LITMIR.BIZ

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pressed to her quivering lower lip. Claire’s heart sank even as her exasperation rose. It was not fair that a woman she’d never cared pins about could provoke her emotions to such an unpleasant degree.

      “Th-that’s what I came to see you about!” Her ladyship promptly burst into tears, much to Claire’s chagrin and impatience.

      She had a wholesome horror of the tearful outbursts to which Lady Lydiard was prone.

      “Why don’t you…have a seat?” Claire struggled to think what she’d said that could be the reason for her stepmother’s call…or her sudden fit of weeping.

      Money trouble? It couldn’t be. Whatever her differences with the woman, Claire had to admit Lady Lydiard lived comfortably within her generous allowance.

      “Shall I summon Mr. Catchpole back and tell him we’ll take tea, after all?” she asked, with a hint of desperation in her voice.

      She found the ritual of tea drinking often provided a distraction in awkward social situations. This one certainly qualified.

      “No tea.” Lady Lydiard made a visible effort to collect herself as she settled onto the chair in front of Claire’s desk. “I don’t wish to keep you long from…whatever it is you do.”

      Claire bit back a sharp retort. The work she did for Brancasters Marine Works was at least as important as whatever most women of her class undertook to occupy their time.

      “I need your help!” The words burst out of Lady Lydiard like a guilty confession. “It’s Tessa. She’s having second thoughts about marrying Spencer!”

      Was that all? Claire gave a chuckle of relief as she resumed her seat behind the desk.

      “Tessa is having twenty-second thoughts about marrying poor Spencer. It’s apt to get worse as their wedding day approaches, I warn you. But she will go through with it, all the same. He’s just the steady sort of fellow she needs, bless him. Beneath all her qualms, Tessa knows it, too, I suspect.”

      It didn’t hurt matters a whit, in Claire’s opinion, that the match made marvelous business sense, as well. Spencer Stanton’s family owned a large shipping company that was one of Brancasters’ best customers. Besides, Tessa had long passed her debutante days. Her “free-spirited” ways had frightened off less steadfast suitors years ago.

      “This is different!” Lady Lydiard insisted. “There’s another man she’s taken a violent fancy to. From…America.” She spoke the word as if it were some sort of profanity. “Gillis is his name…or is it Getty? No matter. I feel certain he’s a fortune hunter of some kind.”

      The tension that had begun to ease out of Claire’s body now made her muscles clench tighter than ever.

      She would never forget her father’s words to her one painful night, ten years ago. My dear, you are too wealthy, too clever and too plain for any man to wed, except for your fortune.

      She hadn’t wanted to believe him. What girl her age would? The suitors who’d pursued her over the years had convinced her that her father’s harsh assessment was correct.

      So she’d packed away her few, modest romantic illusions, along with the wistful yearning for a family. Over the years, she had given Brancasters all the time and devoted attention she might have lavished on a husband and children. In turn, the company had rewarded her dedication with growth and prosperity.

      Damned if she would let it fall prey to that most loathsome of creatures—a fortune hunter! Especially one trying to sneak in the back door using her half sister.

      “I’ll talk to Tessa.” Claire spoke in a tone of grave finality, as if her intervention was bound to settle everything.

      This would not be the first time she’d provided the voice of calm reason to counter her sister’s capricious impulses. Tessa was always grateful afterward. Sometimes she seemed strangely anxious for Claire to bring her back to earth, even while she was in the grip of some dizzying new enthusiasm.

      “I have talked to her.” Lady Lydiard wrung her handkerchief. “It’s no use. She won’t listen. She’s smitten with this creature, I tell you. Thank heaven Spencer is out of town on business. He’s been terribly patient with her all these years, but I fear this might be the last straw.”

      Claire wasn’t so sure. Tessa’s fancies never lasted long. The hotter the flame, the more quickly it tended to burn itself out. Still, with so much at stake for Brancasters, she could not afford to take any chances.

      Resting her forefinger against her lower lip for a moment, Claire pondered the most effective course of action.

      “I should like to meet this man for myself,” she said at last. “In the meantime I’ll make some inquiries about him, and we can proceed from there.”

      Lady Lydiard gave a final sniff, but otherwise seemed to brighten considerably. “Thank you, Claire. You’ve always been such a sensible, detached sort of person. Almost as good as talking to a man, really.”

      “Thank you…” murmured Claire. “…I suppose.”

      “Lord and Lady Fortescue are hosting a ball this evening,” Lady Lydiard said. “I feel certain he will be there. The scoundrel’s gotten himself invited to every social event Tessa has attended for the past fortnight. And what with Sylvia Fortescue being an American…”

      Claire nodded. Marriages of indebted British noblemen to American heiresses had become something of an epidemic of late.

      She thought for a moment. “I do believe I received an invitation from Lady Fortescue. Since I didn’t send my regrets, I suppose I am at liberty to attend if I wish, with a suitable escort.”

      “You never bother to send your regrets.” Lady Lydiard clucked her tongue over such social negligence. “Then you fail to arrive, putting out the table of any hostess foolish enough to expect you. And what manner of suitable escort are you planning to bring?”

      “A private agent, if you must know. I’ve used him before, to procure information. He’s proven himself extremely discreet and reliable. I’d like him to get a close look at this new admirer of Tessa’s.”

      Claire pulled open the top drawer of her desk and swept the Admiralty papers into it. There would be no more time for regular business today, if she was to contact Mr. Hutt and secure his services, then get herself suitably gowned and groomed for the Fortescues’ ball.

      There was no help for it, though. Thwarting the aims of this fortune hunter might prove as vital to the continued prosperity of Brancasters as any navy contract. Besides, Claire felt a duty to protect Tessa from her own foolishness.

      Dancing had already begun by the time Claire and her escort arrived at the Fortescues’ Grosvenor Square town house that evening.

      “Miss Talbot, what a pleasant surprise.” Lady Fortescue did not look or sound pleased. “Lady Lydiard sent word that you might be able to come tonight, after all.”

      “That was good of her.” Claire returned her hostess’s brittle, insincere smile with one of her own. “May I present my escort? Mr. Obadiah Hutt, a business associate of mine.”

      Lady Fortescue gave a cool but gracious welcome to Mr. Hutt, who looked surprisingly distinguished in evening clothes. Claire wondered if their hostess would have been quite as hospitable if she’d known the precise nature of their association.

      Once they were out of earshot of Lady Fortescue, Mr. Hutt leaned toward Claire and murmured, “I’ll just go have a look ’round, and a listen, if that suits you, miss?”

      “By all means.” Claire swept a quick glance around the ballroom, but saw no sign of Tessa or Lady Lydiard. “I always approve of people getting on with the job they’re being paid to do.”

      Her agent cast a professional eye over the other guests. “If this fellow’s been showing up frequently in

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