Charlotte: The Practical Education of a Distressed Gentlewoman Read Online Free Page B

estate.”
    Freddy laughed. It took him no
little time to compose himself. When he recovered he asked, “Are
you serious?” After he then gave Charlotte an unsettlingly serious
examination, as if he were examining a lot of defective goods and
finding them not up to specification he continued with, “What did
you think of this idea Miss De Vere?”
    Charlotte started to stammer out
“No, not ever,” but ended up saying, “I'm not sure.”
    Dr. Answorth replied, “Miss De Vere
is a highly eligible young woman with a distinguished bloodline.
Marrying her would buy, pay your, sorry, introduce you into polite
society.”
    “ So does my fortune. I don't have
trouble mixing with the ton in London, especially when they need a
loan. She may have a distinguished bloodline, but she's poor.
She'll be lucky to attract a husband of her own station in
life.”
    Charlotte, highly annoyed with the
turn the discussion was taking, interposed, “Dr. Answorth, Mr.
Talbot, please. I am not a piece of livestock to be bargained
over.”
    Freddy thought for a moment,
Charlotte was clearly a pretty woman and he had a suspicion that if
he were on her good side, she would be pleasant company. She
certainly could look better if she were decked out in a dress that
complimented her looks rather than subtracting from them. He could
almost imagine falling in love with her. At least if he could be
sure that, unlike so many of the beauties he'd met, it was him and
not his money that she loved. He made his final and best offer,
“This is a new development. It merits careful consideration on both
our parts. Tell you what. I was going to foreclose on you if you
didn't sell out. My offer of eleven hundred pounds for the house
and demesne still stands. The interest and principal due on the
mortgages is about five hundred. I'll pay you six hundred cash and
count the difference to the mortgage payment.”
    “ Mr. Talbot!”
    “ That's my best offer. Can't say
it's not fair. Otherwise, I will just foreclose on you and take the
lot.”
    Mr. Bayliss added, “Remember what I
told you about the Talbot's and their business
practices.”
    “ What did you tell them, Mr.
Bayliss?”
    “ Just that you play for keeps in
business.”
    “ Damn right. How well you know
me.”
    Charlotte looked at Mr. Cruise. He
nodded, “You won't get a better offer for the house.” She looked at
Freddy, then extended her hand to him. “You have a
deal.”
    Freddy was relieved, had Miss De
Vere been difficult, he would have proceeded to foreclose on her.
He might have been started foreclosure proceedings with reluctance,
but ineluctably they would have moved to the inevitable conclusion
of his taking the estate from her. Taking her hand he replied,
“Thank you.”
    As they were leaving, Mr. Bayliss
asked Freddy, “Would you really have given them cash for the whole
thing? That's very unlike you. Normally you'd just
foreclose.”
    “ There is a minor matter of the
local farmer's good will. It would create a pile of difficulties
for my governor and me later if I 'did down' the beloved daughter
of the old lord when she was in trouble.”
    “ Ah. Sentiment. I thought it had
no place in business.”
    “ It doesn't, and don't you forget
it. But I'm not about to damage the property by acting
daftly.”
    “ If you say so. I still think
you're acting a bit daft. Don't let her pretty face sway you. She's
a minx, not worth it.”
    “ Don't worry, I won't, and I'm
well aware of Miss De Vere's low opinion of me. This little
maneuver buys us the time to smooth things out. Now you'll arrange
the contracts with Mr. Cruise?”
    “ Yes.”
    “ Good, go over them very
carefully, I don't have a good feeling about him. Not sure why, but
he wouldn't be someone I'd choose to employ.”
    Mr. Bayliss concurred, “Those
negotiations were too easy. He should have fought harder for his
client. I would have.”
    “ That's why you're our
solicitor.”
     
    In their gig on the way home, Dr.
and Mrs.