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Authors: Ashe Barker
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shake.
Mr. Luke took it, but she wondered if he lingered just a fraction too long before releasing it. She indicated the other seat in the room, the one normally commandeered by Mr. Timmins. “Please, sit down. May I offer you some refreshment after your journey? Have you come straight here from the station?”
“Tea would be most welcome, if that is convenient. And yes, I prefer to press on with our discussions without delay, so I sought directions from the station master, then made my way here.”
“Of course. Mr. Timmins…” She summoned her assistant, forgetting momentarily that he was ‘elsewhere.’
The man appeared within seconds. “May I help you, Miss Wynne?”
Victoria chose not to remark on the specifics of his whereabouts. Instead she requested a tray of tea, and perhaps some biscuits if any were to hand. Mr. Timmins nodded, offered a swift bow to Mr. Luke, whose presence seemed to come as no surprise to him, and scurried off.
Alone again, Victoria launched right in. She was anxious to know her fate. “You have examined the books. I trust you found all in order.”
“Indeed, Miss Wynne. I have brought your accounts back with me since you will have need of them.”
“Thank you. May I assume my offer is acceptable then? Are we to be partners?”
He fixed her with that glinting green gaze she remembered with vivid accuracy from their earlier encounter. “Your offer is of interest to me, Miss Wynne, though I wish to vary the terms somewhat.”
Victoria frowned, perplexed. “But, my terms were fair, generous even. You stand to make money, an excellent return in fact, from my management of Wynne’s. I can assure you, Mr. Luke, you would have no cause to regret entering into a deal with me.”
“I trust I would not. Indeed, I am convinced of it. But as I say, I have a different concept in mind that I wish to put to you. The nature of my proposal is more personal in nature, such that it requires to be discussed face to face, and in private. I should say though, I hope you will find my terms to be generous too, and they are non-negotiable. You will either accept them, or you will not.”
Victoria sank back into her seat, her optimism evaporating. “Please go on, Mr. Luke.”
“All in good time. First, we will enjoy our tea.” Mr. Timmins entered the room, a tray in his hands. He placed it on Victoria’s desk, then left them to it.
Adam Luke followed the clerk’s retreat with his eyes. “A most amenable employee. I hope you pay him well.”
“I believe so. He has worked for my family for almost twenty years.”
“I see. He makes a fine cup of tea as well, if I may say so.” Mr. Luke lifted the small porcelain teapot and poured two cups as Victoria regarded him in silence. He passed one to her. The next several moments were employed sorting out the milk and sugar and offering biscuits.
At last, Mr. Luke sat back in his chair and took a slow sip. He raised his eyes to regard Victoria under his brows. “Miss Wynne, I want you to become my mistress.”
His remark was followed by the shattering of china as Victoria’s cup slipped from her fingers to smash on the stone floor. Mr. Timmins hurtled into the room.
“What has happened? Are you all right, Miss Wynne? Were you scalded?” Her clerk rounded the desk to fuss over her.
“No, I am fine, just a little… Please, could you find me a broom?”
“I will see to it. Are you quite sure you are uninjured?”
“Miss Wynne has had something of a shock, but I am sure she will recover soon enough. She is otherwise unharmed. Perhaps you could clear up the debris, and bring another cup for Miss Wynne. Or may I call you Victoria?”
Adam Luke remained cool, calm, utterly unfazed by the commotion. Had she retained her teacup in her grip, Victoria suspected she might have flung it at him.
“Yes. No, I…” She was not normally given to stammering. This man brought out her worst failings.
“Of course, sir. Right away.” Mr. Timmins
Mr. Luke took it, but she wondered if he lingered just a fraction too long before releasing it. She indicated the other seat in the room, the one normally commandeered by Mr. Timmins. “Please, sit down. May I offer you some refreshment after your journey? Have you come straight here from the station?”
“Tea would be most welcome, if that is convenient. And yes, I prefer to press on with our discussions without delay, so I sought directions from the station master, then made my way here.”
“Of course. Mr. Timmins…” She summoned her assistant, forgetting momentarily that he was ‘elsewhere.’
The man appeared within seconds. “May I help you, Miss Wynne?”
Victoria chose not to remark on the specifics of his whereabouts. Instead she requested a tray of tea, and perhaps some biscuits if any were to hand. Mr. Timmins nodded, offered a swift bow to Mr. Luke, whose presence seemed to come as no surprise to him, and scurried off.
Alone again, Victoria launched right in. She was anxious to know her fate. “You have examined the books. I trust you found all in order.”
“Indeed, Miss Wynne. I have brought your accounts back with me since you will have need of them.”
“Thank you. May I assume my offer is acceptable then? Are we to be partners?”
He fixed her with that glinting green gaze she remembered with vivid accuracy from their earlier encounter. “Your offer is of interest to me, Miss Wynne, though I wish to vary the terms somewhat.”
Victoria frowned, perplexed. “But, my terms were fair, generous even. You stand to make money, an excellent return in fact, from my management of Wynne’s. I can assure you, Mr. Luke, you would have no cause to regret entering into a deal with me.”
“I trust I would not. Indeed, I am convinced of it. But as I say, I have a different concept in mind that I wish to put to you. The nature of my proposal is more personal in nature, such that it requires to be discussed face to face, and in private. I should say though, I hope you will find my terms to be generous too, and they are non-negotiable. You will either accept them, or you will not.”
Victoria sank back into her seat, her optimism evaporating. “Please go on, Mr. Luke.”
“All in good time. First, we will enjoy our tea.” Mr. Timmins entered the room, a tray in his hands. He placed it on Victoria’s desk, then left them to it.
Adam Luke followed the clerk’s retreat with his eyes. “A most amenable employee. I hope you pay him well.”
“I believe so. He has worked for my family for almost twenty years.”
“I see. He makes a fine cup of tea as well, if I may say so.” Mr. Luke lifted the small porcelain teapot and poured two cups as Victoria regarded him in silence. He passed one to her. The next several moments were employed sorting out the milk and sugar and offering biscuits.
At last, Mr. Luke sat back in his chair and took a slow sip. He raised his eyes to regard Victoria under his brows. “Miss Wynne, I want you to become my mistress.”
His remark was followed by the shattering of china as Victoria’s cup slipped from her fingers to smash on the stone floor. Mr. Timmins hurtled into the room.
“What has happened? Are you all right, Miss Wynne? Were you scalded?” Her clerk rounded the desk to fuss over her.
“No, I am fine, just a little… Please, could you find me a broom?”
“I will see to it. Are you quite sure you are uninjured?”
“Miss Wynne has had something of a shock, but I am sure she will recover soon enough. She is otherwise unharmed. Perhaps you could clear up the debris, and bring another cup for Miss Wynne. Or may I call you Victoria?”
Adam Luke remained cool, calm, utterly unfazed by the commotion. Had she retained her teacup in her grip, Victoria suspected she might have flung it at him.
“Yes. No, I…” She was not normally given to stammering. This man brought out her worst failings.
“Of course, sir. Right away.” Mr. Timmins
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