“Vintage eighteen-eleven?”
“Eighteen-twelve.”
“Even better,” Edward replied, settling himself into the chair. “Thank you.”
“I confess, my lord,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon said, pouring the drinks, “I’m more than curious to know what has brought you back to the Lyon’s Den. Yours is no longer a familiar face around here.”
“A repercussion of your making, dear lady.” He shrugged. “And not one for which I shall apologize.”
Mrs. Dove-Lyon laughed and handed him his drink before taking her chair. “Notentirelyof my making,” she replied. “You are fortunate to have a good friend in Lord Pendlewood. He and I shared the opinion that you did not really merit your devilish reputation.”
“I’m not so sure I concur.” Edward frowned into his glass. “I was no saint. Far from it.”
“And now?”
A smile erased his frown as he met her gaze once more. “And now, I am disgustingly and appallingly happy. More than any man, whether devil or saint, has a right to be.”
She laughed again. “Lady Eskdale is in good health, I take it?”
Edward heaved a heartfelt sigh. “My viscountess is in fine health, thank God.”
“And the children?”
“Our children are going to change the world for the better,” he replied. “Of that, I have no doubt.”
Mrs. Dove-Lyon lifted her veil slightly to sip her cognac and Edward wondered, as he had so many times before, why shealways wore the damn thing. “Well now,” she said, setting her glass down, “it appears I must agree with you, my lord.”
Edward raised an enquiring brow. “About what?”
“That you are, quite obviously, disgustingly, and appallingly happy. Which compels me to repeat my previous question. What has brought you back to the Lyon’s Den?”
“Lord Pendlewood.” Edward took a sip as well and savored the fine quality liquor on his tongue. “Ah, yes. This stuff is Heaven in a glass.”
“Indeed,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon replied. “So, what about Lord Pendlewood?”
“Have you seen him at the Lyon’s Den lately?”
She appeared to ponder. “Now you come to mention it, no, I have not.”
“I’m not surprised. I at least managed to persuade him to return to London, but he’s hardly left his house since he got here.”
“Why? Is there a problem? Last I heard was a whisper about him pursuing the Grissom girl, though I understand nothing came of it.”
“Suffice to say the pursuit ended rather badly,” Edward replied. “The wretched fellow is now, in my opinion, in dire need of your services. In short, he needs a wife.” He glanced at the door. “And from what I’ve just witnessed, I’m wondering if a suitable subject has already made herself known to you.”
Mrs. Dove-Lyon set her glass on the desk and sat back. Edward imagined a frown beneath that infernal veil of hers. “If Lord Pendlewood is, as you say, in dire need of my services, then why is he not here in person?”
“Because he doesn’t yet know he’s in need of them.” Edward’s mouth cocked in a smile. “But he soon will.”
There followed a moment of silence, interrupted by the soft clearing of Bessie Dove-Lyon’s throat. “Although LordPendlewood was implicit in the arrangement of your own domestic bliss, my lord,” she said, “I seem to recall that you did not, initially, appreciate his efforts. Or mine for that matter. What makes you think he will appreciate yours?”
Edward shifted in his seat. “A good point, madam. And, initially, as you say, I resented your mutual machinations into my private life. Hindsight, however, has changed my opinion. Turns out I owe Lord Pendlewood, and your fine self, much gratitude. I am now seeking a similar outcome for my friend.” He gestured toward the door. “The young lady who just left. Who is she? Is she looking for a husband? If so, the timing is perfect, assuming she is as lovely as she appears to be. Dare I hope that she is neither poor nor besmirched?”
“That particular young lady is a special case,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon replied. “There will be no, and I meanno, game playing where she is concerned. If, however, Lord Pendlewood shows an interest in meeting her, I can arrange it. He is, I believe, worthy of her.”
“Heis worthy ofher?” Edward frowned. “Pendlewood is an earl, madam.”
“I’m aware of that, my lord. Your point?”
