“Do you think you’ve made an enemy?” asked Luis.
Roo said, “No. Brandon just enjoys complaining. He’ll be back the second I invite him, to make sure he’s involved in any rich deals, but he’ll keep complaining.”
The other partners showed up later that morning, but unlike Crowley they simply congratulated Roo on his good fortune, and themselves on their increased profits on the portion of the company they still owned.
Roo spent the next hour exchanging pleasantries with other men of note in the coffee house. About midmorning, the last social visitor departed, and Roo asked, “Where is Duncan?”
“I haven’t seen him since yesterday,” said Dash.
Roo shrugged. “I asked him to run an errand for me after leaving here. Knowing Duncan, I’d wager he went out after that and found some woman to tumble.” Roo then glanced about to ensure no one else was close by, then motioned to his three companions to come closer so he could speak softly. “Someone has betrayed us.”
Jason looked at Luis and Dash. “How do you know?”
“Someone knew more about this company than would be possible without inside communications; that party sent word to the Jacobys.”
He explained how he had agreed to run Jacoby and Sons for Helen and her children. “Jason, go over to their office and introduce yourself to anyone who might still be there; most of Tim’s hired men are in prison today, so there may not be anyone around but a clerk or two. If they need convincing, have someone go to Helen Jacobys home and get confirmation as to our arrangement.
“Go over the books and see what is due and what is needed, but also keep an eye out for any hint of who our betrayer might be.”
Jason nodded. “I’ll go at once.”
After he left, Roo said, “Very well, gentlemen, what else concerns us today?” He sat and began attending to the duties of being the richest man in Krondor.
Duncan stood at the door while Sylvia gave him a long kiss. “Stop that,” he said, “or we’ll be back upstairs.”
She smiled, and closed the sheer night-robe she wore, which had fallen open. “No, sorry to say. I must get some sleep and the morning is half-over. Now go.”
She closed the door behind him as he walked down to where a groom brought his horse, and waited until she heard the horse moving away. She walked to the left hall and continued down to the office. Opening the door, she stepped through.
Jacob Estherbrook looked up and, seeing the open robe, said, “Cover yourself, Sylvia. What would the servants say?”
“Whatever they say,” said Sylvia, ignoring his instruction and letting the robe stay open. She enjoyed outraging her father. She sat down on the other side of the desk. “There’s not one of them who hasn’t seen me undressed from time to time.” She neglected to mention that several of them had shared her bed over the years as well. Both she and Jacob pretended he didn’t know of her indulgences.
“Was that young Avery?”
She grinned. “That was the other young Avery. Duncan came in his cousin’s stead. So I decided he might as well fulfill all of Roo’s duties.”
Jacob sighed. “You create potential difficulties, Sylvia.”
She laughed, leaning back, allowing the robe to fall even farther open. “I always create difficulties; it’s my nature. But this Duncan is as venal as any man I’ve met, I’ll wager, be the price gold or flesh. I think we can use him, especially if we offer him both gold and flesh.”
“Really?” said Jacob, ignoring his daughter’s brazen attempt to embarrass him.
“He could prove a useful weapon,” she said with a smile. Jacob nodded. “Well, having an ally inside the Bitter Sea Company is very useful. Having two would be even better. But considering the situation, I’d like to remind you what disaster might befall us should you blunder and let the two discover each other.”
She stood, stretching and arching her back, like a cat. “Have I ever made a mistake where men are concerned, Father?”
He sat back in his chair. “Not so far, daughter, but you are young.”
“I don’t feel young,” she said, turning and leaving his office.
Jacob considered for a moment the creature who was his daughter, then dismissed such musing. He had never understood women, not Sylvia, not her dead mother, not the occasional wench he tumbled down at the Sign of the White Wing. To him women were to be either used or ignored. Then he thought again of his daughter and realized that ignoring such a one as she could prove deadly. Sighing at what he saw her to be, he refused to assign blame to himself; he had never intended for her to turn out as she had and, besides, she served the needs of Jacob Estherbrook and Company admirably.
Erik pointed. “What is that?”