Page 24 of Matching Mr. Montfert (Apsley Family #2)

Chapter twenty-four

Phillip

Over the next week, I met with Grace four times, taking up our new place on the stone bench in Hyde. In some ways, I missed the privacy of our clearing, where we could talk without worry of early-goers overhearing. I also understood why such a meeting place could prove dangerous. Knowing Grace could never be anything more to me than a friend had not stopped my thoughts from thinking of how she had felt in my arms or the warmth of her body against mine.

The public space at least kept me from doing anything terribly…irresponsible.

Besides, it would do neither of us any good to act on the feelings I seemed unable to suppress. The last thing I wanted was to hurt her, and given Grace’s struggles to believe herself deserving of courtship and marriage, a kiss from a man like me, who could have neither of those things with her, would only lead to heartbreak.

Once I had dressed for the day, I headed for the breakfast room and found Mother seated at the table. I kissed her cheek, and she offered me a soft smile. She was the daily reminder I needed to stay strong during my meetings with Grace. Following Uncle’s demands was not solely for my benefit. I wanted my mother to have a life of comfort, and there was but one way to achieve that.

After breakfast, I went to the study, per Uncle’s request. We had met more frequently as of late, and discussed his investment ventures and his many trade assets, in addition to the funds produced by his country estate. I’d even made suggestions for improvements that were met with approval. My knowledge and understanding of his holdings increased with each passing day, a sign he was beginning to trust me, whether he admitted it or not. At least that boded well for my future, although I would never feel secure until I inherited. So long as my uncle lived, he would hold my destitution over me, use it to manipulate and coerce. None of it would end until he was in the grave.

A bleak prospect, but one I had lived with for years. It would be some time before I felt any sort of peace in my life. All I could do was keep the man happy, or at the very least, satisfied.

Uncle bid me enter, and I took up my usual seat across from him, his large oak desk separating us, while Mr. Grenville, Uncle’s solicitor, occupied a chair near the window. The man often joined us for meetings, but with his quiet disposition, I knew little about him. I supposed it made sense that my uncle would hire a man of business who would do his bidding without question.

“We’ve much to discuss today,” said Uncle, crossing his arms over his chest. I noticed the presence of the red ledger sitting on the corner of the desk, and my heart tripped at the memory of Sabrina’s request. This was the first I’d seen it since our discussion, but I would not act rashly. I had promised to inquire after it only should I have the opportunity to do so without raising suspicions.

Uncle leaned back in his seat, studying me with his fingers steepled. “You’ve done well these last few weeks. Not perfect. There have been moments that struck my patience and made me reconsider things, but I cannot deny you have a good head on you when it comes to business.”

“Thank you, Uncle.” I did not know what else to say. It stung that he had ever questioned my intelligence, but much of it came down to my hearing difficulties. In my youth, tutors had struggled with teaching me, reporting the slow progress to their employer, and it was not until I understood the source of my difficulties that I began to find ways to overcome them. Still, Uncle had often grown impatient with me, and rather than give his understanding, he had labeled me as broken.

Broken. Worthless. And a plethora of other insults rattled around my mind, forever reminding me of how far beneath him the man believed me to be.

Uncle leaned forward and rested his elbows on the desk. “You will accompany me to my next meeting with investors. There is a good chance this new venture will prove exceptionally lucrative. Do not disappoint me by butchering it. I can have Mr. Grenville here within an hour to make changes to my will.”

I glanced at Mr. Grenville, whose expression remained indifferent, then nodded, the threat settling over me far heavier than it usually did. Uncle had been testing me for years, but this felt more substantial.

“I understand,” I said.

“Good. The meeting will take place next Tuesday at half past two. I will give you information to look over in the meantime so you are prepared. Study it, Phillip. I expect you to know every detail about this deal.”

“I will study it diligently.” My gaze wandered to the ledger resting on the corner of the desk, and my pulse spiked. If I was going to ask after it, now was an opportune time. Uncle was in a better mood than usual and had complimented me more than once, a scenario unheard of.

“Is there anything else you need from me? That ledger has not been balanced.” I nodded toward the thing, hoping my expression remained stoic despite my pounding heart.

Uncle’s eyes narrowed. “Not yet. Perhaps if all goes well with this meeting, we might look at it together. If .”

The response held a great deal of uncertainty, but I would not get a more firm answer from him.

“Until then, you are to further your courtship efforts,” he continued. “Mr. Rigby will be present at this meeting. It would do well for you to have made some progress before then. I’ve spoken to him on the matter of his daughter. He is…reluctant but not beyond persuading.”

“Miss Rigby is amiable, but her mother has not welcomed me with much enthusiasm. Perhaps we should consider someone else. Someone more open to the idea of marrying without a title.”

“Someone else?” Uncle's mouth turned down, his eyes hard.

I leaned forward, placing my palms flat on his desk. “Yes. Surely there is another who would satisfy your expectations. And Miss Scott presented several options—”

“Miss Scott!”

My mouth snapped closed. I had been careful, so very careful, not to mention Grace anytime Uncle was home, but after spending so much time with her, the words slipped out. She occupied my thoughts too thoroughly to have believed I could keep our interactions secret.

Uncle rose from his chair, towering over me, and his fingers dove into his pocket to retrieve his watch. The gold chain dangled between his fingers, and my body froze. Memories rushed back to me, and the chain whipped through the air before I could break myself free. He struck my hand, and I withdrew it from the desk with a hiss of pain.

Even Mr. Grenville sucked in a breath, though he said nothing.

“I told you to stay away from her, boy,” Uncle growled. “Did I not make myself clear?”

I cradled my hand to my chest, my skin burning, and ground out a response. “Yes. You have made yourself clear.”

Uncle reclaimed his seat, his expression relaxed. “Good. Once Mr. Rigby understands the prospect of this venture, I suspect you will find your endeavors successful. Even the wife will not object to you once they see the fortune to be made and benefit from such an alliance.”

I forced myself to smile. “Then I will persist in calling on Miss Rigby.”

Even if everything inside me recoiled at the idea.

“What happened to your hand?”

Out of instinct, I folded my arms, tucking the hand Uncle had struck beneath my coat. The reaction did nothing to dissuade Sabrina, and she approached me with determined steps. She unfolded my arms and inspected my hand, her dark brows furrowed.

“He’s hit you again, hasn’t he?”

I pulled away from her. It had been a full day, but still, my skin stung. Red marked the area and likely would for some time. But I had no wish to talk about it. “You wanted to speak with me?”

Sabrina scowled at me but let the matter drop. “Have you learned anything more? I’m stuck.”

“Stuck?” I repeated. That did not surprise me. Uncle was too intelligent to leave crumbs. Whatever schemes he was involved in would not be easy to prove criminal. “I have heard nothing more, but I did ask about the ledger.”

At this, she straightened. “You did?”

“Yes, but he would not permit me to look at it.”

“He would not allow you to have the ledger?” Sabrina paced back and forth, the swish of her green skirts warring with the crackle of flames in the library’s hearth. The weather, while dry, had presented too chilly for me to ask Miss Rigby for another ride through Hyde today.

Besides, I had not recovered from the first one three days ago.

The list of questions created by me and Grace had proven exceptionally helpful in establishing a flow of conversation, but it wore on me to constantly initiate it. Miss Rigby simply was not inclined to converse with me without prodding.

“Are you listening?” Sabrina asked.

No, in truth. My mind had wandered, and it was difficult to maintain focus when she paced, her words garbled half the time when she moved to my left.

“Forgive me.” I clasped my hands behind my back, giving her my full attention. “What were you saying?”

She glared at me before answering. “I was saying that my father’s behavior is suspicious. He’s so secretive about this ledger that I’m inclined to think it contains evidence against him.”

I shrugged. “Perhaps. But your father has always been rather secretive with his finances. I was not permitted to see anything until recently if you recall.”

Sabrina stopped pacing and pointed at me. “More evidence. The fact that he is slow to let his heir see anything says much about his business practices.”

I rubbed a hand over my face. Sabrina may well be correct, but if we could not prove my uncle’s practices were criminal, it did not matter. I was not particularly optimistic we would uncover anything. Time would tell.

“Your father stated that if all goes well with the upcoming meeting with his investors on Tuesday, we might discuss the ledger and its contents. We will have answers soon enough.”

Sabrina’s laughter took me by surprise. “Might? Come now, Phillip. When has my father ever followed through on a might ? You know he employs that word simply to placate. He has no intention of allowing you to see the inside of that ledger. At least not anytime soon.” Her pacing resumed. “I cannot wait. I must know what is in it. Stealing it is the only option.”

“What?” I intercepted her and stopped her with a firm hold on both shoulders. “No, Sabrina. We cannot take the ledger. If your father found out, he would be furious. I cannot take that risk.”

Sabrina rolled her eyes. “I never said we had to steal it. I am perfectly capable of doing so on my own. He goes out enough; it shall be a simple task. All I need to know is where he keeps it.”

“Information I cannot give you. I have only seen it in his presence. He once tucked it into the desk drawer, but I doubt he keeps it there, and anytime I have visited the study in his absence, the ledger was not within sight. If it contains the sort of information you suspect, he is not likely to leave it available for prying eyes.”

Sabrina pursed her lips. “Well, I won’t know until I search for it myself.”

I gave her a pleading look. That she purposefully ignored.

She pushed past me toward the door, and my stomach seemed to lurch after her. “Sabrina!”

My cousin turned to face me with a grin, her hand resting on the edge of the door. “Relax, Phillip. I have no intention of searching the study right now . I am not an imbecile. I’ll wait for the opportune moment.”

With that, she vanished from view.