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jennifer blake,
shirlee busbee
wanting to trust me, but there is
more to running a business than just showing up. A woman has no
place in a shipping office.”
“I will be there on Monday, Mr. Fournet,” she
said straightening her back, the smile on her face frozen into
place. The tall grandfather clock ticked in the silence, the steady
rhythm the only sound in the study.
Louis Fournet stood. “I would ask that you
reconsider, but I think you’ve made up your mind.”
“Yes, I have,” she said sharply.
“Then I shall expect to see you on Monday.
But I warn you, you will not find the place one where a lady feels
comfortable. But it is your choice, not mine. And if Cuvier
Shipping goes under, please understand, madam, that you will be
blamed. Not by me, but by the sailors along the river.”
“Cuvier Shipping will not go under, Mr.
Fournet. My share will not be sold. What you choose to do with your
part is up to you. But I will be showing up for work on Monday to
look after my son’s inheritance and to protect our way of
life.”
“Monday, then,” he said with a polite
coldness that Marian found oddly amusing.
He stood and walked from the study. Marian
followed him to the front door. Opening the wooden door she glanced
at him. “True to your word, Mr. Fournet, you are well versed in
shipping.”
“And you, madam, should stay home with your
children where you belong,” he informed her sternly.
She nodded her head, noticing his rigid
posture, his flashing blue eyes. She’d certainly put a bug under
his collar.
“True, but circumstances prevent me, so I
shall take matters into my own hands.”
“If by chance you change your mind, I will be
greatly relieved. And we can act as if this discussion never took
place.”
Marian nodded and smiled. “We may pretend
this discussion never took place, but I will be at the office
Monday morning,” Marian said with certainty.
She shut the door, leaned against the wooden
portal and sighed. What in the world had she just done? Yes, she
was doing what was necessary to protect her children, but she did
hate stepping into a man’s world.
***
“You’re going to go to that awful shipping
office? Have you lost your mind?” Claire said, with about as much
grace as a gossip spreading a piece of juicy scandal.
Marian glanced at her older sister and wished
for the hundredth time that she had just a little more tact. “Who
can I depend on to be honest with me regarding the financial state
of the company that will be paying my bills?” She took a deep
breath. “I know it will be hard. I’m going to be scorned for
working almost as soon as my husband was put in the ground. I hate
to leave my children, while I work a job where I will be looked
upon with contempt.”
“Hire someone, Marian. Sell the business. If
you must work, at least find a job where there are women,” Claire
said with disgust.
“You would have me sell the company that I
own a portion of and go to work for someone else, just so that I
obey the dictates of society?” Marian said, her voice rising.
“Yes. At least it would be accepted. You
wouldn’t be creating even more of a scandal than we’re already
involved in. Think of your children and how even more shame is
going to hurt them.”
“I have. We must have a roof over our heads
and food on the table. Cuvier Shipping has always provided that for
us. It will continue to do so,” Marian said.
“Marian, people will talk.”
“I don’t care what people say.” Marian shook
her head. “Jean may have been a dreadful husband, but he left this
business for his son and I intend to make sure that Philip receives
his inheritance. My son will own his father’s business
someday.”
“You are still as stubborn as when we were
children,” Claire said. “I hope for your sake you know what you’re
getting into. Working down at the riverfront with an office full of
men is not going to be pleasant. Promise me that you’ll be careful,
that you’ll always have Edward pick
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