Her comment hinted at the situation involving Lady Hawley’s husband, but their hostess stared back at her innocently. “My only motive is to make sure women also have a club that allows them to be involved in the antiquities field. If we happen to do better than other clubs, that will only be an added benefit.”
A skeptical snort escaped the duchess. “Are you expecting us to invest our own money?”
Lady Hawley shook her head. “No. The investor has agreed to provide some upfront funds to set up our club’s location, which will be right here.”
Diana glanced around the massive run-down building. It needed a great deal of work. She suspected the other women were thinking the same thing. As if not wanting them to dwell too much on it, Lady Hawley clapped excitedly. “I have also established another avenue to generate income while we get started.”
“How?” Miss Martin asked.
Lady Hawley grabbed a document from a satchel. With a flourish, she placed it on the table in the middle of all of them. They all leaned forward and read it.
First Cruise of Its Kind!
Join the crew of the SS Lark for a leisure cruise to new and exciting locations. Stops include Porto, Sardinia, and of course the best place for respite, Tuscany.
Don’t miss out on your chance!
Diana looked up at her. “How does this generate income?”
Lady Hawley smiled. “For our club, our investor and I will travel on this cruise containing new destinations. I have convinced two newspapers to publish a column generated from updates we send back at each port. The club will receive royalties.”
“That will be good for short-term income, but it will be at least a year, likely two, to get the club up and running,” the duchess stated.
Diana suspected Lady Hawley didn’t appreciate the duchess’s practical points. Her smile was becoming more forced. “You are quite right, Your Grace, but I have also partnered with the ship owner to potentially build a tour for ladies.”
The whole scheme seemed rather outlandish to Diana, and she sensed from looking around that the others thought so too. Yet she hesitated to say no.
“Who is the club investor?” Lady Esme asked, changing the subject.
They had discussed so many things, Diana had forgotten they didn’t know who he was. Lady Hawley shifted uneasily in her chair. “Someone who has agreed to own the club but won’t have any say in how it is managed. And, most importantly for thecruise, someone all the ladies would love to read about as he goes adventuring.”
“We would all need to have a solicitor review the trust and know who this investor is before agreeing to anything,” the duchess stated.
“Of course,” Lady Hawley said.
A loud pounding at the front door halted any further conversation. Their hostess’s eyes widened. They were silent as they tried to hear what Harrison was saying. It was a male voice. Lady Hawley muttered under her breath and jumped up. The door was thrust open, and Lord Hawley stood in the doorway, scowling.
Diana gaped at him. She’d never seen someone in polite society appear so unhinged. His eyes raked over the ladies until they landed on his wife.
“A word, Lady Hawley,” he bit out.
“I don’t have time right now.”
His eyes narrowed. “I insist.”
Lady Hawley sighed and followed her angry husband from the room.
“What do you think that’s about?” Miss Martin questioned.
The duchess shrugged. Lady Esme asked, “Do you think what she is proposing is possible? Could we really start up our own club?”
“Remember, Lady Hawley has her own agenda for doing this, and it is related to the man she is speaking with,” the duchess said.
“But it would be quite the achievement if we pulled it off,” Miss Martin said, her eyes filled with excitement.
“It is a rather bold endeavor,” Diana said.
Miss Martin nodded. “While completely outlandish, she has done a great deal of work already. I would love to one-up the London Society of Antiquaries.”
