The Willful Widow (12 page)
Justin paused to catch his breath. He had not intended to sound so vehement, but for some unfathomable reason he wanted most desperately to offer her hope and to relieve the anxiety she so clearly felt. Then, too, it was rare that anyone of his acquaintance was even interested in the things that occupied so much of his time and energy, much less understand them. It was a relief to speak of these issues to someone else, as it helped to clarify his own thinking. He glanced down at Diana, and was pleased to see that his words had at least erased the worried frown from her brow.
"Thank you." She smiled up at him. "I don't mean to doubt your word, it's just that I am uneasy at the magnitude of the risk, but I had quite forgot that you had been in Vienna. How very exciting that must have been. Would you, do you think, I mean, I should love to hear more about it sometime. Of course, there is the paltry bit that was in the papers, but in the main, there was so little talk of it here that it is difficult to 107
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make out all the points and issues that were being discussed. And nobody one meets here is least bit interested in such things. Their only concern with foreign affairs was the destruction of Bonaparte, but beyond that, no one stops to consider the other implications of the reconstruction of Europe or the competing concerns of the Allies. It must have required great delicacy and tact to move among so many different people, all of whom were bent on securing their own ends."
"Why, yes, it did demand the utmost diplomacy, which, it may surprise you to learn, I am quite capable of employing." Justin cocked one speculative eyebrow at her.
"It does," she agreed, but the ghost of a smile quivered on her lips, and there was an answering twinkle in her eyes. The impatient snorting of the horses recalled Justin to his surroundings. "But I am detaining you—most rag-mannered of me to keep you standing here on the street when you must have a thousand things to attend to. Allow me." He held out his hand helping first Lady Walden and then her great-niece into the carriage before closing the door, but he could not refrain from adding, "I am well aware that Lady Walden has numerous acquaintances—friends and admirers of her husband—on whom she may rely to advise her should she need it, but I would be most happy to help you in any way if I may be of the least assistance." Sensitive to Diana's prickly independence he hastened to add, "Not that you are not entirely proficient in making excellently sound decisions yourself, as indeed you seem to be doing. But I am more likely to be in the way of hearing things that can be used to 108
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your advantage than you are. I would consider it an honor if you would allow me to do so."
What had come over him, Justin wondered. He sounded almost as verbose as Reginald. Here he was offering to embroil himself in the affairs of the very person from who he was attempting to disentangle his nephew. He must be all about in the head, but he was no proof against the surprise and gratitude that shone unexpectedly in the dark blue eyes looking down at him.
"Why, thank you. It is most kind of you, though there is no need for you to do such a thing," Diana hurriedly qualified her thanks, lest he think her incapable of managing her own affairs.
"Oh, I quite realize that, but it would be my pleasure, believe me." Worse and worse. He sounded like an eager schoolboy.
Aunt Seraphina had sat silent through the entire conversation, a highly interested spectator, but now in the interests of the horses, which were becoming restive, she intervened. "That is indeed most kind of you. Thomas always maintained that the most successful businessman was one who listened and observed. The more eyes and ears we have, the better we shall do. Please do come and call on us. All my knowledge of foreign commerce is confined mostly to that in the Indies. We should be delighted to have you visit sometime, but indeed, we must be off." And, that, she thought to herself, should give Reginald a run for his money, as well as company in Brook Street that is worthy of Diana. 109
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"Of course. I apologize for keeping you so long. I look forward to further discussions, and in the meantime I shall make discreet inquiries as to where one can best invest one's capital. Good day." Justin took Brutus's reins from the lad who had been in charge of him and, with a final bow, leapt on the horse's back and headed off down the street, leaving the carriage to follow more sedately in his wake, There was complete silence all the way to Brook Street as Diana turned over in her mind all the implications of her latest encounter with Justin St. Clair. It had been somewhat of a shock to come upon him involved in a serious endeavor. But even more unexpected and surprising was to have him treat her as an equal who was also pursuing the ends similar to his own. Indeed, it was gratifying.
After his initial surprise at encountering her in such unusual circumstances, St. Clair had accepted her presence there as calmly as he would that of any male acquaintance, and had even offered his support and help. She could think of no one, with the exception of Aunt Seraphina, who would have taken her as seriously. Even Reginald, who professed to admire her for her intelligence, would have considered her appearance at the Stock Exchange highly improper, if not downright scandalous. But St. Clair had not stopped to consider this. In fact, he professed to admire her for such unconventional behavior, even encouraging her in it by offering his assistance.
Justin St. Clair was a man of many facets as she was beginning to discover. Now, instead of wishing he would stop 110
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meddling in her affairs, Diana actually found herself hoping he would appear in Brook Street as he had promised. Knowing her niece's reticent nature, Aunt Seraphina continued to maintain the silence that had fallen the instant St. Clair had taken his leave of them, but from time to time she stole quick but comprehensive glances at her Diana's expressive profile.
Though Diana might not confide in others, her face was a mirror for her thoughts, and Seraphina could read the struggle ensuing in her mind. Here was a man who less than a fortnight ago had implied that she was not fit for his family now eagerly proffering comfort and advice. Which was the real man? Was he deceiving her or had he truly changed his mind about her. Seraphina sensed her great-niece's hesitation, but also her interest.
For the first time in Diana's life, someone whose intellectual capacity matched her own was paying attention to her and appreciating her. Lady Walden could see the effect that that little bit of attention had on her great-niece. There was an intentness, an eagerness about her that had not been there before, and Diana's great aunt congratulated herself for having done her bit to encourage Justin St. Clair's continued presence at Brook Street.
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Having quitted the ladies and started off at a lively pace, Justin, also reviewing the previous scene, allowed the reins to slacken as he turned it all over in his mind. His progress along Change Alley, which had begun so briskly, slowed to a crawl. Who would have expected to encounter Lady Diana in such a locale? Did this mean that she was more or less of a fortune hunter than he had originally thought? Was she so intent on repairing her economic situation that she was speculating on the marriage mart as she speculated in the financial markets?
Or was she trying, in a most unheard of and courageous way, to support herself without having to resort to the customary way of improving one's capital, which was to contrive an advantageous matrimonial connection.
As he had been so many times before, Justin was entirely perplexed as to the truth of the matter. He could not remember when he had been so at a loss to judge a person or that person's motives, and the lady, it would appear, delighted in confounding him at every turn, never allowing him to guess her true intentions or emotions. Most women, no matter how flirtatious, were entirely transparent in letting one know their wishes and desires, but as soon as Diana was betrayed into revealing one aspect of herself, she was quick to qualify or dispel the impression she had created. Did this behavior spring from a natural duplicity or from a natural reserve? Was it a mechanism to protect herself and keep others from knowing her too well, and from divining her 112
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strengths and weaknesses? Whatever the answer, he was wasting far too much time and energy over it. Lord, he was fast becoming as incapable of wiping Lady Diana Hatherill from his thoughts as was his lovesick nephew, and he didn't even like the chit. Or did he?
Enough of that, St. Clair, he admonished himself sternly. It's high time you sought out more congenial company. And gathering the reins firmly in his hands, he headed Brutus toward the restorative camaraderie of Brooks's. For her part, plagued by thoughts as unsettling as those that were disturbing St. Clair, Diana, in the ensuing days, did her best to put both the gentleman and his nephew out of her mind. She accepted Tony Washburne's invitations to go riding in the park, attended the exhibition of artists in the British Gallery with Aunt Seraphina, and applied herself to economic matters with zeal, tackling Mr. Robert Wilson's treatise in the
Edinburgh Review
on the high prices of corn, labor, gold bullion, and the depression of the foreign exchange, and poring over several informative pieces on the improvement of agriculture.
Her aunt, meanwhile, was not deceived by this frenzy of activity. To be sure, Diana had always devoted a goodly part of her existence to study of some sort of another, or the perusal of accounts from Buckland as she planned where to put her meager income to the best possible use; but heretofore she had gone about it calmly and methodically, shaping it all into a well-ordered routine. Now there was an intensity about her activities that made Seraphina think her great-niece was avoiding something. It was as though she 113
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were keeping herself so occupied that she could not have time to stop and reflect. And Lady Walden could hazard a fair guess as to the nature of the thoughts Diana was trying to push out of her mind.
To test her hypothesis, the older woman had casually alluded to Justin St. Clair upon occasion after their meeting at the Exchange, and had observed with great interest the pensive look that would appear on her niece's face at the mention of this name. Though loath to admit it, Seraphina was thoroughly enjoying her role in bringing these two together. Discreet inquiries made among Thomas's friends in the city revealed Justin to be the sole inheritor of his greatuncle Theobald's fortune and, furthermore, he appeared to be equally as adept at amassing wealth as his renowned relative. The word in the city was that in a very short space of time, through his clever interpretation of political events and their probable influence on trade and finance, Justin had been able to forecast the tides of economic change in order nearly to double what had been left him. During all this, he had exhibited an iron nerve that had allowed him to follow his own instincts, even in opposition to popular sentiment, thus making his investments all the more lucrative. The more information Seraphina gleaned, the more she was intrigued. While she heartily scorned the idea that a woman needed a man in order to survive, she did long for Diana to know some of the happiness to be found in the sort of companionship she had shared with her own dear Thomas. She was most pleased at the results of her experiment, and 114
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was quietly casting about for ways to bring the two together again.
It was with this goal in mind that Lady Walden, looking up from her reading one morning as they were ensconced in comfortable silence in the drawing room, each with her own newspaper, casually mentioned that one of Thomas's oldest and dearest friends. Lord Orpington, had offered to escort them to the Countess of Axbridge's rout. "Now, I know that you have no use for such affairs, my love," she hastened to add, observing the gathering frown on her niece's brow, "but when you consider that you are so rarely seen in public, and then only in the company of Reginald, it would do you good to appear without him. I know how little you care for
on-dits
or those who deal in them, but you would care even less for having it bruited about that you are living in the viscount's pocket."
Seraphina had gauged her niece's reactions to a nicety. After a moment's reflection, Diana sighed. "I suppose you are in the right of it, but it is too tiresome of the
ton
to make one the subject of its gossip, when one has no particular desire to play a great role in it. I leave that to those who wish to cut a dash. Very well, but I would as lief stay at home. 'Tis bound to be a crush, and there is nothing so dull as these affairs that exist largely for those who wish to see and be seen." Despite her patent reluctance, Diana made a lovely picture as she mounted the stairs, one hand lightly resting on Lord Orpington's arm. Her gown, a blue satin slip under British net, and a magnificent sapphire parure that had belonged to her mother echoed the brilliance of her eyes and emphasized the 115
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delicate flush in her cheeks. Lord Orpington, a short spare man with a long clever face and eyes that shone with a keen intelligence, had immediately put her at her ease by declaring, "Seraphina has told me of your interest in the political and commercial affairs of our nation, and I must say I am glad for it. I find it quite necessary, what with my own low taste for trade, to attend affairs such as this in order to reassure the
ton
that I have not turned into a vulgar cit. After all, it is their willingness to entrust me with their financial affairs that has allowed me to accomplish what I have, but it is so very dull to attend these things alone, when one is forced to compliment Lady So-and-So on her charming daughter and marvel that Countess Whatever does not look a day older than she did when I danced with her during her first Season. Now, however, I am able to indulge myself by asking you how you expect the price of bank stock to do, for you are more nearly connected with what is happening in the country and country banks than I, and Seraphina has just assured me that India stock is bound to rise."