By the time they arrived back at the hotel, Heath was exhausted. He had hoped to spend time in bed with Kane, continuing their memorable night, but the copious amounts of champagne he’d consumed had other plans, and he passed out on the bed in his clothes.
When Heath woke up the next morning, the mother of all headaches greeted him. He put a hand to his head and moaned. What had he been thinking, to drink so much the night before his meeting? That was the problem. Last night, there hadn’t been a thought about anything but being with Kane, and he didn’t regret a thing.
After lying in bed for a while longer, Heath knew he had to shave and dress. There was a private washroom to clean off the smell of cigars and cologne from his body. He rang the bell for the front desk and ordered breakfast before he set to getting ready.
Heath ate his meal as he waited for Kane, who eventually knocked on the door.
“Good morning,” he said cheerfully, putting a quick kiss on Heath’s cheek. “Sleep well?”
“Yes, but I’m paying for all the champagne from last night.”
Kane chuckled. “Not used to imbibing so much?”
“I’ve never been much for alcohol, even in the Navy. This morning has reminded me why.”
“A few cups of coffee and you’ll be right as rain. We still have time before the meeting.”
Thankfully, the meeting was set for eleven, so they had time to go over any last details before meeting Billy Watts. They took a short stroll in the park to help clear Heath’s head. Even after three cups of coffee, his head was still swimming. The fresh air did him good. It was a shame he couldn’t slip his arm through Kane’s like he saw other couples doing. It would certainly raise eyebrows.
Finally, it was time to meet Mr. Watts. The couple took a carriage to the address in a more industrialized part of London. The buildings were expansive, some encompassing an entire city block, with tall stakes sending plumes of smoke into the air. Carts piled with merchandise vied for position in the streets. Men shouted to one another. Business was booming.
They pulled up to a brick building, one unremarkable from the others around it, and got out. Upon entrance, a clerk greeted them and immediately led them down a hall, passed several doors before coming to a larger door. He knocked, but didn’t wait for a reply before opening it.
“Sir Heath Foster and Mr. Kane Badgely to see you, sir.”
An older man, probably nearing fifty, if Heath had to guess, stood from his chair. His portly belly strained against the buttons of his vest, and his jacket was unbuttoned to accommodate his girth.
“Gentleman, a pleasure to meet you at last. I’m Billy Watts.”
The men returned the greeting and sat across from Watts at his desk.
“Allan told me about your up-and-coming brewery, Sir Heath, and I’m interested in forming a partnership.”
“Mr. Hayes has spoken highly of you, Mr. Watts, and I thank you for your interest.”
“I’m always in the market for the next big thing before anyone else can get their hands on it. And if Allan Hayes says your brewery will be a success, then that’s all I need.”
“Shall we go over the details?”
The three men settled into their seats and began. Watts proposed a plan for transporting the beer from Dover, the storage in London, and profit shares. During the meeting, Heath realized how much he had learned from both Kane and Jasper over the last months. Between his two friends’ lessons, Heath found himself at ease with the discussion of percentages and shares.
By the end of the meeting, Heath and Mr. Watts had come to an agreeable and mutually beneficial plan.
“I’ll have the papers drawn up immediately. I can have them delivered to your estate as soon as they are ready.”
“Thank you, Mr. Watts.”
Heath and Kane shook hands with the businessman before leaving. They hailed a carriage to take them back to the hotel. Once they settled inside the conveyance, Heath looked at Kane.
“Do you think it’s a good deal?”
“I think it’s an excellent offer. If you do well, you can take on additional partners in the future. You’re going to be busy over the next year getting the brewery up and running.”
Heath knew now was the time to explain his plan. “I know, and because of that, I’m going to need additional help. Hayes will manage the brewery, but between that and the estate and other ventures, I’ll need someone by my side to run things.”
“Do you have someone in mind?”
“Yes, you.” Heath held his breath for a moment, waiting for Kane to respond.