“Lord and Lady Gregory,” the man said, “I am Harold and my wife, Henrietta.”
“A pleasure,” Thomas said, taking an offered sherry from the butler.
“Lady Prunella will be with you shortly,” the butler said.
The Gregorys sat back down and Thomas took a tour of the room. Excellent collection of books, he noticed. Fine paintings—must be Prunella’s influence, he thought.
Thomas was alone this evening, as George was visiting with Helena and her mother, who had arrived in London that afternoon.
Presently another foursome was ushered into the room and introductions made.
“Ah, you have all arrived. How splendid,” Prunella said, as she swept into the room, looking radiantly handsome. “I hope you have introduced yourselves.”
Once again, Thomas was taken by Prunella’s beauty. She wore a light green dress that was stylish but simple and which emphasized her natural beauty and grace.
“I am so sorry, but Mother will not be dining with us this evening. She had a prior engagement, so it shall just be us. Shall we go to dinner?”
Thomas was seated to Lady Alderman’s right, and the other guests were all young friends of Prunella’s—a lighthearted and sometimes boisterous group.
Thomas was surprised he had not met Prunella before now. He had been to London so many times during his days of dalliance, but perhaps it was because this young lady was more composed and less frivolous than most of the lady companions he had known previously. In any case, he was enjoying her company and looked forward to getting to know her better. And that included getting to know what she could bring to a marriage.
After supper was over, Prunella suggested a game of cards, and two of the couples took up the offer, but the Gregorys said they must leave, as they had young children at home. That left Thomas and Prunella alone to chat by the fire.
“Your Grace…” Prunella started.
“Please call me Thomas,” he insisted.
“Thomas, then… tell me more about your new venture with the horses. It sounds most intriguing. And I believe you said you were coming to London to secure financing?”
“Indeed. That is so. In fact, my partner and I met just this morning with our banker who has become one of our investors.”
“How splendid.”
“But no need to bore you with details…”
“No, I am sincerely interested,” she said, fanning herself leisurely. “I have a little investment money to play around with. My father was very savvy when it came to money, and despite being a woman, he taught me a great deal, and it is why I have been able to maintain the family’s fine standing.” Most interesting, Thomas thought to himself. “My mother takes no interest in these matters and leaves the running of the estate up to me.” She laughed. “Most unladylike I am certain, but with no men in the family, except a distant uncle, it all falls on me.”
“No, I find that most courageous of you—and commendable.”
“Perhaps you might stop by tomorrow, at your convenience, and you could explain to me the details of your offer and I might see if it is something that would be suitable for my portfolio.”
“I would be delighted to. Would eleven o’clock be a good time? And I should like to bring my partner, Mr. George Edgerton if that is suitable.”
“Of course. I would be delighted to meet him.”
“And if you have time, I should very much like to see the art you have been collecting. While not a connoisseur myself, I am always willing to learn.”
“Then why not stay for luncheon—the two of you, of course. And then you can also meet my mother. I know she will be charmed to meet you—as I have been,” she said modestly, but conveying her certain interest. “Lovely chatting with you, but you must excuse me. I must not neglect my other guests.”
And she stood and glided over to the card table, leaving Thomas to contemplate this most interesting development.
* * *
Wilcox climbed the stairs in the dingy tenement building to meet with Ezra Stanton, having secured all the paperwork necessary to enable his plan to aid the smuggler.
He knocked and Ezra, himself, answered the door.
“Come,” he said gruffly, and Wilcox followed. They went to the table and sat—Wilcox laying out the paper before Stanton.
