Miss Hastings' Excellent London Adventure (Brazen Brides Book 4)(27)

 

The company's building was much larger than she had expected. It took up an entire block and was comprised of warehouses on the ground floor and the floor above it. Offices were located on the top floor. As they climbed the stairs to the offices, she tried to recall the name of Uncle Simon’s business partner. “As young men who’d been shareholders of the East India Trading Company,” she explained, “my uncle and his associate established the business thirty years ago.”

 

“I didn’t realize your uncle had a partner.”

 

“I do wish I could recall his name,” she said with a sigh.

 

They were soon to learn, for upon entering the top floor, the first thing a visitor saw was a pair of large offices. One had a large sign on the door reading Simon Hastings, Proprietor. The other, Harold Faukes, Proprietor.

 

Between the two offices was a desk occupied by a bespectacled, red-headed clerk. She wondered if this could be Ashburnham. Should they ask to speak to Mr. Faukes or to Mr. Ashburnham?

 

She did not have to decide. Adam spoke. “I should like to speak to Mr. Faukes,” he said to the clerk.

 

“May I say who’s calling?” the clerk asked in a non-cultured voice. She studied the young man. The sleeves of his woolen jacket nearly covered his hands. It must have come from one of the second-hand shops she'd been told were plentiful in London.

 

“Mr. and Mrs. Birmingham.”

 

The clerk’s eyes widened. “Mr. Faukes’ banker?”

 

“Indeed.”

 

The clerk went into the office. His desk was stacked with shipping labels, including one he'd just addressed.

 

"So you really are his banker?" she asked her husband, surprised.

 

He nodded. "I just this minute realized it. Surprisingly, I was not your uncle's."

 

Mr. Ashburnham returned, eyeing her husband. “Mr. Faukes will see you now.”

 

As they swept past the clerk, Adam casually asked, “And you are?”

 

“James Ashburnham, sir.”

 

Her stomach lurched. She knew they lived in a society where men were innocent until proven guilty, but she instinctively believed this man guilty of significant fraud.

 

In Mr. Faukes’ office, the man rose and greeted Adam, ignoring her. “Mr. Birmingham, what an unexpected pleasure. What brings you to my humble establishment?”

 

Adam looked from him to Emma. “My wife. May I present Mrs. Birmingham, the former Emma Hastings, niece of your late business partner?”

 

Mr. Faukes looked taken aback for a moment, then his face sombered. “Allow me to say how bereft we all are over your uncle’s sad passing.” He inclined his head. “Please accept my deepest sympathy.”

 

She nodded morosely.

 

He then smiled upon her and asked that they be seated. “What a pleasure it is to meet you. Your uncle had been looking forward to your visit.” He gave Adam a puzzled look. “I had not known there was connection between you and Simon’s niece.”

 

“We’ve only just married.”

 

“Then I daresay she’s not too distressed over Simon’s new will. Your wife will never lack for money now that she's a Birmingham, begging your pardon for bringing up such a subject.”

 

“My wife was indeed aggrieved over the terms of her uncle’s will. She was led to believe Mr. Hastings wished to groom her to relieve him of some of his duties.”

 

“It is my opinion,” she said shyly, “that Uncle Simon wished to see the world during his later years. . .” Her voice trailed off. Tears sprang to her eyes, tears for Uncle Simon and the dreams he had never been able to achieve. She managed to control herself from dissolving into a watering pot.

 

“I’m not surprised. He loved to talk about the world. He’d always wanted to see India.” Mr. Faukes grew solemn. “Such a pity. He was in the prime of his life. I don’t need to tell you how much I miss him. We met when he was but nineteen, and I was one-and-twenty. We accomplished many of our dreams.”

 

“Did Mr. Hastings tell you he intended to leave his share of the company to Mr. Ashburnham?” Adam asked.

 

Mr. Faukes shrugged, his lips pursed. “It was my impression as of late that he intended to leave everything to Miss Hastings, er, Mrs. Birmingham.”

 

Adam nodded pensively. “Can you think of anything that would have changed his mind?”

 

Mr. Faukes thought for a moment, shaking his head. “Not to my knowledge.”

 

“He was close to Ashburnham?” Adam asked.

 

“We’re both close to him. We work together six days a week, and he’s capable for one not of the highest intelligence.”