“Though it pains me to say it, yes, we do nothing.” Raven let out a low huff. “For now.” He hesitated. “Wrex seems awfully unsettled about Mr. Greeley’s murder, and I get the feeling that m’lady is holding something back from us about the visit to the King’s Dockyard. So until we learn more, we need to be very careful.”
Peregrine scrunched his face in thought. “But how will we learn more if we’re being very careful?”
“As to that, I have a few ideas. But until I’m ready to share them, what we need to do is keep our eyes open,” answered Raven. “Andour ears.”
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.
