Free Love Engineered by Jenna Dawlish

together.

Chapter 6
    It was a rainy evening a few weeks later that Charles made his way to Perrivale's coffee house. A well established place, and frequented by many of the local businessmen, it was where Charles often met Ashton after hours to discuss business in a more relaxed atmosphere than their offices. They sometimes met with business associates, but were mostly on their own. He pushed the door open and immediately breathed in the close thick air of smoke mingled with coffee. Over in the corner at their usual table was Ashton.
    He looked up over his newspaper as Charles approached. “I thought you'd be going straight home tonight.”
    Charles pulled out the red leather-covered chair and sat down. “Later. Mother and Jane are out visiting friends until seven.”
    Ashton placed his newspaper down, scrutinising Charles. “You look tired. What time did you start this morning?”
    “Seven.”
    Ashton waved his finger. “The problem , Charles, is that you're too good, and if we're not careful you will be spreading yourself too thin. I'm more than happy to look after the investors and the cash flow, but I'm afraid you will wear yourself out and then be no good for anything or anyone. What would we do without you? I don't want to see you working yourself into the ground like Brunel.”
    “I can't refuse work, especially something that interests me like this new project. Besides, I do not have to be at the Tamar bridge all that often, Boyd is more than capable of looking after things.”
    “Yes, yes – he is very capable. But we must be careful, he lacks some experience. He doesn't have your ability to motivate the workers, or your insight.”
    “Not yet, but he'll learn. I'm sure we will not have any problem getting him to report back here in London.”
    “No!” scoffed Ashton.
    Charles frowned. “What do you mean?”
    “He is quite taken with Jane.”
    “He is?”
    Ashton laughed at his partner. “You had no idea, did you?”
    Charles shook his head.
    “Hmm, too busy with work. Surely you couldn't have missed the blushes, the fluttering eyelashes and the giggles.” Ashton said in a dry tone. “And that was just Boyd. Would you approve of the match?”
    “There is nothing to approve of. Yet. He has made no indication to me.” Charles was slightly unsettled. He thought back over the last few times Boyd had met with Jane. Why hadn't he noticed? “Are you sure there are feelings between them?”
    “Oh yes. I think if he did decide to make his intentions known, they wouldn't be unwelcome by her.”
    “Really?”
    Ashton laughed. “You really didn't notice, did you?”
    Charles shook his head again. “It's natural I suppose. Jane is, I believe, not an unattractive woman. She is sensible too. Though part of me thinks no man would be good enough for her, but I know Boyd well enough to know he is the sort of man who would put his wife above everything else. So I suppose I can see no objections.”
    “You would approve of him putting his wife above the interests of our partnership and his work?”
    “I would as a brother, of course. You would do well to remember that. It's what I would do too. I would always put my wife first.” He added as an afterthought, “Should I ever feel compelled to marry at all, that is.”
    “Still no young lady can tempt you, then?” Ashton took a sip of coffee and looked at Charles with amused eyes.
    “Nor you, it seems,” he retorted and then continued. “No, I haven't yet met with a woman I could marry.” His mind flashed to one woman but he suppressed the thought.
    “And if I had a sister, I would watch over her in just the same way you do. But alas, despite my mother and father's efforts they would only have boys. I think after the sixth, mother decided enough was enough. Can't blame her really, being the only woman amongst all those men. And we were all boisterous – always fighting, always arguing.” Ashton shook his head at the memories.
    Charles thought of his