Page 37 of To Tempt Lady (Victorian Outcasts #10)

thirty-four

The study was so quiet Emma could hear Jesse playing with his brand-new set of wooden trains on the floor above. A gift from Trevor, another surprise after the pony in the park. Trevor was spoiling him, which was fine with her. The boy deserved it.

Mr. Carr, their solicitor, was examining the documentation Marcus had painstakingly collected. They waited in silence for the solicitor to give his opinion. The rustle of the pages was the only noise.

Mr. Carr removed his glasses after he finished reading. “I think there are enough questionable circumstances to open an inquest. The barrister will likely send the police to investigate Sir Horace’s activities and inspect his building sites and registers.”

“What will happen then?” Marcus asked.

“While the investigation is ongoing, every construction site supervised by Sir Horace will be blocked, and the workers will be dismissed, causing delays and disruptions, and I must tell you, investors won’t like that.”

“Dismissed?” The word caught Emma’s attention. “What will happen to all those people who work for Sir Horace?”

“They’ll find themselves unemployed, at least for as long as Sir Horace’s position hasn’t been cleared up.”

“I thought dismissing workers wasn’t easy.” She angled towards her brother.

“It depends on who the workers are,” Trevor said. “They won’t be dismissed immediately, but if the construction site is declared condemned, they’ll have to go.”

“How long will it take for the workers to get their jobs back?” She hadn’t thought about that problem.

“Alas, it depends.” Mr. Carr put his glasses on. “It could be a couple of weeks or months. And if Sir Horace’s building sites are permanently closed, then the workers will need to find new employment.”

She exchanged glances with the others. “Those workers need to support their families. How can they survive for months without work?”

Mr. Carr exhaled without looking very sympathetic. “It’ll be difficult for them, and if Sir Horace is found guilty, they will be jobless.”

Doubts gnawed at her. “Maybe we should think of a solution for those people before denouncing Sir Horace.”

“We must think about the people who are going to live in those houses,” Trevor said. “The workers’ situation is unfortunate, but we must make a decision.”

“Can’t we set up a reimbursement for the workers?” Marcus asked. “We might be facing a massive riot if those workers don’t receive any pay.”

“If they were a handful, yes, but we’re talking about hundreds of people to be sustained for months.” Trevor spread his arms. “I don’t have the funds for that.”

Emma leant back in the chair, wondering what her father would have done in that situation. She’d been ready to condemn him for being insensitive and for lacking compassion, but perhaps he’d faced one too many of these choices.

“I need to know your decision,” Mr. Carr said. “Do you need time to think about this, or do you want me to proceed immediately?”

She opened and closed her hands. “We should take more time to find a solution for those workers.”

“Emma.” Trevor shook his head. “I thought you wanted a quick attack on Sir Horace.”

“But we can’t let families starve.”

“I would like to proceed now,” Trevor said. “You accused me of cowardice, and I think you were right. Whatever we do, no matter how we do it, there are going to be risks. So let’s close this case and brace for the consequences. The longer we wait, the worse it will be.”

She sank her teeth into her bottom lip. “Heaven.”

It seemed that whatever she chose, someone would suffer. But then again, Trevor had a point. Sir Horace might be the reason so many buildings and structures weren’t fit for living.

“I agree with Trevor,” Marcus said. “It’s better to start the inquest now. I’m hopeful that we’ll find a way to help the workers.”

She nodded, smiling at him. “All right. Let’s proceed.”

After Mr. Carr left, Emma was about to leave the study with Marcus, but Trevor called her.

“I need a word,” he said in a serious tone.

Marcus waved at her before going upstairs.

She sighed and closed the door, fearing he wanted to talk about that morning. “If it’s about Sir Horace, no, I won’t accuse you of anything this time.”

“Not about him.” He gestured at the chair next to him and sat down when she did.

“What is it?”

“You and Marcus are very close.” He raised an eyebrow and gave her a pointed look.

“Well, this morning—”

“No.” He held up a hand. “I don’t want to discuss what you were doing this morning in his bedroom. No details, thank you. I want to know what’s happening between you and him. Is it a passing infatuation, odd friendship, or something else?”

She straightened and prepared for a battle. “That doesn’t concern you.”

“You’re my sister, so yes, it concerns me. It concerns me a lot.”

She lifted a shoulder. “And?”

“You’re behaving wantonly with him.”

She was, and it was delicious. “What if I am?”

“Bloody hell, Emma.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “We aren’t playing a game. Your reputation is at stake.”

“I love him.” There. She’d said it. She wasn’t ashamed of her feelings, and Trevor should understand she was serious.

“Oh, great.” He threw a hand up. “Very sensible.”

“Love isn’t sensible.”

“Exactly!” He exhaled through his teeth. “He has nothing to offer you. I had doubts about him when he had a promising future, but now? I don’t have any doubts.”

“He has everything to offer me. It’s my life, Trevor, and I’m ready to renounce my position here—”

“And your dowry?”

“And my dowry to be with him. I’ll do my best not to damage your reputation. I could live somewhere far from here, not to bother you.”

“Great plan. Congratulations. And when Marcus is penniless, and no one wants to talk to you, what will you do?”

“Marcus and I will work together. I won’t beg you for money, and I believe in Marcus’s talent. I have hope for him.”

He clenched a fist. “Hope won’t feed you. Forget hope. Hope is dead, all right? There’s only the real world, and it’s brutal.”

Why did everyone have to be so grim? Her hope wasn’t a baseless dream. Marcus was a great engineer. He would find a good job and start again. “If you don’t want to help me, fine, but at least you could avoid being so cruel.”

“I’m not cruel.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t ask you for a farthing. If my future is to starve next to Marcus, I’ll accept it.”

“Your self-sacrificing spirit is completely unnecessary and over dramatic. I just want you to make the right decision, which is to marry sensibly, not unreasonably.”

“No, enough.” She leapt to her feet. “You can’t order me how I should lead my life only because you’re the earl. I thought we loved each other. I was wrong.” She strode out of the study, ignoring him calling after her.