Mary by Leenie Brown

Author:Leenie Brown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Leenie B Books

Chapter 9

The day had been a long one, so Gabe was happy to see Tom darken the door to his office, signalling that it was nearly time to leave.

“Mrs. Grant wished for you to have this.” Tom placed a small parcel on Gabe’s desk. “It seems both she and Miss Crawford are excessively fond of you. Those are some tasty biscuits, and you did not even have to hold a ball of yarn for any length of time in order to be worthy of one.” Tom dropped into a chair.

“You called on Mrs. Grant?” He smiled as he opened the parcel. It was, indeed, filled with five biscuits but that is not what made him smile.

“What is it?” Tom asked, leaning forward to look at the package on Gabe’s desk.

“Biscuits,” Gabe said. “Would you like one? I am certain I can find some wool or some such thing around here for you to hold to prove your worth.”

Tom laughed. “The biscuit, I will take, but you may keep your yarn.” And he did claim a biscuit. “Now, what has you smiling like a smitten fool?”

“Miss Crawford,” Gabe said as he settled back in his chair to enjoy his treat and the knowledge that Mary missed him. “She wrote a message on the paper.”

Tom pulled the paper towards him and looked at it. “Your chair is empty? You have a chair at the Grants?”

Gabe nodded.

“Oh, how shall I explain to my brother that my friend has married Miss Crawford?” Tom asked as he flopped back in his chair.

“We are not betrothed,” Gabe answered. “We are just very good friends.”

“That smile says it is more.”

Gabe shrugged. “Perhaps it is.”

“Do you intend to offer for her?”

“Perhaps.”

“Again, your smile says it is more than perhaps.”

“Perhaps,” Gabe replied once again. Oh, he intended to offer for Mary. He had known he would for several days now, but it was not until last night when she had admitted to him that she trusted him and allowed him to kiss her that he had determined he would make his offer sooner rather than later. One must secure the deal when the opportunity arose so that one did not lose out to another, did he not? He was confident that that was as true with ladies as it was with ships and cargo. Precious commodities were not something to risk losing, especially when it was a ruby such as Miss Crawford. She did look lovely in red.

“What is the sticking point?” Tom asked.

“She has yet to meet my mother.” Gabe picked up a second biscuit from the packet in front of him. “What do you need, Radcliff?” He looked past Tom to the man standing in the doorway.

“I have come to tell you that it has been decided to take your suggestion and employ thirty-three rather than twenty-eight.”

“I am glad that Perkins finally saw reason.”

“You hold the greatest number of shares, and without those, the venture would be ill-advised.”

Gabe nodded. “As I said, I am glad Perkins finally saw reason.

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