interests including primary ownership of a small shipping line. It’s been exceptionally profitable in the past, indeed, it has quite supported this household as well as the family estate. However, times are difficult at the moment and it’s not doing especially well. My finances are currently somewhat strained.”
Cordelia’s eyes widened. “How strained?”
Her mother reached over and patted her hand. “We are not about to lose home and hearth. It is not as bad as all that.”
“Not yet,” Father said, a vaguely ominous note in his voice. “Daniel Sinclair—”
“The man you wish me to marry,” Cordelia said.
Father nodded. “Is the son of American Harold Sinclair. The older Sinclair has amassed a vast fortune through various business interests around the world.”
“Including shipping?” Cordelia asked. Now this was beginning to make sense.
“Shipping comprises a significant portion of his business, yes. Steamboats in particular.” Father paused and tapped his fingers absently on the desk. “Mr. Sinclair and I have been corresponding for some time and I met with him a fortnight ago in Paris. He is interested in combining my company with his under the right conditions.”
“The right conditions being a combining of families as well as businesses?” Cordelia said slowly.
“Aside from the financial benefits on both sides, Harold Sinclair would very much like an alliance with an old and titled family.” Father said the words in a matter of fact manner, as if he were discussing nothing of importance.
“I gather Mr. Sinclair doesn’t have a daughter you can foist off on Will?” Cordelia glanced at her mother.
“You’ve long said Will needs to settle down and marry.”
Mother shrugged as if her only son’s marital status was of no concern at the moment.
“I have no idea if Mr. Sinclair has a daughter and it scarcely matters as Will is still in India attending tofamily interests there.” Her father’s eyes narrowed. “Doing his part to improve his family’s lot.”
“And it’s my turn now, is it?” Cordelia struggled to keep her voice light. “To preserve the family fortune I must agree to marry a man I have never met. An American no less.”
“We thought you’d like the American part of it,” Mother murmured.
Her father studied his daughter silently.
“This difficulty with Father’s business puts an entirely different light on it all, doesn’t it?” Cordelia got to her feet, wrapped her arms around herself, and paced the room. “If I refuse, I’ll be responsible for…” She glanced at her father.
“A detrimental reversal of family income,” her father said dryly.
“And if I agree…” Cordelia drew a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “I can’t, I just can’t.”
“Of course you can,” Mother said.
“Mother!” Cordelia stared. “I thought you would be on my side in this.”
“I am, darling, which is why I think you should look at this in a calm and rational manner.” Her mother ticked the points off on her fingers. “You are twenty-five years old and while you have had every opportunity to find an appropriate match, you have yet to do so. Who knows when and if another opportunity to marry might come again. This could very well be the intervention of fate and as such should not be dismissed out of hand. You really should give this idea due consideration.”
“Mother.” Cordelia gasped. “This is eighteen fifty-four. This sort of thing isn’t done today.”
“Nonsense.” Mother huffed. “It’s done all the time. People simply don’t talk about it the way they once did. It’s really not at all uncommon and in many ways something of a family tradition.” The countess leaned toward her daughter and met her gaze firmly. “You certainly don’t think I wanted to marry your father, do you?”
Cordelia’s eyes widened. “What?”
Her father’s brow furrowed. “What?”
“Well, not at first, darling.” Mother cast her husband an
Cordelia’s eyes widened. “How strained?”
Her mother reached over and patted her hand. “We are not about to lose home and hearth. It is not as bad as all that.”
“Not yet,” Father said, a vaguely ominous note in his voice. “Daniel Sinclair—”
“The man you wish me to marry,” Cordelia said.
Father nodded. “Is the son of American Harold Sinclair. The older Sinclair has amassed a vast fortune through various business interests around the world.”
“Including shipping?” Cordelia asked. Now this was beginning to make sense.
“Shipping comprises a significant portion of his business, yes. Steamboats in particular.” Father paused and tapped his fingers absently on the desk. “Mr. Sinclair and I have been corresponding for some time and I met with him a fortnight ago in Paris. He is interested in combining my company with his under the right conditions.”
“The right conditions being a combining of families as well as businesses?” Cordelia said slowly.
“Aside from the financial benefits on both sides, Harold Sinclair would very much like an alliance with an old and titled family.” Father said the words in a matter of fact manner, as if he were discussing nothing of importance.
“I gather Mr. Sinclair doesn’t have a daughter you can foist off on Will?” Cordelia glanced at her mother.
“You’ve long said Will needs to settle down and marry.”
Mother shrugged as if her only son’s marital status was of no concern at the moment.
“I have no idea if Mr. Sinclair has a daughter and it scarcely matters as Will is still in India attending tofamily interests there.” Her father’s eyes narrowed. “Doing his part to improve his family’s lot.”
“And it’s my turn now, is it?” Cordelia struggled to keep her voice light. “To preserve the family fortune I must agree to marry a man I have never met. An American no less.”
“We thought you’d like the American part of it,” Mother murmured.
Her father studied his daughter silently.
“This difficulty with Father’s business puts an entirely different light on it all, doesn’t it?” Cordelia got to her feet, wrapped her arms around herself, and paced the room. “If I refuse, I’ll be responsible for…” She glanced at her father.
“A detrimental reversal of family income,” her father said dryly.
“And if I agree…” Cordelia drew a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “I can’t, I just can’t.”
“Of course you can,” Mother said.
“Mother!” Cordelia stared. “I thought you would be on my side in this.”
“I am, darling, which is why I think you should look at this in a calm and rational manner.” Her mother ticked the points off on her fingers. “You are twenty-five years old and while you have had every opportunity to find an appropriate match, you have yet to do so. Who knows when and if another opportunity to marry might come again. This could very well be the intervention of fate and as such should not be dismissed out of hand. You really should give this idea due consideration.”
“Mother.” Cordelia gasped. “This is eighteen fifty-four. This sort of thing isn’t done today.”
“Nonsense.” Mother huffed. “It’s done all the time. People simply don’t talk about it the way they once did. It’s really not at all uncommon and in many ways something of a family tradition.” The countess leaned toward her daughter and met her gaze firmly. “You certainly don’t think I wanted to marry your father, do you?”
Cordelia’s eyes widened. “What?”
Her father’s brow furrowed. “What?”
“Well, not at first, darling.” Mother cast her husband an
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