CHAPTER 12
Charlotte dutifully accompanied Cordelia back to the main salon.
More guests had arrived, and the room had grown a bit warm despite the open windows.
The scent of feminine perfumes wafted through the air, twining with the fragrances of the colorful cut flowers on display in an ancient terra-cotta urn.
As she glanced around, she suddenly spotted Alison, who waggled her cane and came over to join them.
“You didn’t mention earlier that you were planning on attending tonight’s soiree,” said Charlotte.
“It was a last-minute decision. The boys told me a little more about the trip to the King’s Dockyard, and it piqued my curiosity,” answered the dowager and then went on to tell Charlotte about the coincidence of encountering her young relative, Horatio Porter.
After adding a few humorous comments about the boys, Alison raised her quizzing glass and looked around. “Is Lady Kirkwall here yet?”
“She’s over there,” murmured Cordelia with a nod toward the regal-looking woman standing with Lady Thirkell by the far wall. But just as they started forward, their hostess rang a silver bell.
The voices fluttered into silence.
“It isn’t often that I interrupt our evenings of convivial conversations and connections to make a special presentation to the group,” announced Lady Thirkell.
“However, knowing how much we all appreciate intellectual achievements and innovations that will change the world for the better, I thought you would enjoy hearing from one of our guests, who has accompanied her brother, the Earl of Taviot, to London on a matter of great import to our nation.”
An anticipatory rustling greeted the announcement as the ladies crowded in a little closer.
Lady Thirkell waited for the whispering to cease before continuing. “Rather than prose on any longer, I shall let Lady Kirkwall speak for herself and tell us about a most remarkable discovery.” A smile. “And a most remarkable opportunity for us to be part of it.”
The statement was punctuated by the pop of champagne corks as several footmen began to circulate with the freshly opened bottles to refill any empty glasses.
“Do you think our hostess is being paid for this entrée into Bluestocking Society?” whispered Charlotte.
“Entertaining is not cheap,” replied Cordelia.
“And Lady Thirkell isn’t as plump in the pocket as she wishes to appear.
So, yes, I think she occasionally sells her services—in a very discreet and genteel way, of course.
” Her friend’s eyes remained riveted on Lady Kirkwall, who had leaned over to whisper something to their hostess.
“I admire her for being smart enough to recognize a business opportunity and take advantage of it.”
And clearly our hostess admires the same quality in Lady Kirkwall, mused Charlotte.
A round of applause drew her back to the present moment as Lady Kirkwall stepped forward and acknowledged the welcome with a graceful flourish of her hand. “Thank you for inviting me tonight, Lady Thirkell. I am humbled to be in such erudite company.”
Cordelia made a small sound in the back of her throat.
Charlotte repressed a sardonic smile. True, there was nothing remotely humble about the widow’s demeanor.
It was easy to understand why her friend didn’t like Lady Kirkwall.
There was an aura of supreme self-confidence—and perhaps a sense of entitlement—about the widow, who looked to be around Charlotte’s own age.
But in truth, Charlotte rather admired the fact that she didn’t try to hide her strength of character or her intelligence.
“I have come here to share with you an exciting new advance in science,” continued Lady Kirkwall. “Not merely a theoretical one that adds to our abstract understanding of the world but a practical one that will improve the quality of life for people all over the world.”
The widow paused, a beatific smile lighting up her face.
“Imagine an invention that would allow vital goods—food for the hungry, raw materials for our factories—to travel by ship over the oceans with astounding speed and on a set schedule, rather than being beholden to the vagaries of wind and weather.”
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Charlotte looked around at the mesmerized audience.
Lady Kirkwall had them enthralled.
The widow continued, and with the touch of a consummate performer kept her presentation short, extolling the virtues of a new world of marine steam power without giving any sort of technical details.
The mention of the investment opportunity was also done deftly, added as an understated aside—which, of course, made it sound all the more special.
Even more impressive was the way Lady Kirkwall ended her speech, saying that she was especially excited about presenting the opportunity to the group because it was time to change the antiquated thinking that only gentlemen could profit from investments in commercial ventures.
Ladies with money of their own should seize the chance to be more modern and take the initiative to learn about business.
“And of course,” she added slyly, “we all know that wives also exercise a far greater influence over their husbands than they wish to admit.”
A titter of laughter ruffled through the gathering of ladies.
“So, feel free to share what you’ve learned here with them.” A smile. “My guess is that they will thank you for it.”
As Lady Kirkwall finished and stepped back, the crowd burst into applause and surged forward, the ladies jostling with each other to gain the widow’s attention and ask more about the project.
“That was quite a performance,” admitted Cordelia. “I have to admit that she has a certain presence.”
“Her message about ladies learning to manage their own affairs is one that certainly appeals to my way of thinking,” said Charlotte.
“Indeed,” agreed Alison. “In fact, I’m curious to hear more of what she’s proposing to the group. Would you two care to join me?”
“You go on. Cordelia and I have a matter to finish discussing.” Charlotte observed the scene a moment longer, and then drew her friend into an alcove by the bookshelves. “Now that I’ve heard Lady Kirkwall for myself, tell me the reasons for your bad feelings about her and her family.”
“I know you’ll think me mad.” Cordelia blew out her breath. “Ye heavens, after hearing that presentation, I think me mad!” Her friend gave a harried shrug before continuing. “Lady Kirkwall is articulate, her points are well-reasoned . . .”
“But?” urged Charlotte when her friend hesitated.
“But I just can’t help seeing dark shadows lurking beneath that polished shine.”
“What are the family skeletons?”
“To begin with, her younger brother died in a fall from his bedchamber window at the family’s castle in Scotland—supposedly an unfortunate slip while he was inebriated,” said Cordelia.
“But rumor has it that he was a thoroughly despicable wastrel, whose legion of evil habits included preying on the servant girls who worked at the castle.”
She grimaced. “So there is a question of whether he was pushed.”
Alas, the aristocracy was rife with such stories.
“You know as well as I do that this is a far more common tale than we would wish,” replied Charlotte.
“I confess, I’m a little baffled as to why you are taking this particular one so much to heart.
Are we to damn every family who has such a crooked branch sprouting from its tree? ”
A flush crept up to color Cordelia’s cheeks.
“There is more. Lady Kirkwall’s husband—she married a much older man—perished from a gunshot wound.
The story put out by the family was that it was a tragic accident which occurred while he was cleaning his pistols.
However, he was on the board of governors overseeing a network of important canals, and there were rumors that he was embezzling money from the other investors. ”
“Ye heavens, you know how easily such nasty stories are started,” said Charlotte, growing a little frustrated over why Cordelia was so intent on disliking the widow.
“You keep using the word rumor. Have you heard any reputable reports as to whether the rumors about Lady Kirkwall’s late husband are true? ”
Her friend shook her head and looked away.
But not quite swiftly enough to hide the glimmer of tears beneath her lashes.
“Cordelia!” Shifting her stance, Charlotte took her friend’s arm and moved them deeper into the alcove. “This isn’t really about Lady Kirkwall and her family, is it?”
Her friend choked back a sob and shook her head. “You’re right, I’ve seized on scurrilous rumors to—to convince myself that I’m right in disliking them.”
“Why don’t you tell me what’s really wrong?”
A sniff. “I—” Cordelia’s voice wobbled. “I don’t want Kit to invest in their company! I know why he’s doing it, and—and . . .”
“And what?” asked Charlotte gently.
“And I want for us to earn the money together, from our own company, to purchase his dream,” blurted out her friend.
Kit’s dream? Charlotte hesitated, not wishing to probe too deeply into personal matters. But Cordelia and Sheffield were her dearest friends....
“What is it that he wants to buy?”
“Land . . . a manor house . . . a place for us to put down roots,” answered Cordelia.
“I happened to catch him studying a list of properties for sale, although he tried to hide it.” She blinked back more tears.
“When I asked him about it, he insisted that he wished to invest in Taviot’s consortium and present me with the fact that a house and lands will soon be within our means as a wedding gift.
” Another sniff. “But I think it is far too risky! I would much rather that we plan and save and ultimately earn it ourselves.”
“Have you discussed it with him?” she pressed. “You make a very compelling argument for doing it your way.”
“Yes.” A sniff. “He’s so bloody sensitive about money. We argued—quite fiercely.” A watery rumble of misery welled up in her throat. “And the only agreement we reached was to—to defer setting a date for our wedding.”
Charlotte drew Cordelia into a hug. “Marriage is complicated.” After a few moments, she leaned back. “Ye heavens, both Wrex and I wrestled with the consequences of taking such a leap of faith. It isn’t easy, but don’t lose heart.”
Her friend’s eyes remained pooled with doubt.
“For now, perhaps it’s best for both of you to allow your emotions to cool. And in the meantime, why don’t the two of us take a very careful look at Taviot’s consortium? If we discover that something unsavory is going on, Kit will listen to reason.”
Cordelia managed a crooked smile. “Thank you for not thinking me a peagoose to worry over such things.”
“You are one of the most sensible people I know.” Charlotte emphasized her words with a reassuring squeeze to her friend’s shoulder.
“Now come, let us go back and listen to what Lady Kirkwall is saying in answer to queries from her potential investors. Indeed, I have a few questions of my own to ask of her.”
* * *
“Milord . . .”
Wrexford turned, hat and gloves still in hand, as Tyler entered his workroom.
“A letter arrived while you were out, and I thought you would want to see it right away.” The valet held out a gilt-edged rectangle of folded paper festooned with a large ornate seal.
“It was delivered by a servant whose gaudy livery was an affront to anyone who possesses a grain of taste or refinement,” he added with a sniff.
“Not everyone is blessed with your discerning eye for fashion,” drawled the earl. He took a moment to study the scarlet wax wafer and then pursed his lips. “Hmmph.”
“What is it?”
A discreet crack, followed by the whisper of paper.
“An invitation,” answered Wrexford. He looked up.
“To attend a gala outdoor soiree in St. James’s Park tomorrow evening—including a fireworks display and midnight supper—in honor of the Prince Regent’s brother-in-law, King Frederick of Württemberg. ”
Tyler made a pained face. “That explains why the servant looked like a street fiddler’s pet monkey. Prinny is a man of thoroughly vulgar tastes.”
Another sniff. “Surely you’re not going to accept?”
“On the contrary. Our future sovereign’s tastes and temperament may leave much to be desired, but King Frederick’s librarian is a very sharp and observant gentleman.”
Wrexford re-read the note. “It is Herr von Münch who is inviting me to attend the festivities. He says that he has discovered some important information which may have relevance to Greeley’s murder.”