Page 111 of Miss Vincent’s Vow

What had they agreed? And how would it affect Jethro? She wished she knew.

Cassandra glanced at her brother to see how he fared. His eyes had shut, but they jerked open again, and he shot her a weak smile before once more being overcome with weariness. That was the most cheerful she’d seen him since coming home.

And all because of Jethro.

She had been at breaking point, having endured as much of Eugenia’s spite as she could stomach, but because of her husband’s intervention, it had been the Framptons who had been forced to leave, not them.

Cassandra wondered what Mr Wade thought of Jethro after the way he talked to Eugenia. He stood just inside the door, his expression impassive as he gazed at her husband. How long were they going to stand there, staring at each other in silence?

At last, Mr Wade’s mask of indifference broke. His eyes lit up, and a broad smile spread across his face.

“Congratulations, my boy,” he said, clapping Jethro on the back. “That harpy had it coming to her, and I couldn’t have done that better myself. A masterful set-down, if ever there was.”

Xander’s eyes jerked open again, and Mr Wade grimaced sympathetically at him. “Sorry to put you through that, Captain Vincent, but I needed to know everyone’s true colours.”

“It is as I thought,” he continued, turning back to Jethro. “You have all the integrity I hoped to find in my protégé. I’m proud of you.”

“Thank you, sir. My tongue is my keenest weapon, and can sometimes cause hurt that I don’t mean to inflict, but I believe Mrs Frampton deserved every word.”

“Indeed. Hoist by her own petard!” Mr Wade said with a chuckle.

Cassandra watched him warily. Could they trust a man who employed spies to gather information for him? What kind of game was he playing?

Though she was relieved to discover he approved of Jethro’s behaviour, it did not remove her fear that all was not as it seemed. Was she the only one who had seen him shake hands with Mr Frampton?

Possibly. They had all been focused on Jethro’s conversation with Eugenia, and it was only by the merest chance that her eyes had flicked over that way while the two men’s hands were joined.

She could not stay silent. Mr Wade’s actions must be challenged. She refused to stand by and watch him deceive her husband.

Taking a deep breath to fortify herself, she rose from her seat and took a step toward the older man. “How can you speak of integrity? I watched you shake hands with Mr Frampton. All this while, you’ve talked of investing in my husband’s company, but I saw you make a deal with his rival.”

Mr Wade did not seem the least put out by her observation. “Hmm. Yes, I thought you were a sharp one, my dear. You’re right. I have made an agreement with Frampton.”

She gasped, but he raised his palm in defence. “It’s not what you think. I’ve just offered to purchase Frampton’s firm.”

Jethro leaped up to stand beside her, his face contorted with rage.

“What? You’re buying my rival’s firm? You’ve entertained us, and treated us as if you wanted to be our friend, and yet you were waiting, all the while, to pull the rug out from under our feet?”

He shook his head, his mouth curled up in disdain. “I trusted you. As you had invested in my business for so many years, it never occurred to me you would seek to destroy me—”

“That is not my intention,” Mr Wade said.

“Isn’t it? With your resources behind Frampton’s enterprise, it will be you who expands and gains a bigger market share, not me. I won’t be able to afford to buy the ships now. You have just sounded the death knell of my business.”

Cassandra reached for Jethro’s hand and squeezed it in what she hoped was a reassuring way. He met her sympathetic look with a thin smile.

“No, no, no,” Mr Wade said, drawing their gaze back to him. “You’ve got it all wrong. I’ve no interest in setting up a rival enterprise. I’ve bought Frampton’s business to give to you.”

Cassandra’s eyes grew as wide as her husband’s as they both stared at him.

After a long pause, Jethro spoke. “I don’t understand. You want us to become partners?”

Mr Wade shrugged. “In a manner of speaking, but only in as much as I supply the capital you need—both for the ships and Frampton’s enterprise.”

Jethro rubbed his chin. “And you honestly believe the investment to be worth such a risk?”

“Absolutely.”