Another Country by Kate Hewitt

not so. There was a time...” he shrugged. “It
hardly signifies now.”
    Caroline was intrigued, but she kept her tongue. Her
uncle would not thank her for asking prying questions. “What about
Ian?”
    “Mr. Campbell to you. His family
was in dire straits. They wanted to sell some land, about twenty
acres. I offered to buy the entire farm, for a very decent price.
Ian accepted.”
    Caroline bit her lip. Something was
wrong with her uncle’s telling of the story, she was sure. How
could Ian--Mr. Campbell--be angry about that? “It can’t be that
simple.”
    “Well, I assure you it was,” James snapped. “If the
foolish boy didn’t read the contract properly, it can hardly be my
fault. He thought I was only buying the twenty acres... and for
such a sum! He’d no notion of business at all.”
    “His man of business must have known,” Caroline
objected. She knew little about such affairs, but she believed
there was more to the story than her uncle would have her
believe.
    “He wasn’t involved, and why should he be?”
    “To keep you from taking advantage of him!”
    “I hardly did that. I offered him every opportunity
to look over the arrangements. It’s his own fault for being
careless, my dear niece, and that is precisely the reason he is so
angry now.”
    Still Caroline shook her head. “But he was only a
boy.”
    “He was sixteen. I was managing
affairs by then, I assure you. Now, I’ve had quite enough of this
discussion.” Edward glanced down at the papers on his desk,
frowning, before he shuffled them into a pile. “You hardly have a
head for business, so I don’t expect you to understand the finer
points of such a transaction,” he added, to Caroline’s fury. He
glanced at her knowingly. “You’ve professed quite an interest in
Campbell. I wouldn’t go setting my cap at him, if I were you. He’s
hardly suitable.”
    “Setting my cap...!” Caroline flushed. “I’m doing no
such thing! His sister, Eleanor, happens to be a good friend of
mine.”
    “The Campbells are hardly likely to
advance your social position in this city,” Edward remarked
mildly.
    “I told you, they are friends with the Moores, who
are very well placed.”
    “Beggars at the table. Hardly a position you need
covet.”
    Caroline shifted uneasily. She had
had her own notions of the Campbells’ placement in society. If
anything, she’d felt a vague but satisfying pity for Eleanor and
her mended, out-of-date dresses, her pride in keeping a bourgeois
little house. Still, she did not like to hear it put so crudely by
her uncle.
    “I’m sure the Campbells are well
respected here.”
    Edward raised his eyebrows. “After
the little episode at that musicale, I wouldn’t be surprised if Ian
Campbell’s reputation is a bit tarnished now.” He smiled. “Now,
don’t get into a huff, Caroline. The boy would hardly suit you.
He’s a hotheaded, penniless doctor, and the hospital isn’t even
pleased with his work, or so I’ve heard.”
    “Where did you hear that? You didn’t even know he
lived here!” Caroline protested, her face pale.
    “I have my sources. And as you said, he’s dangling
after Moore’s daughter, so he isn’t worth your time.”
    Caroline found she was trembling. “You keep your ear
to the ground, I see.”
    “It suits us both for me to do so.
You’ve made it plain you want to contract an eligible match; I
desire the same. So let us waste no more time discussing a foolish
boy who cannot possibly help you fulfill such an aim.” Edward
smiled, holding out his hands in supplication. “I’ve arranged a
treat for you tonight. Let’s not spoil it with petty
arguments.”
    “A treat?” Caroline found herself
unbending, despite her determination not to yield. Resting on high
principles, especially for near strangers, was uncomfortable. “What kind of
treat?”
    “We’re dining out, with friends. A gentleman of my
acquaintance will be one of our party. I think you might find him
to be