All in Good Time (The Gilded Legacy) - By Maureen Lang Page 0,8

mouth at the same time. Once his mind was made up, he never changed it. Surely Tobias knew that by now.

“Perhaps not repaid in money, but in satisfaction? In knowing you’ve helped the lives of those less fortunate? Your mother would be proud if you made such a decision.”

“I’ll thank you not to bring my mother into it. As it pertains to bank matters, the relationship between you and me is strictly business.” Henry set aside his tray, as tired of the food as he was of the company. “Go home, Tobias. Aunt Etta is no doubt waiting for you.”

“No worries there; I stopped in before I came here.”

“And ate her dinner as well?”

Tobias shrugged one hefty shoulder, then took another mouthful of the eggplant, squeezing his words out around the food. “There is another reason I think you ought to get involved in this particular project.”

“Any benefit would be hard-pressed to outweigh the sheer nonsense of the proposal.”

Tobias took the last of his bread and scraped it around his empty plate, scrubbing up the last bit of the red sauce. He popped the bread in his mouth, took a final swig of wine, then wiped his mouth as Henry had a moment before.

But when he began to speak, a hearty burp came out instead. Tobias smiled, satisfied with himself. “Pardon me, but that was a delicious meal. I’ll be sure to stop in the kitchen and tell your Mrs. Gio before I leave.”

“You were saying, Tobias? About the benefits of whatever loan you want me to extend? Finish your argument so I can have some peace and quiet.”

Tobias set aside the wine and the napkin, then placed both palms on his brawny thighs with a thud. “It’s this, Henry. You’re a miserable, lonely old banker trapped in the healthy body of a much younger and viable man. I don’t know what’s made you build a vault around your heart and soul and life, but because of a promise I made to your mother, it’s become my goal to see it blown to smithereens.”

Henry cocked his head. “My life? Blown to smithereens?”

Tobias laughed loud. “No, just the vault around it. Once you’re free, I guarantee you’ll be a much happier person.”

Henry might have declared himself happy already, but even he knew that apart from the satisfaction of a successful business, there wasn’t much evidence for such a claim. “And what has this to do with offering a bad loan that will no doubt tarnish the sensible reputation I’ve spent all these years building for my bank?”

Tobias stood, approaching Henry and leaning over him so their eyes were level. “If the goodness of Miss Dessa Caldwell cannot ignite the dynamite it’ll take to do the blasting, then I’ll give up hope for you altogether.”

“By giving up hope, do you mean you’ll stop hounding this soul of mine that you insist I acknowledge?”

Tobias stood full height again, adjusting his jacket, patting his rounded stomach. “Let’s just say I’ll reconsider my tactics should I fail in this venture.”

Henry leaned his head against the plush leather chair. He closed his eyes, eager for peace. “Off you go, Tobias. If the goodness of Miss Caldwell is so extraordinary, I’m sure she won’t have trouble finding the money she needs at her church. Or at another, less practical bank.”

“No, Henry.” Tobias’s oddly stern voice, deeper than usual, caused Henry to open his eyes again. “I came here tonight to tell you this: I put through the necessary paperwork to approve Miss Caldwell’s loan, based on my authority. You can give me my walking papers if you like, but tomorrow morning when she visits your bank, she’ll be taking with her every penny she requested.”

Dessa wiped her brow with her wrist, careful not to touch her bloodstained fingertips to her hair or face.

“By God’s mercy,” she said, cradling a small, wet infant, “you’ve only to deliver the after-matter now, Cora.”

Dessa, with no more training than from books and her role as a silent witness to a number of births Sophie Pierson had assisted, had watched over the delivery of three such infants on her own since Sophie’s death. She didn’t doubt the regularity of needs like this around here, where even midwives refused to come.

Today Cora’s young friend had taken over the role Dessa used to play at Sophie’s side. Now that the child was delivered, the girl’s eyes weren’t quite so frightened. Not like they’d been when she’d shown up at the back door of the