“Have you heard of this book?” Della lifted a small, leather-bound volume from the desk, holding it up so that Jane could see without having to reach.The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide to London, read the gold-leaf lettering across the front.
“No.”
“It would really be better if Eli could see it.” He was far more likely to fall within the book’s readership. “Can’t he look for just a moment?”
“I promise it won’t shock me,” Eli piped in.
“Very well,” Jane relented, a note of fatigue in her voice.
Eli turned back around and Della passed him the book.
“Oh, yes. My brother has a copy.” He thumbed through the pages for a moment before setting it back down on the desk.
“Mine does too. Many men use it to decide where to spend their time and money, particularly those who only come to town for the season.” Della turned her attention back to Jane. “It has all sorts of recommendations. Public houses, baths, theaters, and gentleman’s clubs.”
Jane frowned at the little book. “What does that have to do with us?”
“Well, if White’s is in there, why shouldn’t we be? Justthinkhow many people would read it and come here.”
Della folded her hands on her lap and awaited the praise she so richly deserved. Unfortunately, Jane proved stingy with her compliments this morning.
“At the risk of stating the obvious, we run aladies’club. This is a guide for gentlemen.”
“Gentlemen have wives and sisters, don’t they?” Della motioned vaguely at Eli, but instead of coming to her aid, he chose this moment to turn his back again and let the two friends sort it out. So much forany support there. “It’s only addressed to gentlemen because they can go anywhere they please, but plenty of the attractions are forbothsexes. I’m sure I’m not the only woman who consults it.”
“I suppose…” Jane’s reluctance was merely a step away from approval. Reluctance was her natural state.
She’ll thank me when we’re rich.
“I wrote to the publisher to ask how we might go about making a suggestion to the author for a future inclusion, and they told me he’s working on a second editionright now.” Della clapped her hands, startling Gloria, who began to wail. “Oops! Sorry… All we have to do is persuade him to include us and we’ll have free publicity for years to come. I’m going to meet with him tomorrow.”
“Meet with him?” Jane echoed. Though she’d been distracted trying to get the baby settled again, this shocked her back to attention, and she raised her voice to carry over the cries. “Have you been introduced to this man? Where will you find him?”
“His publisher forwarded him my letter and we’ve been corresponding. I used my initials, so he’s going to be surprised to see that I’m a woman, but there you are.”
He might have some reservations at first, but once they were face-to-face, Della knew she could convince him. She had a knack for this sort of thing. And it was perfect—a mention in his book would grant them the stamp of approval they’d been after for years. Recognition that they weren’t a passing fancy, but an established fixture of London.
Then Jane might finally be able to stop fretting over money, and it would be all thanks to her. Everyone would finally see that Della wasn’t just a pampered socialite who’d joined her friend’s endeavor on a whim; she was a proper businesswoman with valuable ideas to contribute.
But Jane only frowned, oblivious to her genius. “Della, really, thisis a bit much. Will you talk some sense into her?”
“I’m sure I can’t,” Eli replied.Good man.He and Della had grown to know each other well enough over the past three years that he could see when he was outmatched. He came over to her side to look at the book once more. “Lyman E. Price, Viscount Ashton,” he read. “The name sounds familiar, but I don’t believe I know him. Shall I take Gloria now?”
“Yes, please. I’m certain I just heard her say ‘papa’; she must be calling you.”
“At only three months! What a remarkable baby.”
They both chuckled at the joke, which seemed to mean something more to them than Della understood. There had once been a time when she knew all of Jane’s secrets, but lately they seemed to be out of step.
You missed some things during her confinement, that’s all. It will be better now that she’s coming back to the club again.
Eli leaned down to gingerly lift his daughter into his arms. Though she still fussed, the noise subsided as he began pacing the room with her, bouncing lightly on each step.
“Why should a viscount want to publish a guidebook of popular attractions, anyway?” Jane asked, her attention back on Della.
“Perhaps it makes him feel fashionable.”
Lord Ashton certainly wouldn’t be the only aristocrat with a vanity project. At least his guide was something useful. Della had never understood why most members of her class should be content to pass their time without any challenge to occupy them, as if life was just one long afternoon tea. She couldn’t stand to be at loose ends. Maybe the viscount would share her outlook on life, and they would become fast friends. He seemed very gentlemanlike in his letters.
