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shouldered such responsibility. I am impressed.” He dipped his head and lifted his glass in a toast. “As to your earlier question, you are very perceptive. Curtis Shipping did not benefit from the blockade, but rather the end of it.”
    “How so?” her father asked, leaning forward.
    “While it was in place, Britain was starved of American goods such as timber, cotton, and tobacco. During the war, my partner, Brett Curtis, and I cultivated relationships with the New England mill owners as well as the tobacco and cotton farmers riddling the south. We invested in a fleet of ships so when the blockade ended, we were poised to take advantage of the renewal of trade between the countries.” Daniel grinned. “We exported the coveted goods, and the relationship benefited both parties, unlike the war.”
    “Brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” her father said, admiration lighting his eyes. “Someone should have profited from that quagmire of a war.” Mirroring Daniel’s earlier gesture, he raised his glass in a toast. “Considering our poor harvest last year, your arrival home is fortuitous.”
    Daniel looked bemused. “Is there a correlation between exports and agriculture?”
    “No. But there is a need for someone with a keen eye for accessing successful business ventures as well as reading those that are less profitable. You appear to possess an aptitude for both.”
    Puzzled, Daniel turned to Julia for further explanation, but her father’s words equally baffled her. “I thought Lady Julia has managed—”
    “It is not for me. I do not need assistance, but I am concerned that your brother does.”
    Out of the corner of her eye, Julia saw Daniel’s smile falter, and she hastened to smooth over the impact of her father’s words. “Daniel has no experience in running estates. I am not sure—”
    “Running a company is not so different from running an estate,” her father said, cutting her off. “There are men to manage, finances to be addressed, products to be obtained whether they are acquired through mills or farming.” He paused and his eyes narrowed on Daniel. “Have you visited Bedford Hall yet?”
    “No,” Daniel replied after a slight hesitation. “To be honest, I was just discussing with Robbie Tanner my plans for the duration of my visit. Bedford Hall came up, but Robbie informed me that my brother is away hunting in Kent.”
    “Yes,” the earl conceded. “However, that might be to your advantage, as Bedford is proprietary about his estate and has a right to be. That being said, you are family and Julia is his fiancée. As such, I doubt your visiting the property should arouse his ire. If you combined your keen head for business with Julia’s talent for estate management, the two of you can assess matters, or at least determine the root of the tenants’ concerns that have come to my attention. Together you can present your findings to Bedford and get the man to listen, as he refuses to do with me. Of course, Emily will join you as well.”
    Julia stared at her father, but when she glanced at Daniel, he appeared as stunned as she.
    Daniel recovered more quickly, for a dazzling smile split his handsome features. “That’s a brilliant idea, I’d be delighted to assess matters with Lady Julia and help in any capacity that I can. That is, if she is willing to accept my assistance and my company.” He lifted a brow, awaiting her response.
    He appeared thoroughly amused at her quandary.
    She also recognized a challenging gleam in his eyes, as if he were tossing a gauntlet at her feet. She met his gaze straight on, for she was no coward. While wary of any joint venture with Daniel, Bedford Hall was to be her home—that is if her Damn Duke ever set a wedding date. Taunton had shared with her the grievances of Edmund’s tenants. When she had questioned Edmund about the matter, he had assured her that the estate was turning a profit, and he had dismissed the matter with a haughty wave of his