Lady in Demand (6 page)

“I’m sure he missed you and your brother whilst you were gone, Mr. Hetherington.” Phoebe felt she needed to protest.
 

“No, he probably didn’t,” the young man said with a wry smile. “However, Ben and I believe it is important for us to constantly disrupt Finn’s orderly existence as he is often surrounded by people who agree with him. My brother can be quite controlling should the need arise and can put people back a step with just one look, Miss Langley.”

Phoebe laughed because the description of Lord Levermarch was indeed accurate.
 

“May I ask what has you here alone, Miss Langley?

“I have my maid, Mr. Hetherington, so I’m not actually alone,” Phoebe said. “And I was about to walk up Plimley Lane to meet my friend, Miss Wooller.”

“Well, then I shall walk with you.”

Perhaps he had more of his older brother in him than even he realized, because before Phoebe knew what was happening, she was being propelled forward by Mr. Hetherington with little say in the matter.

Plimley Lane had several small shops, and most were fashion establishments.

“They have a superb boot maker in this lane, Miss Langley. It is where I come for mine.”

“Do you really? And there was me thinking you frequented the more popular shops along with the rest of society.”

“If the product is of good quality, I have no need to pay more for it just because of where it was made.”

Before she could reply, she saw Hannah appear out the front of a building to their left.

“Phoebe!”

“Hannah, this is Mr. Hetherington. He is Lord Levermarch’s brother.” Phoebe made the introductions as they drew near.

“Oh, you brought someone with you.” Hannah’s words indicated her displeasure at Mr. Hetherington’s presence.
 

“We met at the beginning of the street, Hannah, and Mr. Hetherington insisted on escorting me, as he knows the street well because he shops here.”

Hannah looked at Alexander with a studied eye, taking in his clothing before returning to his face. The man just took the appraisal calmly, as if it happened every day, which it probably did, in fairness. He really was well turned out.

“Are you to meet someone here, Miss Wooller?”

“Ah…well as to that, Mr. Hetherington,” Hannah looked behind her into the building she had recently exited. “I wanted to show Miss Langley something.”

“I have some time before my next appointment. I would be more than happy to keep two such beautiful women company until then. That is, of course, as long as I am not intruding on one of those mysterious womanly secrets a man should not be privy to?”

Phoebe watched Alexander Hetherington smile at Hannah, who in turn scowled.
 

“I-I suppose you could come, though I’m unsure why you would as it is merely a business proposition I wish to discuss, and as I’m sure like other gentlemen you feel a woman should not be even discussing such matters I fail to see why you would want to come.” Hannah’s scowl darkened as she glared up at him. “In fact, I don’t think you should.”

“Ah, but I am not my brother, Miss Wooller, and very forward thinking, I assure you. I will not judge you unless you ask me to.”

“That will never happen,” Hannah muttered.

“That will do.” Phoebe put an end to their conversation. “You’re both making my head ache with all this arguing back and forth. Lead on, Hannah, and I’ll make him leave if I deem he should.” Phoebe ushered them both into the shop Hannah had recently walked out of.
 

The room was quite large and had lots of shelving on one side and hooks and racks on the other. There was a curtained room that Hannah led them into, which had two long benches and more shelving.
 

“Come clean now if you please, Hannah. What is going on and why am I here?” Phoebe looked at her friend, while Alexander Hetherington continued to walk around the room, pulling out drawers and looking into cupboards.

“You must not say a word of what you hear in this room, Mr. Hetherington.” Hannah followed up this statement with a glare and a pointed finger this time. Alexander placed both hands in the air and then continued to explore the room.

“I want to start my own fashion establishment,” Hannah said defiantly. “I want to design the best gowns for the women of society and eventually make something that is affordable for other woman of less affluent means.”

Phoebe had run through many scenarios in her head about what Hannah would show her, but that hadn’t been one of them.

“You hate the idea.” Hannah deflated before her.

“No!” Phoebe grabbed her friend and hugged her. “Not at all, I love it.”

“You do?”

“I do,” Phoebe released her. “But it will take money and planning.”

“I know, but I have money and I have been making plans for over a year, lots and lots of plans,” Hannah added. “It’s just that lately I have been thinking that it was a project too big for me to take on alone, and although my father has offered to help, I wanted this to be something I achieve without his assistance.”

She looked like a small, eager child as she spoke, her eyes alight with excitement.

“I was hoping that if you wanted to join me in my venture, Phoebe, that you could ask your brother-in-law if he will supply us with fabrics and trimmings. I know he has warehouses as my father mentioned them, and that he imports goods from exotic places.”

Phoebe watched Alexander Hetherington draw near, no longer wandering around the room, his eyes were now focused on Hannah. “And as I am going to be the third business partner in this consortium, then I say yes.”

“You?” Hannah said. “What do you know of women’s fashions, Mr. Hetherington?” she scoffed.

“Firstly, let us dispense with the formalities. My name is Alex, and I believe yours is Hannah. Phoebe I already know.”

Phoebe nodded, Hannah frowned.

“I also know that over the past few years, necklines have broadened and are often square with puff sleeves and a bodice is sometimes gathered, sometimes trimmed. The bust lines are, to my lasting regret, higher. Whilst I prefer the plainer unadorned gowns, the strong vertical embroidery on the front center skirt has made an appearance. Silks are more prevalent and there is a touch more color about, I think, which I find heartening. Shall I continue?”

Phoebe and Hannah just stared at him, open-mouthed.
 

“Personally, I am partial to the net gowns with chenille embroidery. However to find a skilled embroiderer will be quite a task, I fear.”

“Good God, your brothers will kill you if they hear you talking like that!” Phoebe said, still wide-eyed.
 

“And that is why we will not tell them,” Alex said, softly pinning both her and Hannah with a hard stare that rivaled his elder brother. “If I join you, it is on the stipulation that my name is left out of it. My brother is trying to get me to invest in the locomotive industry and other manly ventures. However, they have no interest for me. This, however, does.” His eyes once again swept the room and Phoebe saw the same excitement she felt. “If you feel it is too hard to keep my name a secret then I, of course understand, especially as, Phoebe, your brother-in-law is my brother’s friend and often business associate.”

“I’m happy to keep your name out of any discussions if that is your stipulation for joining us,” Phoebe said. “And as I am determined to be an equal partner, I will need to speak with my brother-in-law with regards to a loan before I commit any further.” Excitement was bubbling inside her at the prospect of what they were about to do. “However, all going to plan, I am definitely in,” she added, sticking her arm out, her palm face down in front of her.

“As am I,” Alex said, placing his hand on top of Phoebe’s while he looked at Hannah with a raised eyebrow that could only be a dare. “And I have some capital already.”

Hannah looked at them both and then sighed. “Fine,” she said slapping her hand on the top. “But we are equal partners. No one is more senior than the other.”

“Unless we are talking age, then I’m the oldest,” Phoebe felt compelled to add.
 

“By one year, if that, Phoebe.”

“It matters not if it is one week, Alex. All that matters is that I am.”

He had a lovely smile. It made his face light and Phoebe wondered how this man could be related to the controlled, often somber Lord Levermarch.

“Right, now then,” Hannah said, all business. “We can only meet briefly today. Therefore, I have a list of matters that we need to discuss urgently. I have set some things in motion, such as the purchase of the lease on this property, but of course there is much more to do.”

“What about a name, Hannah? We will need a name and someone to front our business as none of us can be seen serving people,” Phoebe added.

“A French woman,” Alex said, “and I may have just the one, or two actually.”

Phoebe followed her new business partners to the desk where they spent the next thirty minutes outlining plans, and Phoebe thought they were quite possibly the most exciting thirty minutes of her life.

CHAPTER FIVE

Finn and his brothers made their way along Bond Street after they had been fitted for new jackets, waistcoats and whatever else they could get him to spend money on.

“I saw Miss Langley earlier today. She is a lovely lady, Finn.”

Luckily, he had good balance as Alex’s words made him miss a step, but Finn recovered before they noticed.

“Which Miss Langley?” he said, knowing very well it was Phoebe.

“The goddess.”

“By God, she is isn’t she,” Ben sighed.

Finn listened as Ben listed Phoebe’s virtues. He neither agreed nor disagreed until the last one.

 
“Elegant manners?” Finn queried. “She spends her nights speaking her mind. I have never met a woman who has such little regard for the rules of society.”

The twins both stopped to stare at him.
 

“That was quite a bit of emotion behind that statement, Finn. Care to tell us what Miss Langley has done to raise your ire?”
      “Nothing,” he said calmly, realizing he had let his emotions get the better of him. “We are not that well acquainted. I have merely heard talk.”

“How interesting, when you often declare vehemently that you loathe gossip,” Alex said.

“Where did you meet her?” His insides always seemed to be a constant simmer these days, and usually reached boiling point when Phoebe was mentioned or nearby.

“We bumped into each other walking along Bond Street earlier. She was with Miss Wooller.”

“You went shopping before we met you? Then shopped again with us, Alex? I swear, you spend more money on your clothes than the average household on food.”

“Looking at your waistline, Ben, we know where your money is—”

“About the investments we discussed, Alex,” Finn interrupted before they started bickering in the streets. He was also more than happy to move the conversation away from Phoebe.
 

“I have it under control. Thank you, Finn.”

Alex smiled up at him and then nodded his head to a lady passing by.

“I think you should take my advice on this, Alex. The locomotive industry is on the cusp of booming and now is the time to invest.”

“I have a few things I am looking into, Finn. You shall have to trust me.”

Finn stopped. “What things?” He felt a chill at his bother’s words. “The last time you invested without my advice, it did not go well for you.”

“Tis hardly my fault that man was a fraudster. Those diamonds looked real,” Alex protested.

“Alex, you should have asked me to look into it for you,” Finn added. “I would have told you it was not a sound investment, like this one is.”

“Ben and I have since made several sound ones with good yields, haven’t we, Ben?”
 

Finn watched his other brother nod but add nothing further. He was happy not to have Finn’s attention and more than happy for it to be focused on his twin.

“I’m twenty-two, Finneous. For pity’s sake, let me live or fall on my own sword, not yours.”

Finn felt protective of the twins, and perhaps he came across heavy-handed at times, but he had their best interests at heart, and he was damned if he’d stand by and see some unscrupulous bastard lure them into another unsound investment.
 

“Tell me of these investments and I will check them out for you.”

Alex turned to face Finn, folding his arms in a defensive gesture; he then narrowed his eyes before speaking. “I can look after myself, brother. There is no need for you to meddle.”

“Meddle!” Finn snapped. “Had I not meddled in your life at least a dozen times you would probably be on a ship bound for the colonies, shackled to your brother.”

“That’s harsh,” Ben said, moving to Alex’s side.
 

“Everyone makes mistakes, Finn, and those of us with a modicum of intelligence learn from them,” Alex snapped back. “So leave me alone to make my choices.”

They stood in the street glaring at each other. Arguing with them wasn’t anything new, but usually Finn remained in control; however, at that moment he would have happily thumped some sense into his brother.