he didn’t want to jeopardize their friendship. Yet, there was a part deep inside him that knew it wasn’t merely a friendship, but something rare.
Whatever it was, they would have to define it themselves.
“Reed, what do think?” Christian asked as he surveyed the warehouse operation.
Phillip Reed studied the surroundings and nodded. “It’s a grand location, Captain. We’ll have supplies brought in through the back, and the empty storage room will be perfect for storing tools, stains, gold-leafing sheets.” He pointed to one of the rooms in the back that had sliding doors as a back entrance. “We can bring in wood there. Once we see how the demand is for the refinishing of the writing desks, we can adjust the business accordingly. It’d be nice to make larger custom pieces. That’s my specialty.” He tucked a pencil he’d used for drawing the building’s layout behind one ear. “I can teach the craft to others.”
“How many do you think we can employ?” Christian asked. “Twenty perhaps?”
“That’s not enough, but it’s a start,” Reed said confidently. “I’d say fifty within the month.”
“Fifty?” Christian said incredulously. That was a huge amount of manpower for a new business. “Are you sure?”
Reed nodded briskly. “I met with Lady Meriwether early this morning. She suggested we assign some men with transporting the finished desks to her workroom as soon as possible. She wants to tailor some of her linens to match the colors and designs. From there, she’ll put the stock in her shop and start taking custom orders. She wants them by the end of the week. She’s confident they’ll sell. Plus she said she’d use a few of the men to help with delivery of her own products.” He shook his head. “The woman is a genius.”
Christian could readily agree to that. He’d wanted her assistance and expertise, but her efforts to help went way beyond what they had originally discussed. It was completely unselfish of her to devote this much time to his charity when she had her own challenges. Within the week, she’d be meeting the Secretary to the First Lady of the Bedchamber. Christian had little doubt she’d be able to convince the man he should choose her linens for the Royal Pavilion.
An overwhelming sense of rightness rolled through him as he inhaled. He couldn’t have asked for a better person to help him.
Or a better person to kiss.
“She also suggested some of the men travel to the counties where specialty woods are available. Thought they could bring back samples for me to look at. If the wood is of high enough quality, we could start making original pieces here.” Reed folded his arms across his chest. The look of satisfaction on his face made him appear years younger.
Reed’s demeanor had transformed since Christian had approached him with the idea and put him in charge. He seemed happy, confident, and more of his old self.
Calam Walstrom, one of the infantrymen who had worked as a Randford groomsman, drew near. He nodded briefly to Christian before showing a list with tools, paints, and varnishes for Reed’s approval. Calam had been one of the first to inquire if he could work here and learn a new trade. He wouldn’t be the last.
After the men finished their conversation, Reed turned back to Christian. “Captain, Lady Meriwether gave me the name and address of a place called Hailey’s Hope. It’s a charity for soldiers who’ve returned from the war without any place to stay. The Duchess of Langham and the Marchioness of Pembrooke operate it. Lady Meriwether said they have a new dormitory wing set to open. It might be the solution for some of your men who’ve returned with injuries and can’t work right away. When they heal, we can see about finding them jobs.”
“She came up with that solution?” he asked. The woman had an answer for everything.
“She’d asked me how I came to find you once I returned. I told her about me begging.” Reed glanced at the floor, then turned his gaze to Christian. “She wasn’t prying, but concerned. She offered me money, but I refused. I pulled out the last coin I’d received on the streets and said that I was keeping it as a souvenir. I even told her I’d bit it to see if it was lead or gold. She said she’d done the same thing when she was a young girl.” He chuckled then turned serious. “Yours was the last coin I’d been given. I’m keeping it