Devlin could almost feel sorry for Child, left to defend his honor from a handful of the most voracious ladies in the ton.
Therese, meanwhile, walked across to pay her respects to a group of grandes dames—ladies even Child would recognize and want to avoid at all costs.
Reassured that there were no flies on his wife, not in this sphere, Devlin cast one last, amused glance at Child, smiled at his efforts to disengage, then looked for and located Martin.
Therese’s little brother was still with the group of matrons and their daughters with whom Therese had left him. He was managing—just—but was starting to develop a hunted look. Recognizing the signs, Devlin decided that it behooved him to rescue his brother-in-law.
Ambling out from the beech’s shadow, apparently idly, he wended his way between the clusters of guests and, eventually, fetched up beside Martin.
He greeted the matrons, who were known to him, and they introduced their daughters. After nodding in distant fashion—being already married, he held no interest for any of the ladies in that group—he exchanged the standard comments on the weather and their surroundings, then announced, “Ladies, I fear I’m here to steal my brother-in-law away.” He looked at Martin, who was manfully endeavoring to hide his relief. “There are some business acquaintances here that I rather think you would do well to meet.” He glanced at the ladies and smiled. “If you’ll excuse us?”
The matrons exchanged a look, then one quickly assured him, “Of course, my lord.”
Another added, “It’s heartening to see younger gentlemen paying more attention to such matters.”
Martin duly made his farewells, and without more ado, Devlin bore him away, steering him toward the edge of the crowd.
“Phew.” As they stepped out of the ruck and beyond the ready reach of anyone else’s ears, Martin glanced back. “Thank you—that was getting a trifle sticky.”
Devlin chuckled. “I’m not so long married that I can’t remember how that feels.”
Frowning slightly, Martin studied the group he’d just escaped. “Actually, given the direction in which the conversation was heading, I’m rather surprised they acquiesced so readily to letting you spirit me away.”
“Ah. That was because I said the magic words.”
“Oh?” Martin looked at him questioningly. “And what were those?”
“For that company, ‘business acquaintances’ and suggesting I was there to take you to meet them.”
Martin’s frown deepened. “Why did that do the trick?”
“Because you and, more specifically, your fortune is, as yet, an unknown quantity, and therefore, any prospect of you benefiting financially from some business deal is to be encouraged.” Devlin met Martin’s gaze with amused resignation. “They know your family is sound, but that you’ve only recently returned to the country. Better for their ambitions that you establish some form of income, and these days, business is where the money is.”
Martin grimaced. “I see.” After a moment, in a much more cynical tone, he said, “I’d forgotten how much money counts for in the ton.”
“Money and name, be it familial or an acquired reputation.” Devlin considered, then added, “And believe it or not, these days, talent and achievement.” He glanced at Martin measuringly. “Unless I’m reading you quite wrongly, while you unquestionably possess at least one of the first two requirements, you also have at least one of the latter two.”
Martin’s lips quirked, but while he didn’t deny the accuracy of Devlin’s assessment, he also didn’t rush to admit to anything, nudging Devlin’s respect for him a notch higher.
Looking ahead, Devlin continued, “Unless you want to find yourself beating off the matchmakers, I would strongly advise you to keep your financial doings under your hat—or at least hidden from those involved in the Marriage Mart—for as long as humanly possible.”
Martin nodded rather grimly. “I intend to.”
Devlin inclined his head, then indicated a group of gentlemen gathered by the side of the lawn. “The gentleman over there, in the blue coat, is Lord Randolph Cavanaugh. He manages a very large group of investors and is the sort of gentleman I suspect you should know. As it happens, he’s also a connection of yours.”
Martin frowned as if dredging his memory. “Via Mary’s husband?”
Devlin nodded. “Yes, Raventhorne. Rand is Ryder’s half brother. Come, I’ll introduce you.”
With Martin in tow, Devlin joined the group. As, over the years, he’d become known as a successful investor in railways and in industrial manufactories, he was welcomed with interest. In introducing Martin, Devlin merely described him as having recently returned from America, adding that the younger man was seeking to learn the local ropes, leaving it to Martin to decide how much to reveal.
In that respect, Devlin was unsurprised when Martin used his youth to say very little while listening intently. When, however, after agreeing to meet with Rand later in the week to discuss several firms in which they shared an interest, Devlin made his and Martin’s excuses and moved on, Martin was quick to pose a range of insightful and pertinent questions regarding the companies and funds the circle had discussed.
Devlin replied as well as he could and made mental notes to follow up several of the points Martin raised.
Intrigued, Devlin repeated the exercise, introducing Martin to another select group of gentlemen investors, with much the same result. Martin listened and observed, then once he and Devlin quit the group, posed questions and made comments that confirmed that Therese’s younger brother was as observant and as intelligent as she was and also had a good and, in some ways, experienced head for business. He was also transparently genuinely intent on building his understanding of ton connections as pertained to investing; Devlin could almost see Martin compiling a list of who had what fingers in which pies.
Eventually, Devlin introduced Martin to Somersby, who was one of the secretaries at the Board of Trade. On learning that Martin had recently returned from America and had been involved in the import-export business there, Somersby grew quite animated, outlining the department’s current views on trade with America and endeavoring to solicit Martin’s opinions. Devlin stood back, watched, and listened and, once again, was impressed by Martin’s acumen in offering just enough of his own thoughts to keep Somersby engaged and willing to reveal more.
