“I’m not sure we have come to an understanding on what exactly I would like you to do for me.”

“Of course we have.” He winked at her. “I get to kiss you anytime a man walks through that door.”

Miss Barton immediately looked down and smoothed her hand over a stack of papers. “No, some of the men who walk through that door actually do have business with me. I can’t have you swooping me into your arms every time someone walks in here.” She cleared her throat. “Although, I do appreciate that you were able to perform that function today.”

She appreciated it. The corner of his lip lifted. Everton could get used to being appreciated by Miss Barton. As long as Lady Emily’s family didn’t catch wind of his time in Miss Barton’s office, he could get very used to it. “What else would you like me to do for you, then?”

“Hopefully, with your help, it will only be men of business walking through the door. In two months, there will be a vote on whether or not to grant Richardson Rail an act of Parliament so we can begin construction on another rail line. Business was going well until word got out that I owned the company. As everyone knows, a single woman in possession of a railroad company must be in want of a husband.”

Miss Barton paused, as if waiting for Everton to react to her last sentence. He furrowed his eyebrows. What exactly did she mean? It was a rather large leap to believe everyone would think she was in want of a husband. In general, most women were, but he didn’t understand why owning a railroad changed things.

She sighed, shook her head, and continued. “I have a railroad line to complete and an act of Parliament to obtain in less than two months, and ever since I bought Mr. Richardson’s line from his wife, the suitors have been insufferable.”

“They want your business.”

“Yes.”

Of course they wanted the railroad. In the past two years, Lord Bryant had made more money on railroad lines than any of his other investments. If Miss Barton owned Richardson Rail, she was a very wealthy woman indeed.

“Why do you need me for only those two months? You will still own a rail company, and if you are granted permission to build, your company will be even more enticing.”

“I don’t plan to own anything after that. Mrs. Richardson only sold me the company because she was overwhelmed with losing her husband and now raising their three children, who are lost without their father. At first she hired me to work for her, but even bringing the paperwork for her to sign each evening became too much. Mr. Broadcreek offered to buy the company for roughly half of what it is worth, and she nearly sold it. Fortunately, she came to me to discuss the sale before going through with it.”

“Where was your brother during all of this?”