Heiress in Red Silk (Duke's Heiress #2) - Madeline Hunter Page 0,80

all men. Two of them have shops in this area.” She set them out and pointed at each in turn. “Haberdasher two doors down. The jeweler around the corner. Unmarried, both of them.”

Rosamund set the cards aside to take home. “You are very suspicious. I don’t think they are doing more than being friendly.”

“Perhaps, but think about being friendly in turn. You may decide you want to make a pursuit of your own later.”

“If I do, it will be in the hopes that their relatives buy lots of expensive hats from us.”

“You might see if one is of any interest. It can’t hurt. You are still young.”

“I don’t think so. There are many reasons to ignore those cards. Most importantly, I began a liaison with Mr. Radnor while in Paris.”

Mrs. Ingram’s face fell in surprise. “I confess that I worried about you, what with traveling with him, but in my years of knowing you there has never been any interest on your part for . . . that. Not for lack of men with ideas, or even suitors. You just never seemed to notice them.”

Mrs. Ingram knew nothing about Charles, and Rosamund did not want to be explaining that long, sad mistake. She just shrugged and smiled. “And yet, here I am.”

“Are you going to marry him?”

“We have talked about that. It might be useful to solidify our partnership in that business of his that I inherited. It would be a practical union. The biggest benefit to me is his station, of course. It would mean a different life for my sister Lily, to be associated with that family.”

Mrs. Ingram’s mouth pursed, drawing those tiny lines down to her lip. “It would not be the first time such as he traded his position for a beautiful woman.”

“It isn’t a beautiful woman he wants. There are plenty of those among his own kind. He wants to be sure I don’t go selling my share, or having my head turned by some other man, or losing control to a husband. All he thinks about is that enterprise, I promise you.”

“Just as well you began this liaison, then.”

“How so?”

“You need to know how that part of it will be, seems to me. Can you imagine marrying like this, only to discover the fellow didn’t know what he was about in the marriage bed?” Mrs. Ingram placed a hand on Rosamund’s arm and leaned in. “He does know what he is about, I trust?”

Rosamund felt her face getting hot. “I would say so.”

“I’m relieved to hear it. Now, let’s see what is in that trunk you brought back with you.”

* * *

The morning after his return to London, Kevin made it a point to have breakfast at the same time as his father. He suffered a conversation that centered on how his father had managed to break the swan automaton and needed Kevin to fix it immediately. He in turn told his father about which English lords he had seen walking in the Tuileries, and what little he had learned about current French politics.

Having done his filial duty for what he hoped would be a fortnight, he stood. “I have to go and make some arrangements with the bank. It is good to see you are doing well.” He turned to stride off, then paused. “Oh, I probably should tell you that I am going to marry Miss Jameson.”

He left without looking back, claimed his horse, and rode to the City to arrange matters regarding Forestier’s money.

On his way back from the bank he stopped off at Angelo’s to fence. Refreshed by the physical activity, he finally returned to the house in early afternoon. He went in to spend the afternoon planning the next stage of the enterprise.

To his surprise, the servant at the door made a faint, pointing gesture. “They want you in the library, sir.”

They?

He opened the library doors and faced a phalanx of family members. His father sat muttering. Aunt Agnes posed like a queen. Aunt Dolores drank tea. Nicholas looked bored.

“There you are. Finally,” Aunt Agnes intoned. “Do come in.”

He stayed in the doorway. “How good of you and Aunt Dolores to call on Father. It has been some time. I would love to visit, but I am very busy, and—”

“I said come in.” Agnes’s ample bosom swelled. An imperious glint entered her eyes.

“You’d better join us,” Nicholas said. “It won’t do to put this off.”

Kevin entered and found a chair on the outer perimeter, next to his father. His