Tom’s ears perked, and he made a mental note to keep an eye on this Neville. A disappointed would-be heir was nothing to trifle with. The quicker Shaw sold the whole works to Murphy, the better it would be for everyone. Let Neville become accustomed to disappointment while his uncle was alive to manage him.

“Mr. Shaw,” Murphy said, “if you are concerned about your daughter, you needn’t be. You have met my wife. Mrs. Murphy is a generous woman, both of heart and attention. And I’m sure Miss Shaw has inherited her father’s good sense. My family would be happy to count your daughter a friend, as I have come to think of you as a fr—”

“She doesn’t need a friend, she needs a husband,” Shaw said abruptly.

The whole room fell silent.

Murphy stammered. “John… I say, I’m already married.”

“And you’ve two brothers who aren’t.”

Tom glanced at Declan, whose eyes were the size of saucers. Declan knew Tom’s taciturn demeanor and age hardly made him husband material, especially for a young woman not yet thirty. That left Declan the obvious choice, and he didn’t look like he was jumping at the opportunity, even if the woman was an heiress.

Tom glued his lips shut. Let Murphy talk them out of taking on some consumptive spinster. He was the one with the silver tongue.

“John, wouldn’t it be wiser to—”

“She doesn’t think she needs a husband,” Shaw said. “Has always resisted any attempts at matchmaking. Says she’d only be a burden. Foolish girl.” Shaw’s whole face softened. “She has been the delight of my heart. She deserves any happiness I can give her.”

Murphy tread carefully. “If the young woman doesn’t wish to be married,” he said, “wouldn’t it be more prudent to find a reliable companion for her as she declines? Anne’s and my offer of friendship remains. We are more than willing—”

“If one of your brothers marries Josephine, it settles the whole business, don’t you see?” Shaw said. “You will be family. There will be no one to contest your purchase. There will be no one to wrest Josephine’s fortune from her if she takes a turn. An employee cannot protect her from unscrupulous relations, Mr. Murphy. You know that.” Shaw’s face grew even paler. “The moment I pass from this world, the vultures will circle, particularly my nephew.”

“How sick is she?” Tom asked quietly. “I don’t mean to be indelicate, sir, but you may be seeing too dire a circumstance. Your daughter could very well—”

“Her last doctor said she could expect two years. At the most.” Shaw looked at Murphy, then at Declan sitting quietly beside him. “Two years, young man. Surely any honorable gentleman understands my concern as her father. It would be nothing to give her two years. She is educated. Independent. And when she passes—”

“Mr. Shaw,” Declan interrupted. “While I am sure your daughter is a most agreeable young woman, I do not know her, nor does she know me. Surely she would not consent to this.”

“She would if you charmed her,” Shaw said. “As if all of Dublin doesn’t know of the Murphy brothers’ charm! Surely, Mr. Murphy, you could persuade her. I would not try to hide my machinations, of course. But she’s a practical girl, my Jo.” Shaw grimaced. “When she wants to be.”

Tom’s mind was racing. Courts could be unpredictable, especially when it came to issues of inheritance. Wills could be contested. And Beecham was always sniffing around Murphy, watching the younger vampire with jealous eyes. He would use any excuse—manipulate any connection—to thwart Murphy, though he couldn’t do it openly.

Shaw was right. If Declan married the Shaw heiress, it would solve everything. Murphy would buy Shaw’s businesses without argument. Shaw would be seen as handing over the reins to his daughter’s new family. Not even Beecham would be able to manipulate Murphy’s claim to the boat works.

And when the girl died… it wasn’t as if she didn’t have a fortune of her own. In a way, marriage to the Shaw spinster would mean they were getting Shaw’s businesses for little less than the cost of a wedding and care for a consumptive.

But Declan looked as if he were steps away from execution.

Ninny.

Murphy also saw the terrified look on his brother’s face and leaned forward. “John, as much as I want to buy your factories, I cannot force my brother—”

“I’ll do it,” Tom said quietly. “If Miss Shaw would consent to marry me, I will wed her.”

Wide eyes turned toward Tom.

“But only if she consents,” he said again. “I won’t force the girl or put up with having her coerced. From what you’ve said, Miss Shaw has little enough time left without her being miserable in a marriage she doesn’t want.”

Murphy’s mouth was gaping open. Declan finally took a breath. And John Shaw was smiling.

“Good man,” Shaw said.

Tom nodded, uncomfortable being the center of their attention. “Don’t be too certain she’ll accept me. She’s the one who’ll have to look at this ugly mug every night.”

“Tom,” Murphy said. “You don’t have to do this. Shaw, I promise we will ensure your daughter—”

“It’s little enough, Murphy.” Tom glanced at Shaw, interrupting his sire before he could offend their host. “Little enough to ensure the protection of a young woman. I’m no prize. But if she’ll have me, I’ll have her.”