Dangerous in Diamonds - Madeline Hunter [18]
Castleford decided not to clarify that he had not actually said that he would pass. “So?”
Hawkeswell thought it over for a good while. “She may be like a sister to my wife, but she is not one in fact. I have no standing to call you out,” he said.
“I am happy you see it that way.”
“I should try to talk you out of this, though.”
“Consider it done and spare us both.”
Hawkeswell opened his mouth to argue, thought better of it, and drank more wine. “When? I need to be prepared on the domestic front for when Verity hears of it.”
“Soon. A week . . . ten days at most. I only need to get her up to London first.”
“You are supremely confident. So confident that you have not asked for my word not to warn her through my wife.”
“There is no need to warn her. She already knows.”
Hawkeswell’s eyebrows rose high. “You actually announced your intentions?”
“Not exactly. But she knows.”
Hawkeswell scrutinized him, then grinned. “You already tried, didn’t you? You tried and failed. Don’t act exasperated by an absurd suggestion. I know you, and I have it right.” He slapped his knee in frustration. “Damnation, it is hell that Summerhays is not in town. We could lay bets on this and have a fine time watching the week you predict turn into a year. Or never.”
“It may take you a year to get an exquisite woman into bed, but I assure you it will be a week in my case.” Or two, perhaps. Three at the outside. But a year was ridiculous, and never was out of the question.
“Then you must have an ace in your hand that I do not know about.”
“Only my charm.”
Hawkeswell thought that was hilarious. He laughed so rudely that he turned red. Wiping his eyes of tears, he poured himself more wine. “We shall see how far your sodden charm gets you with this woman, Castleford.”
Daphne parted the carriage blinds a bit and looked out. She noted glumly that they were already passing Hyde Park.
Beside her Katherine angled her head just enough so the slice of light coming in would not find her face. Not that anything much would, with the bonnet Katherine had worn. Its deep brim obscured all views except one face on, and a lace cap beneath the bonnet hid a good deal of that prospect too.
Daphne closed the curtain again. “No one is going to see you, I promise. You will be in this hired coach right up to the door, then inside in a blink. The servants will all be strangers and not take any note of you.”
“I am not afraid of being seen,” Katherine said. “I do not care for towns, that is all.”
“Then I am doubly sorry to have forced today’s visit to London on you, Katherine. I had little choice, however. I know you see that.”
Katherine remained a tense stone statue beside her. It had been cruel to insist she come, but Daphne really could not make this particular call alone, without another woman by her side. That would be stupid.
“I do not see why he did not come down to Cumberworth again,” Katherine muttered resentfully. “It was rude to request that you make the journey to see him, and for such a small thing. He may be a duke, but if he desires a social call, he should be the one inconvenienced, not you, and certainly not me.”
This was, Daphne decided, one of those times when their rule about not prying was very useful. Katherine had drawn erroneous conclusions about this visit to London all on her own. Daphne was under no obligation to explain that this was not a true social call, that this duke had not exactly requested this visit, and that more was at stake than Katherine could ever guess.
Castleford’s odd invitation sat in Daphne’s reticule. One paragraph, written in the flowing hand and formal voice of his secretary, Mr. Edwards, apologized in the duke’s name for not communicating sooner about her situation. Mr. Edwards explained that some questions had arisen about the property when the matter had been addressed last Tuesday, and they would in turn be taken up again soon. He requested her further patience.
Below Mr. Edwards’s signature, in another hand—one more individual