the depth of trust the Duke displayed in telling him. It was the kind of confidence entrusted to family.
‘She is a woman who has led a gilded but unfortunate life. Society has not judged her kindly for it. If I do not keep her secret, if you do not keep her secret, she would have no honourable recourse for supporting herself.’ In other words, the board didn’t know.
‘The Great Exhibition owes its success to the efforts of many, not the least of which were her contributions, under her alias, in bringing certain key inventions from the Continent to be displayed here,’ the Duke explained, perhaps to build her credibility with him. Conall knew Cowden had been heavily involved in the Great Exhibition. No doubt he’d been impressed. La Marchesa’s connections and business acumen had been recommendation enough to take her on as a secret partner to the club. ‘I would not want her exposed, Taunton, nor would I want you misled. You see why I hesitate on both your behalves?’
And yet, Conall could not do the same. He did not have the luxury of hesitation, not with seventy-five head of alpaca and his people waiting on him. If Cowden trusted La Marchesa, that would have to be good enough for him. He had no choice but to go forward. ‘How shall I contact her?’
Cowden smiled broadly. ‘You’re in luck. She is here for tea today. She’s in the drawing room with my wife and daughter-in-law.’ Conall wondered how much luck had to do with it. The Duke cleared his throat, perhaps sensing the question of coincidence. ‘She’s here for Ferris’s wedding, nothing more, as a favour to my daughter-in-law.’ The daughter-in-law with four sons, Conall reminded himself.
The Duke dropped his voice. ‘There’s something else you should know. La Marchesa has something of a reputation. But the two of them go way back to finishing-school days.’ He splayed his hands in a gesture of happy surrender that Conall surmised to mean daughters-in-law who’d birthed four grandsons and ensured the succession deserved to be indulged, especially when it came to their friends who made the Duke money.
Well, the woman’s reputation was nothing he could afford to be concerned about either. Nor was it his business. His business was to secure a loan for his mill. When he’d come to London he’d promised himself to use any and all means possible. He’d just not imagined such drastic measures. Conall rose and took his leave, shaking hands with the Duke. ‘Thank you for your assistance. I’ll look in on the ladies before I go.’ That was his first rule of any persuasive encounter: he never left until he got what he came for. He might have been rejected by Cowden and the club, but he had been offered a consolation prize. He was not leaving here today until he had the next meeting secured.
‘Of course, her Grace would scold me if she knew you hadn’t stopped in.’ The Duke was more jovial now that business was truly done. ‘I hope we’ll see you at the wedding?’
‘I plan to be there. Will Fortis get leave to come home for it?’ Conall enquired. It would be good to see his old friend again. The wedding was at the end of the week. Fortis might already be en route.
The Duke gave a short shake of his head. ‘He’s with the allied forces in the Danube, headed for Sevastopol the last I heard.’ He smiled, but Conall detected the worry behind the Duke’s eyes, a reminder that for all his wealth and power, Cowden was just a man, a father worried about his son. And with Fortis there was always a reason to worry. Fortis Tresham was far too brave, far too reckless for his own good. It was what made him a good friend, one of the best Conall had ever had, and what made him a brilliant officer. But perhaps not the best of husbands. He hadn’t been home for years. Conall wondered how Avaline was holding up under her husband’s prolonged absence, but he didn’t dare ask. A man’s marriage was far too personal to discuss between third parties as small talk, even when those third parties were fathers and best friends.
‘Fortis is a good soldier, your Grace. I am sure all will go well.’ Conall smiled. ‘Besides, Camden Lithgow is with him. Cam is cool-headed enough for both of them.’ Lithgow was another friend, the grandson of an earl looking to make a name for himself that went beyond resting on the laurels of his family’s antecedents. ‘Again, thank you for your assistance.’ Conall took his leave and found his way down the hall, family enough not to need a footman’s announcement or direction.
Conall didn’t kid himself that circumstances were ideal. The possible investor was an unorthodox choice—a woman, who apparently operated on the fringes of the ton except for her connections to the Duke’s family. She was not what he would have chosen, but a lot had happened in this past year that he would not have chosen either. Feminine laughter met him at the drawing-room door, each laugh distinct, indicating the smallness of the gathering. This was not a large tea, but a quiet, intimate affair for three. Two of whom he knew. The other was riveting. Conall’s gaze lit on the stranger immediately. How could it not?
She was the sort of woman a man noticed even in a room full of people. Her blonde hair carried the sheen of platinum mixed with gold, a striking complement to the alabaster cream of her skin which was tinged with the faintest shades of pink. That tinge gave her the appearance of youth, of freshness, as did the crisp lavender muslin of her gown.
She might have been springtime personified if not for her eyes which were blue and hard as sapphires. They told a different story. This was a woman of some worldly experience. Those cool blue pools of knowledge held his with a boldness not often encountered at an English tea. Had she been expecting him? Was she prepared for this meeting? Perhaps she’d even asked for it? Conall had the unnerving sensation that she knew him. He didn’t know her. He was certain of it. He would remember her even if he’d seen her only once. She was not a woman a man forgot, more the sort other women remembered with jealousy. No wonder society had judged her harshly.
The Duchess came forward, taking his arm. ‘Taunton, what a pleasant surprise.’ Was it, though? He felt as if he was the only one surprised by his arrival, that they had been anticipating him all along, the tea a mere ploy in order for La Marchesa and he to meet. ‘Come, let me introduce you to our guest. You already know Helena, Frederick’s wife.’
Helena rose to kiss him affectionately on the cheek and Conall saw the reason for the intimacy of the gathering and for the Duke’s permission to bring Helena’s special but potentially scandalous friend to tea. The future Duchess of Cowden was pregnant again. It was a good thing Ferris’s wedding was this week. Any later and she’d be too obviously enceinte to attend. ‘You look beautiful,’ Conall assured her. And she did. Pregnancy agreed with Helena as much as family agreed with Frederick. Frederick was a lucky man. A stab of sad envy went through Conall. Frederick had everything to offer a wife, to offer a family. Conall could offer none of that security, only a debt-ridden title and a failing estate. He had nothing to pass on to one son, let alone four.
Helena turned to the other woman with a soft, warm smile. ‘Sofia, let me present Viscount Taunton, a friend of the family. Viscount Taunton, my dear friend, La Marchesa di Cremona.’
‘Buongiorno, Marchesa.’ Conall bent formally over her hand, careful not to take his eyes from her face. The use of her title brought a shadow to her eyes for the fleetest of moments. Had he been looking down he would have missed it. Did she prefer not to use her title? A wry smile twisted at his mouth, struggling to get out. He knew a little something about that.
She gave a light laugh at his Italian. ‘There’s no need for that. I am as English as you.’ Her smile deepened. ‘I can see you are surprised, which is all the more reason to dispense with the title. It only serves to confuse people.’ She slanted a playful but scolding look at Helena. ‘I would be Sofia here, dear friend, just plain Sofia.’ Her voice elongated the ‘I’ with exquisite precision. ‘Just as you are Helena and not Lady Brixton when you are among friends.’
Conall doubted this woman could be plain anything. He cast
