"We'll bring it tomorrow, if that's not too soon for you, Mr. Steelgrave." she declared and before Tilly could interrupt, said to her "I'll discuss it with Sally tonight, Tilly dear." Then to Elias "Mrs Adams will offer no resistance to the deal, I am sure."
Well, that sounds excellent, and you coming by tomorrow is just fine. As you can see, I will not be out and about, and if I was, I would cancel and welcome a visit from you two with or without the deed. I assure you, though, having the deed will be most comforting, and the cash will be setting right here on this table." He assured them. "With a bonus for each of you, and on that you have my word, thoujgh no doubt you have heard that it is worthless, I assure you, in this case it is not. This is business."
"Well, we've already taken up enough of your valuable time, Mister Steelgrave. Would it suit you if Miss Burke and myself return at this sort of time, with the requisite documentation in hand? It really has been a pleasure, please do not rise. We shall see ourselves out.
"Sincerely, ladies, thank you for coming; it has been a pleasure." He told them, meaning every word of it, and there was already a plan in motion, securing the house and the changes he would like to make or add.
@Bailey
"I was born the day after Valentine's, but I don't guess I'll ever find a valentine of my own."
Hettie knew Tilly too well. Tilly would have interrupted Hettie, because how could Hettie be so sure that she could convince Sally to sell, find the title, and have everything done before tomorrow night? But she held her tongue as the business was concluded and the time came to say farewell to their new financier.
Instead of holding out her hand for Elias to kiss or shake, she instead stooped over, daintily picked up their host's hand, and pressed her lips to it. Not hard enough that her rouge would leave a bright stain on his hand, but just enough to leave Elias something to remember her by. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Steelgrave," she said as she released his hand, only to dip into a small curtsey before fully straightening. "I hope our meeting tomorrow will be the first of many."
And with that, she made her way toward the door, turning back to waggle her fingers at Mr. Steelgrave.
That was a first! Elias was rocked by her action; it was something unexpected, to be sure. But Elias Steelgrave was not entirely at a loss, "Yes, the first of many, I assure you!" He smiled, thinking of the pleasures that awaited his recovery, and that could not happen fast enough to please him.
"Until tomorrow then. I am anticipating the conclusion to our business transaction, and I look forward to hearing your ideas on what changes might need to be made to enhance the customer experience." He assured them.
As they left the house and headed back to the buggy, Hettie gave Tilly a nudge.
"I thought for a minute you were gonna give him another heart attack! For Christ's sake Til' - don't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs!"
They untethered the horse that pulled the buggy. The hefty Hettie needed a little push from Tilly to get back up on the box-seat, but soon they were on their way.
"Can you take care of any 'business' tonight, dearie? I need to work on Sally." she asked her new partner in... well whatever this was they were partners in.
The fact was, she wouldn't so much be working on Sally as working on Sally's strongbox where she kept her papers and documents.
Elias stood at the window watching them drive away, considering what had just transpired there in his parlor. The idea of a few weeks ago, which he had quickly discarded as too expensive to consider, was now a reality. He was about to be the owner of the town's brothel. That and the fact he had been all but seduced by two of the brothel's best. That he would sam ple soon enough. The ticker needed to recover before any of that could happen; Ling was right about that.
There were some changes he would like made, and he was unsure of the roles Hettie and Tilly thought they might fill besides his bed and those in the house. But he would soon know that and make the necessary adjustments. They were not his partners, not in the legal sense, but both women would be paid a handsome salary out of the profits made. That would be in addition to the money they earned nightly. All that was missing was a drinking establishment in the house or an addition he could easily have built.
He smiled as he lost sight of their coneyance.