Rise of a Merchant Prince (37 page)

Each time he caught sight of her across the room, his breath caught in his throat, and when he saw another man hovering over her, he felt anger building inside. Karli kept him moving among the guests, only pausing to speak with the Duke and his family, forgetting for the time she socialized with nobility that moments before she was furious with Roo for his behavior around Sylvia. Twice she left to nurse Abigail, and when she returned she found her husband watching Estherbrook's daughter.

At some point the crowd began to depart and bade their hosts good-bye. While Roo and Karli were standing at the door, Jacob came and took Roo's hand. “My thanks for inviting us to the celebration of your new company, Rupert.” He smiled at Karli. “Mrs. Avery, it's been a pleasure to meet you.”

Karli smiled but glanced around and said, “Where is your daughter, Mr. Estherbrook?”

Jacob smiled. “Oh, she's somewhere in there.” He took his cloak when the doorman presented it to him, folding it over his arm while waiting for his coach to be brought up from where it was waiting. “I have no doubt at least a half dozen of those young lads have agreed to escort her home. I am not able to keep late hours any more.”

“Indeed,” said Karli coolly. The coach arrived and Estherbrook departed. A little while later, Duke James and his wife and their son and his wife left, again setting Karli nearly glowing with pride. While many rich and powerful men had visited her father in his modest home, no noble had ever passed through their portal. And in the first evening of entertaining in the new house, the most powerful man in the Kingdom after the royal family had come calling.

Seeing that neither Jimmy nor Dash had accompanied their parents, Roo said, “Excuse me a moment, please,” to his wife and left.

He found Jimmy talking to the very pretty daughter of a miller who now worked for the Bitter Sea Company and took him by the elbow, moving him away without even an apology. “Where's Dash?”

Jimmy glanced over his shoulder and made an expression of regret to the young woman, mouthing that he would be back in a moment. “He's over there.” Jimmy pointed across the room.

Sylvia Estherbrook commanded a portion of the main salon, with a circle of admirers around her. At her side stood Duncan, his most charming smile on display as he told some story of his adventures, to Sylvia's amusement and the irritation of the other
young men. Dash stood a short way beyond, watching in a very observant fashion. “It's his turn,” said Jimmy.

“His turn for what?” said Roo.

Jimmy whispered, “We're taking turns to make sure no one gets fingermarks on your young Miss Estherbrook.” He glanced back at the young woman he had been speaking with and said, “That particular young lady is . . . very interesting, and as I am really not in your employ and Dashel is, he thought it the brotherly thing to do to watch over your friend for you, while I . . . take advantage of the opportunity to become . . . better acquainted with that sweet girl there.”

“'
Your
young Miss Estherbrook'? ‘Watch over
your
friend'?” repeated Roo, his expression darkening.

Jimmy whispered, “It wouldn't do if one of these young gentlemen got a little too much to drink and made a fool of himself over such an unusually pretty woman, would it? Given Mr. Estherbrook's importance in the community, I mean?”

Roo said, “I guess not. Is Dash seeing her home?”

“Either he or Duncan,” said Jimmy.

Roo nodded and said, “Get back to your young lady.” He moved through the party until he found Luis, who was sitting as if at home, his bad hand kept in a large pocket on the side of his new jacket.

Luis raised his good hand, holding a drink.
“Señor,”
he greeted Roo in his native Rodezian dialect. “You are a man of consequence, to all appearances.”

“Thank you,” said Roo. “Who's at the shop?”

“Bruno, Jack, and I believe Manuel. Why?”

“Just thinking.” He glanced around. “I would like you and Duncan to stop by there on your way back to your house. Just to check up on things.”

Luis glanced past Roo and caught sight of Roo's cousin and Sylvia. After a second, he said, “I understand.” He stood. “But that leads me to another matter.”

“What?” asked Roo, still distracted.

“I would like to find other quarters.”

“Why?” asked Roo, his attention suddenly focused upon Luis.

Luis shrugged. “I am a man of simple needs, and your cousin, well . . . Duncan has many friends calling. I enjoy my work, and find little time to rest given his .. . late hours.”

Roo thought of it a moment and realized that with the money he was now paying Duncan, he was probably bringing a different barmaid or whore home every night. The house he and Luis shared was tiny, and it had to be difficult for the solitary Rodezian. “Find yourself new quarters tomorrow. I'll raise your pay to whatever is necessary to cover the extra expense. Make it a nice, quiet place.”

“Thank you,” said Luis with one of his rare smiles. “Now I will explain to Duncan we need to check up on the shop on our way home.”

Roo nodded and returned to the door, where Karli was bidding guests good night. “There you are,” she said with a dark look. “Where have you been?”

“With Luis.” He came to stand beside her, bade good night to another departing guest, and then said to Karli, “He wants his own quarters, so I gave him leave to find a place away from Duncan.”

“That I can understand,” said Karli.

Roo sighed. He knew she and Duncan had never gotten along on the few occasions he had come to the house. There was something about him that simply put her off, and the harder Duncan tried to win her over with his charming nonsense, the more distasteful she found his company. She had tried to keep her dislike to herself, but Roo saw it, and after he asked her about it, she had admitted as much.

A little while later, Luis and Duncan came to the door, and while Luis bid Karli good night, Duncan leaned over and whispered into his cousin's ear, “I would really like to stay a while longer, Roo.”

Roo said, “I'd sleep better if you checked out the shop and made sure everything was in order.”

Duncan's features clouded. “I'm sure you would.”

Roo took him by the elbow and steered him a few steps away. “I've also told Luis to move out of your house.”

This caught Duncan completely off guard. “What?” he said.

“Well,” said Roo in a conspiratorial tone, “you're rising in the world along with me, and . . .” Letting his gaze wander to where Sylvia and the daughters of several other wealthy men stood in conversation with a number of young men, he added, “And I thought you might do with a little more privacy for your . . . entertaining. I told Luis to find himself new quarters.”

Duncan didn't know what to make of this for a moment, but then he smiled and said, “Thank you, cousin. Most generous of you.”

Roo hurried Duncan back to the door, where he bade Karli good night. A little while later, Dash came and said, “I'm going to escort Miss Estherbrook back
to her father's house.”

Roo nodded and attempted to look uninterested. He turned to find Karli's eyes fixed upon him. Smiling, he said, “This is going on longer than I wanted. Why don't you check up on Abigail while I shoo out the last of the guests? I'll be up in a while.”

Karli looked unconvinced, but she nodded, lifted the hem of her dress, and walked to the stairway and quickly climbed to the second floor.

Roo made a brisk tour of the room, politely making it clear to those still there that the party was drawing to a close. He found Jerome Masterson asleep in a large chair in a small room off the main parlor, his arms wrapped around a now empty bottle of very expensive Keshian brandy. Lifting his partner by the arm, Roo carried him to the main salon, where he saw his bookkeeper deep in conversation with another young man. He motioned for Jason to come over and gave Masterson's care over to him, instructing him to see his partner got home safely.

As he reached the door, the last of the guests were leaving, including Sylvia and Dash. As the last visitor departed, Dash's hired carriage pulled up to the door. Sylvia turned to bid Roo good night and feigned a stumble, falling against him. He caught her and felt her body hard against his. She whispered, “My goodness! I must have had too much wine.” Her face was mere inches from his as she looked into his eyes and said, “What must you think of me?”

Then, as if by impulse, she kissed his cheek and whispered, “Please come soon.” Stepping back, she turned and said, “Thank you again, Rupert. And again forgive my . . . clumsiness.”

She moved quickly down the steps and entered the carriage as Dash held the door open for her. He glanced back at his employer, then climbed in after her, and
the carriage headed off down the street.

Roo watched until it disappeared and then returned to the door. He walked inside and found the three hired servants waiting. He thanked them for their good work, paid them with a bonus, and sent them on their way. He knew Mary would already be asleep, as would Rendel, for they would both be up at dawn the next day. He pulled off his coat and tossed it on the end of the banister, too tired to hang it in the wardrobe his wife had purchased for his clothing.

His mind was afire with images of Sylvia Estherbrook and he could not be rid of her feel, her scent in his nostrils, her warmth, and her lips upon his cheek. His body ached for her as he entered the darkened bedroom he shared with Karli. He glanced over and found Abigail asleep in her crib and was relieved. If the baby had been in bed with his wife he would have retired to one of the guest rooms rather than risk awakening her.

He quickly undressed and got under the covers. In the darkness, he heard Karli say, “Did everyone finally go?”

Still slightly intoxicated, he laughed. “No, I left a few of them in the garden; I'll set them loose in the morning.”

Karli sighed. “Was the party a success?”

He rolled over and said, “You were there; what did you think?”

“I think you enjoyed being with those powerful men . . . and beautiful women.”

Roo reached out and felt his wife's shoulder
through the thin cotton of her nightshirt. “I like looking,” he tried to say lightly. “What man wouldn't? But I know where home is.”

“Really, Roo?” she asked, rolling on her side to face him. “Do you mean that?”

He said, “Of course I do.” He pulled her toward him and kissed her. A moment later he was fully aroused and pulling her nightshirt over her head.

He took her fast and hard and at no time was he thinking of her. For those passion-filled minutes, his mind was completely engulfed with images of another woman. As he panted to a conclusion, he could only think of Sylvia's scent and touch. After he had spent himself, he rolled over and lay on his back, staring at the ceiling and wondering if Sylvia's carriage had reached her home yet.

They had ridden in silence. Dash had waited for her to speak first and she had said nothing until halfway to the estate. At last she said, “I'm sorry, but I've forgotten your name.”

“Dashel,” he said with a grin. “Jameson. You met my father and brother.”

She frowned. “Your father?”

“Arutha, Lord Vencar.”

She gasped as if completely embarrassed. “Oh my! Then your grandfather is . . .”

“The Duke of Krondor,” he finished. “I'm that one.”

She regarded him in a new light. “I had you confused with that other fellow, who doesn't speak much when I'm around.”

“That would be Jason,” said Dash. “He's completely awe-struck by you, miss.”

“And you're not?” she asked, a playful tone in her voice.

Dash's grin widened. “Not particularly.”

“I bet I could change your mind,” she said, leaning forward so her face was inches from his and her gown provided an ample expanse of bosom for his inspection.

He leaned forward also, until his nose was almost touching hers. Whispering in a conspiratorial tone, he said, “I bet you could, too.”

Then he sat back. “But I am, unfortunately, pledged to another.”

She leaned back, resting against the seat. Tapping her chin, she laughed. “Who is the lucky woman?”

“I don't know,” he said. “But she's the daughter of some noble house, no doubt. My grandfather will inform me when the time comes.”

She feigned a pout. “That's a disappointment.”

Dash shrugged, as if bored by the discussion. “It seems to have worked out for my mother and father. They are, by all outward appearance, rather fond of one another.”

They rode on in silence for the rest of the journey. When they entered the estate, the gateman ran alongside the carriage so he could open the door for Sylvia. Dash got out and presented her with his hand and she stepped down. He escorted her to the door and she opened it, turned, and said, “Are you sure I can't convince you to come inside?” She moved close to him and slid her hand down his chest until it was below his belt.

Dash endured the fondling a moment, then stepped back. “I'm very sorry, miss.”

He turned and hurried to the carriage and climbed inside,
while Sylvia went inside the house displaying a wicked smile and sounding a poorly concealed laugh.

The carriage rolled through the gate and toward the city as Dash considered that his employer was in for a great deal of trouble. He now regretted he had been so generous with Jimmy, allowing him to pursue the miller's daughter. After a minute, Dash stuck his head out the window and shouted, “Driver!”

“Yes, sir?”

“Take me to the Sign of the White Wing!”

“Yes, sir!” came the reply.

Dash sat back and sighed. After a long moment of reflection, he muttered, “Bitch.”

Karli frowned.

Roo was dressing hurriedly for his supper appointment and did not seem to pay attention to what she was saying. Catching sight of her expression, he said, “I'm sorry, dear. What was that?”

“I said I was hoping you would be dining in tonight. I have something to talk to you about.”

Smoothing back his hair with a brush, he glanced in the mirror at his reflection and frowned slightly. No matter how rich the clothing, how expensive the barber, he still didn't care much for how he looked.

A tiny sound of delight caused him to look down and he saw his daughter crawling in the doorway. Then she shrieked with joy as she gripped the doorjamb and stood. She couldn't quite walk yet, though she was trying, but she could manage to stand now, if she had something to hold on to. Karli turned, impatience on her face. “Mary!” she shouted.

“Yes, ma'am?” came the reply from the next room.

“You let Abigail out of your sight and she was
crawling here on the landing,” scolded Karli. Mary seemed to have some strange notion that she could set the baby down and leave and return to find the child in the same place. That hadn't been true for nearly three months now. “What if she fell down the stairs?” said Karli.

Roo saw his daughter grinning at him, drool dribbling down her chin. Little teeth were emerging, and she often fussed through the night, but he had to admit he was becoming fond of her.

He bent down and picked up the child, who viewed him with a skeptical eye. The baby put out her hand, trying to stick as many fingers as possible into his mouth, when Roo was suddenly greeted by a very strong odor.

“Oh no,” he said, holding the child at arm's length, while he looked for any sign of a diaper leak on his new coat. Not seeing one, he carried the baby—still at arm's length—into the next room, where he said, “Dearest, the baby has filled her diapers . . . again.”

Karli took the girl and sniffed delicately, saying, “I believe you're right.”

Roo pecked her on the cheek. “I'll try not to be too late, but if talks go on into the night . . . don't wait up for me.”

Before she could say anything, he was out the door. His carriage had been brought around from the storage yard behind the house. He had purchased it the month before and occasionally rode around the city in it, just to be seen.

The Bitter Sea Company, as it was known, was rapidly consolidating its power base, and the name Roo Avery was on its way to becoming famous
throughout Krondor and the Western Realm. As Roo climbed into the carriage, he considered what he might do to further expand his reach financially. The Blue Star Shipping Company was reportedly in financial difficulty, and Roo thought the Bitter Sea Company would be needing more ships soon. Perhaps he should have Duncan sniff around the waterfront for further rumors, while he had Dash and Jason talk to their contacts. Roo wished he could convince Dash's brother, Jimmy, to come to work for him as well, considering how useful he had proven during the grain manipulation. But while Dash was working with Roo with his grandfather's blessing, the Duke seem determined to keep his other grandson working at the palace.

Roo settled back into the carriage and used a gold-topped walking stick to knock on the roof, signaling the driver he was ready to leave. The other thing that passed through Roo's mind as he rode through Krondor was how he might exact revenge on Timothy Jacoby. Hurting him in the grain swindle hadn't been enough. Twice since then Jacoby and Sons had pulled trades to the disadvantage of the Bitter Sea Company. It was also attracting other firms into loose alliance, due in the main to fear of the Bitter Sea's growing power. But merely being more successful than Jacoby and Sons wasn't enough for Roo. Until Tim lay dead before him, he wouldn't count the debt for Helmut squared.

He considered a half-dozen plans and discarded them all. When a confrontation finally occurred, events had to appear as if Roo had nothing to do with inciting it; otherwise he might find himself back in the death cell, and now he had far too much to lose.

As if wealth was a lodestone, attracting more wealth, so his success in forming the Bitter Sea Company had caused more opportunities to appear. He now controlled most of the freight between Krondor and the north, and a very serious percentage of it between Krondor and the Eastern Realm. Only between Kesh and the Kingdom did he fail to gain any significant presence. Much of that trade had been secured by Jacoby and Sons, and those contracts appeared unbreakable. In fact, if anything, they appeared to be growing, as caravans from the south seemed on the rise.

Thoughts of business and trade vanished as the carriage approached the gates of the Estherbrook estate. The servant inside the gate inquired who was seeking admission and Roo's driver called out his master's name. The gate quickly opened. This was the fourth time since his grand party that Roo had visited the Estherbrook house. The first time, Sylvia had been flirtatious and charming. The second she had lingered after her father had bid Roo good evening, and she had again kissed his cheek, pressing her body against his, and again she blushed and claimed it was the effect of the wine. The last time she had again lingered, only this time the kiss had been passionate and not on the cheek, and she had said nothing about wine, only that he should return soon. The dinner invitation had arrived two weeks later.

Despite his impatience to see Sylvia again, Roo waited for another servant to open the door once the carriage came to a stop. He dismounted and said to the driver, “Return to the city and get supper. Then return here later. Wait here until I appear. I do not
know how late I may be.”

The driver saluted and drove off, while Roo mounted the steps to the door. When the servant opened the door for him and he stepped inside, he was greeted by Sylvia, who smiled broadly at him. “Rupert!” she exclaimed as if she weren't expecting him. The sound of his name on her lips sent a shiver through him, and sight of her in another of those scandalously low-cut gowns caused him to flush in excitement. She slipped her arm through his and kissed him on the cheek, pressing her bosom hard against him. “You look very handsome tonight,” she said softly in his ear. He swore she almost purred when she spoke.

She led him to the dining room and he saw only two places set. “Where's your father?” he asked, suddenly alarmed and excited at the same time.

She smiled. “He's out of the city on business. I thought you knew. I could have sworn I wrote something to that effect on the invitation. Didn't I?”

Roo sat after she had taken her seat and said, “No, I thought the invitation was from Jacob.”

“It was from me. I hope you don't mind.”

Roo felt his face flush. “No,” he said quietly, “I certainly don't mind.”

He could hardly eat and found himself reaching for his wine-glass repeatedly. By the time Sylvia announced supper was over, he was fairly down the road to being drunk. He rose and escorted her toward the entryway. He couldn't remember one word in ten they had spoken. As they left the dining room, Sylvia turned to the servants and said, “That will be all. We will not be needing you further tonight.”

Instead of leading Roo toward the front door, she
instead guided him up the stairs. He was afraid to speak, lest he wake her from some dream. Down a long corridor they walked and then she opened the door. She stepped across the threshold and gently pulled him through. Reaching around him, she pushed the door closed while he stood motionless, staring at the gigantic canopied bed that occupied the room.

Then she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Whatever shreds of rational thought Roo still possessed vanished at that moment.

In the darkness, Roo stared up at the canopy above. He could hear Sylvia breathing slowly and evenly and assumed she was asleep. He was exhausted, but also too keyed up to sleep. She was the most incredible women he had known. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, but for the well-bred daughter of a rich merchant, she was an astonishing mix of playful childishness and wanton sensuality. She made love like a veteran of the Sign of the White Wing and was willing—no, eager—to perform acts that would have appalled Karli.

Thinking of his wife, he pushed aside a twinge of guilt. He knew now that he didn't love her; he had married her from pity. He looked at where Sylvia lay, and sighed. This is the woman he should have upon his arm, he thought, not the dowdy little woman who was now at home, asleep in the belief he was discussing business with some shipping magnate. It was Sylvia whom he should be presenting to nobility, and it was Sylvia who should be bearing him children.

His heart pounded in his chest and his love for Sylvia became a bittersweet pang. He lay upon his
side, staring at the barely seen outline of her in the darkness. In his boyhood dreams he had never imagined he would be the man he was at this moment, nor would he have dreamed that a woman of Sylvia Estherbrook's stunning beauty and charm would be sharing her bed with him.

Rolling on his back, he stared at the dark cloth above him and wondered at the miracle of change he had experienced since the night he and Erik had fled from the hounds in Ravensburg.

Thinking of Erik made Roo wonder where his friend might be and what he was doing. He knew Erik was across the sea somewhere with Calis, de Loungville, and some men he didn't know. And he had no idea what they were doing, but he suspected it was something dire. And he knew exactly why they were doing it.

Feeling no peace at such thoughts, he gently reached out and ran his hand down the amazingly soft skin of the woman at his side. She instantly stirred and moved in a languid fashion. Without words she rolled over and came to him, engulfing him in her arms. Amazed at how she knew instantly what he wished, he left all thoughts of Erik behind.

Erik pointed at the rocks. “To port! To port!”

The storm raged as the steersman fought to pull the tiller hard, turning the ship to port and away from crashing death. Erik had stood at the prow of the dragon ship for hours, looking through the dim murk of the early morning light, swirling snow, and fog, trying to avoid running the ship aground.

They had shot past the southern tip of Great Kesh, catching the current that they had been told
would carry them swiftly across the sea to Novindus. Days had passed and the dragon boat with its sixty-four passengers—Calis, de Loungville, Erik, Miranda, and sixty soldiers of Calis's Eagles—sped across the ocean.

The rowers pulled in shifts all day and all night, adding their muscle to the current, and the boat raced across a seemingly empty expanse of ocean. Miranda used her magical ability from time to time to judge their position and claimed they were where they should be.

The weather had grown bitter cold and occasionally they would sight an iceberg floating northward. Miranda had told Erik one night that the southern pole of the world was captured by ice year round, a mass so large the mind couldn't imagine, and from that massive shelf of ice pieces the size of cities would fall into the ocean, drifting northward to melt in the warm air of the Blue or Green Sea.

Erik had remained dubious until one day he had seen what he had thought to be a sail on the horizon, only to find later in the day it was one of those huge pieces of ice Miranda had warned about. From that point forward they had kept extra watches and set the rowers to shifts around the clock to keep moving.

They had found a peninsula of that ice-covered land, and unfortunately came upon it too quickly. They were now trying desperately to keep the ship from crashing against it. Calis had warned that if they were stranded there, they would die a cold, hungry death, and there was nothing that could be done to save them.

“Row, damn you!” shouted Bobby de Loungville over the roar of surf, wind, and the groaning of wood
as the ship heaved and turned against every demand of nature.

Erik could feel them moving sideways, as the powerful current took them into the tug of the surf. “More to port!” he shouted, and the two men on the tiller pushed to obey. Calis stood at the rear of the ship and added his superhuman strength, and the tiller creaked alarmingly. They had been warned that the long tillers of these Brijaner dragon ships could snap off, and then the only possible way to steer would be by controlling the stroke of the rowers. They had also been warned that even an experienced crew of Brijaners could do this only with difficulty, and no man on this boat was either experienced or a Brijaner.

Miranda appeared upon the deck and with a large motion of both arms shouted a word that was nearly unheard at the bow where Erik watched. Suddenly a force pulled hard against the ship from the rear, and Erik had to grab at the rail to keep from going over into the water. The boat hesitated in its dash to destruction, and then stopped a moment in the water.

Then the ship obeyed the rowers and tiller, turning to break free of the pull of the tide, and started to move on a course parallel to the coastline. Miranda let her hands drop and took a deep breath. She made her way to the bow of the boat and Erik watched her with interest. She shared the tiny cabin in the rear with the Captain, and Erik had some idea that this was more than mere courtesy on Calis's part. There was something between them, though Erik couldn't begin to guess what it might be. De Loungville acted like the Captain's personal guard dog when Calis and Miranda were inside, and only an event of the gravest
consequence would cause a crewman to dare to try to get past him.

Miranda was certainly attractive enough, thought Erik, as she came near, but there was something about her that still disturbed him in a way that made any notion of being intimate almost impossible to imagine. Almost, because like the other men on the boat, Erik hadn't been with a woman in months.

As she came to his side, she pointed dead ahead into the murk. “I dare not use another spell, certainly not one that powerful, for a few days, lest we call undue attention to ourselves. So pay heed: if you could see through this mess,” she said, “you would see a tiny grouping of three stars, almost a perfect equal triangle, two hands' spans above the horizon, one hour after sundown. If you point toward that, you'll eventually come to the coast of Novindus less than a day's rowing from Ispar. Steer along the coastline, bearing to the northeast, and you'll find the mouth of the river Dee. We need to use nonmagical means to find our destination.”