am not sure if you know this, Charles, but Aunt Maddie and I have always planned to purchase an estate in the environs of Lambton,” Gardiner opened the conversation.

Bingley nodded and waited for the older man to proceed.

“We have more than enough capital on hand to purchase an estate that earns around five thousand per annum, and I think it is time to do just that.” Gardiner considered how to phrase the next part, as he knew that the request that he wanted to make was a very important one.

“I know that my good friend, your late father, wanted you to become part of the landed gentry, but of all of the people that I know, you are the one that I would feel most comfortable leaving in charge of the Company.

“It is time for me to step back, but not exactly retire.” Gardiner could see the question on the tip of his nephew’s tongue, “I will still be available for consultation but want an active role in the running of my estate. You know me well enough to understand that I have no desire to lead a sedentary lifestyle which many of the gentry lead.”

“If I am honest, Uncle Edward,” Bingley answered thoughtfully, “owning an estate was my father’s dream, not mine.

The year I leased Netherfield did nothing to convince me otherwise.

Franny and I have discussed this, and she agree that if staying in business makes me happy, then that is what I should do.

In some years when I have more than one child, my perspective may change, but for now I would be honoured to take whatever role that you decide would be a good fit for me. ”

“I am very happy to hear you say that, Charles,” Gardiner relaxed now that he had the very response he had hoped for.

“You own twenty percent of the company and currently I control fifty-one percent.

What I propose is that you will be awarded a further ten percent and you will hold the proxy for both me and Uncle Thomas so you will control seventy percent, perhaps slightly more so no one would be able to challenge your position.

Not that I think that either of the other two major stakeholders would, but this way you are well and truly protected.

“Right now, you earn close to five thousand a year from the company.” It was a statement not a question to which Bingley just nodded “The additional ten percent will give you another two thousand a year, and from our shares Thomas and I will pay you an additional two thousand five hundred per annum. This way without including your personal investments you will have around ten thousand a year,” Gardiner outlined the financial incentives.

“I appreciate your generosity, but you know I would have done it for far less, do you not?” Bingley stated, feeling very proud in the trust that his uncles were placing on his shoulders.

“We are aware of that, Charles, which only reinforces our decision to offer this position to you.” The men downed the rest of their drinks, shook hands, and made the short walk to the Gardiner home.

The two men were welcomed by their wives and the two older Gardiner children, Lilly who was almost thirteen and Eddy who had tuned eleven a few months ago.

May and Peter descended from the nursery, but after greeting their father and cousin returned upstairs.

As soon as the two youngsters had left the room, an impatient Maddie Gardiner gave her husband a questioning look to which her have her a nod with a look of satisfaction.

“I knew how it would be, thank you for accepting the running of the company, Charles,” Aunt Maddie said as she stood and hugged her nephew.

Seeing that Charles was uncomfortable as he believed that his wife did not know what was being discussed, he was made easy when he heard his beloved inform him that she and their aunt had a long chat that afternoon so she was aware of what would be proposed, and fully supported his decision.

It was not too many minutes later that Graham and Caroline arrived.

As soon as she walked into the drawing room, both Aunt Maddie and Franny gave her knowing looks.

She had written to Louisa, and they would see the Phillips on the coming Friday, but there was no getting around the discussion that she was sure she would have after dinner with the ladies after the two children went up to their beds.

Dinner was announced, during which the new arrangements were discussed, and Bingley noted that Graham did not look very surprised.

It turned out that he would be at the offices on the morrow with the transference and other documents that needed to be signed to vest the control of the company with Bingley.

The Gardiners informed their nieces and nephews that they had first refusal on an estate some five miles southwest of Lambton called Winsglade, which profited a little more than six and a half thousand a year.

The Gardiners would still earn over seven thousand per annum from the company after the shares promised to Bingley were issued, as well as the annual payment; not counting his investments, the family’s income would exceed what he earned from Gardiner and Associates alone.

The Gardiners intended to depart for Winsglade in a week’s time, and if they found it as described, it would be theirs as soon as the title papers were signed, and the funds were deposited in the seller’s bank.

As Caroline had anticipated, once the children went up to bed and the ladies gained the drawing room, both her Aunt and Franny looked at her questioningly. “What?” Caroline tried to prevaricate.

“Do not ‘what’ me, sister,” Franny said as she raised her eyebrows, “You are with child, are you not?”

Caroline would not lie when asked a direct question, so she confirmed the truth of the matter and requested that the ladies not share the news beyond their husbands.

Franny was happy that she and Charles were traveling to Meryton with her brother and sister-in-law so she would have the pleasure of seeing her mother’s reaction when she learnt that she would be a grandmother for the second time.

It was a happy group that parted two hours later, the men reconfirming that they would meet back at the office at ten on the morrow to sign the documents Graham had prepared in anticipation of Bingley’s positive answer to his uncle’s proposition.