“No. Nothing is. I do not even have passage back to England—and if I did, I would not leave her.”
“Do not worry on that account. You are most welcome to travel with us. Lady Lucy has any number of empty cabins.”
“At this rate you will have to open your own shipping company.”
She laughed. “I would say we already have one, but in truth, that is under negotiation.”
“Oh?”
“I am not supposed to breathe a word, Mr. Malvern. You must not provoke me to be indiscreet.”
“Then I shall not.”
She allowed him several turns before she spoke again. “We are to tour our mine next week. Isobel Churchill has been agitating up in the north for indigenous control of natural resources, so it is becoming rather urgent that we go.”
“Does your mine infringe on that control?” Somehow he had not suspected the Dunsmuirs of the exploitation with which Mrs. Churchill had inflamed the London papers.
“No indeed. Nobody wanted that land until diamonds were discovered—and even afterward, the land could not be bought or sold in any case. Instead, we have a most amicable agreement with the Esquimaux, but there are those who would argue it reaches further than it should.” She laughed. “I fear I must remind them that those lands remain under indigenous control—merely in the hands of a member of a different nation.”
This was such a mystifying statement that he could not even frame a way to question it. Instead, he changed the subject.
“Are you acquainted with Count von Zeppelin?”
“I am indeed. We have visited Schloss Schwanenstein—his estate in Munich—on a number of occasions. In fact, I believe John is to stand as godfather to the newest grandchild. We will be going to Prussia for the christening before long, I daresay.”
“Perhaps you might introduce me? I saw that Claire met him, but I should very much like to as well.”
“Of course. I shall have John make the two of you known to one another. I imagine you will have no end of things to talk about.”
“Thank you, Lady Dunsmuir.”
“Oh, goodness. You must call me Davina. I will not have my friends standing upon ceremony.”
“And I am Andrew.”
The orchestra swung into the final figure and in moments ended the waltz with a flourish. Andrew could not resist the temptation to scan the crowd once more over the top of Davina Cla Sf De havs tiara.
There.
Claire stood with Peony Churchill and Alice, laughing over something the latter had said. Peony slipped an arm around both their tightly corseted waists and they moved in the direction of the refreshments. Captain Hollys was nowhere to be seen and Andrew hated himself for even caring.
“You see?” Davina said as he kissed the back of her gloved hand. “She is a girl yet in some ways. She needs those ways, Andrew. Do not rush her.” She squeezed his hand. “I will find John and see about that introduction.”
And she slipped into the crowd, a small, regal figure whom he had no doubt the leaders of industry obeyed without a moment’s hesitation.
Do not rush her.
He did not want to rush Claire in the least. In fact, he wished she would slow down before she left him behind altogether.
Chapter 9
Claire hardly knew what she was doing or saying—she was only thankful Peony did. She and Alice nodded and smiled at the people to whom they were introduced, allowed gentlemen to claim the dances on their cards, and when those were full, allowed other gentlemen to provide them with ices and sparkling champagne.
“Not too much of that,” Peony warned her, “or you’ll forget which end is up.”
“I have no idea which end is up as it is,” Claire said without thinking, and Alice, who was looking much more cheerful now than she had at the beginning of the evening, smiled at her.
“As long as Captain Hollys does,” she teased.
“Oh, do give over. Though I am grateful you turned up just then.”
“Why, can’t the man kiss?” Alice’s eyes were big and blue and innocent over the rim of her champagne glass.
“He certainly can. But what does one say afterward? That is where the two of you saved me.”
“If you don’t know what to say afterward, it means two things.” Peony tossed back an iced oyster with the finesse of one who had done this many times. “Either you’re overcome with maidenly confusion, or you have no conversation with the gentleman anyway.”
“Neither of those things are true in my case, so your