guidance that might ease her burden, but I fear I have none. Might I ask your opinion on the matter?”
*
Finch held back a snort, though he did chuckle to himself. If Miss Barrows only knew she was seeking the advice of someone with little funds to his name and no experience with fortunes. Except if one were speaking of metaphorical fortunes, in which his expertise leaned towards ill rather than good.
“Might I suggest speaking with Mr. Kingsley? He is a good fellow who would love to assist your friend in any manner.”
“Though I’ve met his wife, I fear I do not know the gentleman,” she said.
“I can give an introduction.” With a gentle hand, he steered Duchess around a particularly nasty bump, saving them all from being rattled.
“While I am grateful for that Mr. Finch, I would like your opinion. You seem a sensible fellow with a good head on his shoulders, even if you require the occasional assistance in rescuing wayward hats.”
Turning an eye towards his companion, Finch sat there, mute. Casting his thoughts to their previous conversations, he could not recall any instance in which the lady might come to such a startling revelation, and he didn’t know whether to laugh at her misjudgment of his abilities or blush at the implication.
It was one thing for Simon to ask his opinion. They’d been friends for years, and Simon generally knew his mind and merely needed a listening ear and a few proddings.
“If you think I can be of assistance, then I will do what I can,” said Finch, keeping his tone even. There was no need to broadcast just how doubtful he thought his help would be, especially when Miss Barrows looked so terribly pleased by his answer.
“You see, my friend inherited a fortune, including control of the capital invested in a bank…”
There was an odd quality to Miss Barrows’ tone when she spoke of this friend, and Finch wondered if there wasn’t a hint of jealousy or discomfort on the lady’s part. Though that didn’t seem in line with what he knew of Miss Barrows, it was natural to feel something of the sort when faced with one’s own reduced state. As much as Finch adored Simon, there were moments when he was plagued by such dark sentiments. Not that he resented his friend’s good fortune. Finch was pleased his friend was so well situated, but there were times when Simon’s life made Finch’s feel all the starker.
But as Miss Barrows continued to speak of her friend’s dilemma, Finch turned his attention away from those thoughts and focused on the subject at hand. Outlining the scheme in great detail, Miss Barrows showed incredible insight into the issue, and Finch found himself rather impressed at her grasp of finances. Many gentlemen struggled to gain such an understanding.
Her brows pinched tight, her expression scrunching as she spoke. Miss Barrows gestured from time to time, punctuating her words with more and more force.
“As she controls much of the capital invested in the institution, my friend has a say over whether or not to invest in such a risky scheme, but everyone is certain it will be a boon to the bank. They say it is not much of a risk at all—”
“There is always a risk. Anyone who tells you differently is either a fool or a thief.”
With a smile, Miss Barrows turned bright eyes towards him. There was a quirk to her lips that told him the next words would be one of her jokes. “I’ve heard it said that a great financier is a thief who succeeds, and a thief is a great financier who fails.”
With a shrug, he chuckled. “That is all too true. I’ve yet to hear tell of a scheme promising great returns that hasn’t ended in ruined fortunes for everyone except for the men behind it.”
Miss Barrows paused, examining his profile. “Then you would not invest in it?”
“I cannot say for certain without knowing more particulars but not likely. No businessman of sense would guarantee such grand promises as Mr. Merdle, and I wouldn’t entrust that amount of funds to anyone without good sense. It is better to invest in sound ventures with lower yields than risk it all like some foolhardy youth wagering on a card game.”
Silence followed that pronouncement, and Finch shot a glance at Miss Barrows to find her staring at him, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips.