They entered the park and wandered down the manicured paths. Mary began to explain in depth why she believed there would be no man that suited her needs in the world.
“What? Nowhere in this entire world is there a man for you?”
Mary sighed. “Perhaps that was a bit dramatic. I will narrow it down and state there is no one in the United Kingdom who I could ever think about marrying.”
“You’ve met them all, then?” Beth teased.
“A great many, and I assure you none are in the least interesting. All those are married.”
“I’m sure Phillipa will supply you with nieces and nephews you can corrupt as a crotchety old aunt.”
“It’s my fondest wish she will do so.”
“What is going on there?” Phillipa pointed right. They all dutifully looked that way.
“It looks like some kind of gathering,” Mary said. “Is that the Duchess of Yardly?”
“Well, if there is a gathering then we must investigate, even if that woman is there. It’s my hope that Mr. Michael Deville will be also,” Phillipa said, urging her horse into a trot.
“My sister is quite taken with him,” Mary said, nudging her horse. “Come, Beth.”
She could do nothing but follow.
Shooting Lucas a look, she waved to indicate he stay back. She hoped Nathan wasn’t there, but if he was, she had no wish for him recognize him.
“Good Lord,” Mary whispered.
“What?” Beth said when she made an excited squeaking sound.
“We are about to participate in our first literary salon.”
Chapter Twelve
“Glass and crockery to begin with,” Daniel said. “We will move into more later. Also property investments and shipping ventures.”
The Deville brothers were on their way back from inspecting a factory they had thought to purchase at Daniel’s prompting. He believed that noblemen should also be savvy businessmen. Nathan and his brothers put a lot into supporting those less fortunate than themselves. Gabe took his seat in the House of Lords seriously and pushed for reform on many fronts. They supported homeless shelters and orphanages, but they’d never stepped into investments. Daniel said it was time that changed. Strangely, they’d all agreed.
“I feel as if I’m an infant once more,” Michael said. “I know there are those among us who do invest and are in trade, and yet it is something our father forbade us to ever do.”
“Times are changing,” their brother-in-law said. “As Nathan already knows from his meeting with them, Lord Ryder and that unruly Sinclair and Raven clan all dabble in trade. Lord Sinclair owns ships, as does Lord Ryder. Lord Levermarch too invests in property. He also runs warehouses here in London.”
Gabe had told Nathan to meet with the noblemen when Daniel set up the appointment, as he believed out of all of them, he had the head for numbers and could retain the most knowledge. Loosely translated, that meant he was busy, so he’d made Nathan attend.
He’d been impressed with what he’d learned that day and was now eager to step a toe into the business world with his brother-in-law’s assistance.
“And now I must be off. Unlike those among us who are living off their family’s fortunes, some of us must work. Good day,” Daniel said, riding away with loud scoffing sounds following him.
“I’m sure we should be offended by those words, but I find I’m not,” Michael said.
“Well, we have been bored lately,” Nathan said. “Perhaps this will alleviate that? And I find I quite enjoy business. Words I’d never thought I’d speak.”
“Boredom, is it?” Gabe snapped. “After what happened to you last night, I doubt that very much.”
“I did what I felt necessary,” Nathan said for perhaps the twentieth time.
His brothers had not been pleased when he’d told them what he’d done.
“How would we have known had you been injured?” Gabe demanded.
