He looked out the door across the street to Barret’s and said, “When I was a child I used to run for hours, or at least it seemed like hours, without seeing another person. The air is clean and there’s a silence at night. I think I’d like to build us a house outside the city—a place where the little ones can run and play and grow strong.”
She smiled at his reference to the children, for he rarely spoke of them. “Will you be able to conduct your business from so distant a home?”
He laughed. “I now control the company. I think I can delegate more day-to-day business to Dash, Jason, and Luis.”
“And Duncan?”
“Of course,” he said. “He’s my cousin.”
She nodded.
“I would have to come in from time to time, and you and the children would come with me for holidays, and we’d stay in the city during winter, but when the weather’s warm, a place a day’s ride from the city wouldn’t be much of a hardship.”
“Whatever you think best,” she answered, lowering her eyes.
He reached out to touch her chin, gently lifting it. “I want you happy, Karli. If you don’t wish to live away from the city, we’ll stay here. If you think it would be nice, we’ll build another house. You decide.”
She seemed genuinely surprised. “Me?”
“Yes,” he said, smiling. “Think on it. I’ll be across the street if you need me.”
He crossed and entered the building. Kurt practically fell over himself opening the gate for him as he said, “Good morning, Mr. Avery.”
Roo almost tripped, he was so surprised by the usually surly waiter’s politeness. He turned to discover men who had barely glanced at him since he had become a member rising to greet him. “Good morning, Mr. Avery,” was repeated by men whose names he could barely recall.
When he mounted the stairs, he discovered a new railing had been put across the last third of the upper balcony, and on the other side sat Luis, Jason, and Dash. Dash nimbly jumped up and with a dramatic flourish opened the swinging gate in the rail.
“What is this?”
Dash grinned. “I arranged with Mr. McKeller for us to take a permanent position here, with an option for the rest of this side of the balcony area in the future.”
“Really?” said Roo, fixing Dash with a baleful look. “And what was all this business below?”
Dash attempted to look innocent. “I merely let it be known yesterday afternoon, after you left for the day, that you were now controlling owner of the Bitter Sea Company.” Lowering his voice, he added, “You’re probably the richest man in Krondor this morning, Rupert.”
Dash held out his hand, and Jason produced a fist full of papers. He handed them to Dash, who passed them along to Roo. “The trading fleet from the Free Cities returned on the evening tide last night!”
Roo grabbed the sheets and looked them over. “This is fantastic!” Not only had they sold the last shipments of grain at far above the projected market value—the locust plague had crossed the Grey Towers and struck hard at the Far Coast—the ships had returned carrying cargo brilliantly selected at prices sure to realize a profit. They had projected the ships returning empty, so indeed Rupert was far more wealthy than he had imagined.
“There you are!” said Crowley, hurrying up the stairs.
Roo said, “Good morning, Brandon.”
“Don’t you good-morning me, you thief.”
“What?” said Roo, his good humor vanishing.
“You knew that fleet was coming in, yet you sat there and cozened us with babble about risk and—”
“Cozened!” exclaimed Roo. He stood up. “Brandon, I offered to sell you my share of the Bitter Sea Company!”
“Part of a clever plot to cheat us all, obviously.”
“Oh, mercy,” said Roo, turning toward Dash.
“Don’t deny it,” challenged Crowley.
Roo turned. “Brandon, I have no patience for making denials.” He looked at his former partner. “Here’s what I will do. You have a choice. I will tell Jason to account the profits on the fleet and give you what would have been your share of the profits from this voyage had you not sold me your share in the Bitter Sea Company last night.
“If I do this, do not ever again expect me to invite you into any business with the Bitter Sea Company. The gold we account you today will be the last you will ever see from us. In fact, should fate put us at odds, I will ensure you’re crushed.” He smiled as he said this. “Or you can simply accept that you bet the wrong way on the turn of the card and leave with some attempt at good grace. If you can manage that, I will be sure to invite you to join with the Bitter Sea Company on other ventures in the future when I seek partners. Those are your choices; what do you prefer?”
Crowley stood there for a long moment, then said, “Bah! You’re giving me a fool’s choice. But I wasn’t here to beg favors. I want no part of your ill-gotten profits, Roo Avery. A bargain’s a bargain, and you’ll not hear otherwise from Brandon Crowley.” He turned and left, muttering under his breath.
After he’d gone, Dash laughed. Jason said, “If he’d taken but a day to think on your offer, he’d have been a far wealthier man.”
Roo nodded emphatically. “That’s the whole point of his complaint. He’s mad at himself.”