Mistress - Amanda Quick [49]
Iphiginia wanted to give her cousin a shake. Could not Amelia see that she and Adam were perfect for each other? she wondered.
Iphiginia had recognized instantly that the two were well suited a few weeks ago, directly after she and Amelia had met Adam in person for the first time. Until then, their transactions with him had been conducted through the post.
Adam’s honest, open countenance made it easy to read his reactions. There was no doubt that he had developed a tendre for Amelia, although he had not yet worked up the courage to make an overture.
“How are things progressing with Bright Place?” Iphiginia asked as Adam sat down on the other side of her desk.
“I am happy to say that the initial plans are almost complete.” Adam’s expression became very intent. He leaned forward to spread out his neatly penned papers on Iphiginia’s desk. “Final arrangements have been made to secure the property. I have also drawn up an agreement with the same builder that we used on Morning Rose Square. It remains only to complete our list of investors.”
“I have drawn up a preliminary list of interested people,” Amelia said.
“Excellent.” Adam’s cheeks became slightly more ruddy. “The usual names, I presume?”
“Yes, and two new ones.”
Adam glowed with admiration. “Very good. By the bye, rumors are abounding now that we have secured the property. I have had some inquiries from wealthy gentlemen who have heard about the profits that were made by the investors in Morning Rose Square. They have expressed an interest in our new venture.”
Iphiginia gave him a sharp look. “They do not know that Miss Farley and I are the principals in the venture, do they?”
“No, no, of course not,” Adam assured her swiftly. “You know that I would never abuse your confidence in that regard. Whenever I have had inquiries on the subject, I have always explained that the two people who organize the ventures prefer to remain anonymous.”
Iphiginia relaxed. “Good. I do not want to be hounded by potential investors at various social affairs. Most unpleasant.”
“I quite understand,” Adam said.
Amelia tapped a quill pen against the sheet of foolscap that she held. “Who are the gentlemen who wish to invest in our new project?”
“I have the names with me.” Adam picked up a sheet of paper from the pile he had put down on Iphiginia’s desk. “Let me see. Matthews, Conklin, Jenerette, Dodgson …”
Amelia froze.
Iphiginia stared at Adam. “Dodgson, did you say?”
Adam glanced up with a puzzled frown. “Yes. Mr. Anthony Dodgson. Rumor has it that he’s got his finances in something of a muddle and is anxious to repair them through some profitable investments. Do you know him?”
“No.” Iphiginia was careful not to look at Amelia’s white face. “I have never met him. But I have heard of him. He is not the sort of person with whom we wish to associate ourselves, is he, Miss Farley?”
“No.” Amelia’s voice was almost inaudible. She swallowed visibly and tried again. “No, indeed not.”
Iphiginia gave Adam a direct look. “You may inform Mr. Dodgson that he is not welcome to invest in our venture. We shall give some consideration to the other names on your list, but, personally, I prefer to keep wealthy and influential men out of the pool. That type has a tendency to try to take charge. We do very nicely on our own.”
“Very well.” Adam glanced at Amelia’s stricken face and then he turned back to Iphiginia with a worried expression. “May I ask why Dodgson is to be excluded? He will surely ask for an explanation.”
Iphiginia centered one of the pages containing architectural elevations for Bright Place in front of her. “You may inform Mr. Dodgson that the majority of investors involved in the project are widows and spinsters.”
“Yes, I have already told him as much,” Adam said.
“You may also remind Dodgson that many widows and spinsters have been obliged to work as paid companions and governesses. As Mr. Dodgson has a reputation for treating such female employees in a thoroughly unprincipled manner, they do not wish to do business with him.