about the decisions that have been made by the board, and perhaps go to Devon to see the progress for yourself.”
He looked up in surprise. “You know I haven’t got a solicitor.”
She kept her face expressionless. “All the more reason to investigate their actions yourself, wouldn’t you agree?”
“I can think of nothing I would know less about than the building of a canal,” Con replied drolly.
She tried for an empathizing smile. “Don’t you care if they lose the last of your money?”
His furrow deepened. She was on dangerous ground, if his expression were any indication. “I don’t know what I could propose that would be helpful to the board—or anyone involved, for that matter.”
“You could learn.” She drawled this as wickedly as if she’d offered him lessons in seduction.
He looked aghast at her. “Why?”
And here their perspectives clashed. He was a creature of the moment, content to float along on others’ whimsy, and she made her own fortune. “To know. You don’t know the first thing now, but you could learn. Then the next time you make a decision, you may do so wisely, or at least, in an informed manner.”
He scowled. “You make me sound like an idiot.”
“What else are friends for?” She gave him her winningest smile.
He cracked a grin in return. Elation lifted her. She’d pushed him far enough that he heard her, but not so far that he was angry.
“Suppose I agree to learn about canal-building. How do you propose I do it? I can’t exactly walk around asking my friends. It would ruin my reputation.”
She laughed. “My solicitor can be made available in a trice. As for Devon, an investor like you should be welcome to observe the venture at a moment’s notice. If you are greeted any other way, then there is a serious issue that most certainly warrants concern.”
His lips pressed together as though he remained unconvinced, but his laughing eyes ruined the effect. “Should I be wary of your intelligence?”
“Most certainly, my lord.”
“I’m not without an ace of my own,” he warned her. His gaze fell to regard the back of Oliver’s downy, dark head. “Before we leave for Devon—because I don’t fool myself thinking you’re going to allow me the use of your solicitor and not demand to be brought along—I need to borrow this little one.” Before she could object, he said, “My mother is asking to see him. Trust me, it’s difficult enough to suffer her disappointment for the way I’ve gone about procreating.” He sighed and looked ashamed of himself. “Given the ‘no time a’tall’ it’s taken me to become fond of him, I foresee more than one such excursion in his future.”
Elizabeth didn’t need time to think about his request. Absolutely not. He was not going to take Oliver out of her sight. What if Nicholas harassed him? There were other dangers, too. Runaway carriages. Ruffians and pickpockets. Oliver crying inconsolably. “I need to be there.”
Con regarded her with just a touch of pity. “I can’t take you to see my mother.”
That hit her squarely in the chest. She wasn’t welcome at Merritt House. Naturally, she wouldn’t be. But it bruised her to hear him say it. “Just to your door, then,” she said. “Let me go with you across the park to your house, then wait outside. I need to be there if he needs me.” She didn’t want to risk letting Oliver out of her sight when he was in the open for all to see and grab. Nicholas seemed to haunt the parks.
Con kissed the back of Oliver’s head. A blade stabbed between her ribs at the unconscious gesture of affection. He cared about Oliver. Even if he had no reason to care about her.
She shamed herself with her pitiful jealously. She’d always been a petty, spoiled girl. Could she really be resentful of her son simply because two people loved him, and she had no one?
Even she couldn’t be so horrid. She was being foolish again, and putting feelings into her heart that might not actually exist. It was too soon for her to have anything more than a passing interest in Lord Constantine. He was handsome and kind, but that was all. His affection for her son should have no effect upon her own poor heart, so what did it matter if he didn’t care about her?
Though she couldn’t shake one little word…
Yet.
Con arrived at Elizabeth’s front door the following day at two of the clock, rapped once and waited to be