“I knew you would understand.” Jeremy brushed a light caress to her cheek. “What about you? Have you any friendships that may result in matrimony?”
She felt heat rise to her cheeks. “Unless the beau monde’s rules have turned upside down while I haven’t been looking, it’s not up to me to make a proposal.”
He held her gaze with a searching stare, making her flush turn prickly. Flustered, she looked away.
“Again, I wish you happy.”
Flashing another smile, Jeremy rose. “Alas, I must be off to a business engagement. But I shall stop by again before I return to the North next week. In the meantime, please promise me to be careful.”
* * *
As the first part of their plan couldn’t begin until later in the afternoon, Wrexford decided he had time to keep his appointment with Sir Darius Roy. He found the explorer perusing the Royal Society’s latest scientific journal in the reading room of his club.
The firelight caught the gleam in Sir Darius’s eye as he looked up at the sound of the earl’s approach. “It’s quite fascinating the advances we’re making in botany and geology. Perhaps one day we’ll understand all the working of the world around us.”
“Not in our lifetime,” said Wrexford. “Nor in a hundred lifetimes.”
“Quite right,” agreed Sir Darius. “Like the star-dotted heavens, the breadth and depth of Knowledge seem unfathomable. And I suppose that’s a good thing. It keeps us inquisitive.”
“Indeed.”
“Questions, questions.” The explorer flashed a wry smile. “Kit says you have a few pressing questions that I may be able to answer.”
“I do.” Wrexford glanced around. “Might we go somewhere more private?”
“I’ve reserved one of the private parlors.” Sir Darius tucked the journal under his arm and rose. “I’ve asked several friends to join us, as they may also have information you’ll find helpful.” He led the way to the central stairs and started up them two at a time. “I don’t suppose you speak Mandarin?”
“Not a word.”
“No matter. Their English is excellent.”
On reaching the top landing, they turned down one of the narrow corridors and passed the club’s library, which was crammed with large curiosity cabinets as well as floor-to-ceiling bookcases.
“In here,” said Sir Darius, clicking open a door and standing aside to allow the earl to enter.
Two men were seated at a rectangular table by the window, drinking tea and playing some sort of game involving ivory tiles covered with a variety of Chinese symbols. They stood as Wrexford crossed onto the carpet, both of them looking every inch the proper English gentleman with their faultless tailored coats and impeccably tied cravats. It was only the shape and taper of their dark, watchful eyes that gave them an exotic aura.
“Wrexford, allow me to introduce Mr. Jiang and Mr. Gu.” To his friends, Sir Darius said, “This is Lord Wrexford.”
“The chemist,” said Gu, the shorter of the two. “Your paper challenging the results of Benjamin Silliman’s experiment in fusing chalcedony was quite convincing.”
“Are you a man of science, Mr. Gu?” asked the earl.
“The subject interests me. As do a great many others.” A shrug. “However, I’ve not devoted enough time to any of them to claim any mastery.”
“Alas, we are what you Westerners call dilettantes,” said Jiang.
“Rather, you are well-traveled men of the world,” corrected Sir Darius. “The three of us met a number of years ago in the Forbidden City, while I was on a diplomatic mission for the Foreign Office. We have since journeyed together through parts of the ancient Silk Road trade routes, exploring India and the Levant.”
“One learns much by experiencing other cultures,” observed Jiang. “And gains new perspectives, which our emperor finds useful in dealing with the world beyond our realm.”
“You have a very enlightened outlook, Mr. Jiang,” replied Wrexford. “Would that more of mankind would possess such an open mind.”
“True. And yet it seems human nature is ruled by self-interest, regardless of where one travels,” said Gu.
Kindred spirits?The earl didn’t often meet men whose curiosity and slightly sardonic view of the world’s foibles matched his own. He found himself wishing he had the luxury of engaging in lengthy conversation with Sir Darius and his friends. However . . .
“Our thoughts align, Mr. Gu. And it so happens that a matter of self-interest is what brings me here.” Wrexford looked to Sir Darius. “And much as I’d prefer to speak of other things, it’s a matter of some urgency.”
