Page 31 of Sir Durham’s Disarming Asset

“Excellent,” Amber said, pleased. “Tomorrow we take that up again. Today”—she swept a hand toward Viv and Liesel—“we move on to the very interesting matter of money.”

Money?

Gus chuckled. “I bet my household money we can help you with that, Zeph.”

Liesel grinned. “You said your father banked with someone here in Britain?”

“Yes. In Manchester.”

Liesel looked like she had just been served a large chocolate confection. “Ah, then I would bet my own household money that I know to whom we must go.”

“Who?”

“Herr Nathan Rothschild,” she said in her German accent. “From Frankfurt, ja? If your father knew Manchester bankers, then Herr Rothschild knew all of them and your father, too.”

“How can that be?” Zeph asked, stunned by Liesel’s easy revelations.

“The Rothschild family knows all who bank everywhere. It is their…how do you say it…their expertise?”

Now Zeph was concerned. “I have no knowledge of him. How do I get an appointment with him?”

Liesel smiled, a secretive look of pleasure on her lips. “I think it is because I will introduce you to him.”

Zeph grinned. “Oh, that is—”

“Wunderbar.” Liesel stood. “Yes, it is. I will take you to him, Zephora. He does not speak English well and I will translate for you. Come, all of you! We accompany Zephora into the halls of great and glorious money.”

“We will all go together?” Zeph could not believe how all her friends rose, eager over this prospect.

“Yes,” said Gus. “Now. And we will resolve that matter.”

Liesel lifted her shoulders in mirth. “Herr Rothschild will not know what to do with so many ladies in his office.”

Gus laughed. “For the first time, do you think, Liesel?”

“Six of us. Oh, yes.” Liesel took Zeph’s arm. “He will be beside himself with horrible glee!”

Zeph shook her head. “We can hope!”

*

“Wait,” Viv said as Davis distributed the ladies’ winter capes and they waited for Gus’s and Amber’s town coaches to pull around. “The men will worry.”

Gus gave a short laugh. “Until they learn about it.”

Amber grinned, triumph in her posture. “Which won’t be until we tell them…tonight.”

“I want to go…” Inès put a hand to her rounded middle. “But I think you must go without me. I simply—” Then she gasped. “I wish I could, but I cannot bear the jostling of a carriage ride. Not even for so fine a meeting as this will be. So that means,” she said as she gave a laugh and winced in pain, “of course, that one of you must return to me and tell me every word of your meeting.”

Amber volunteered as she and Gus hooked their arms in each of Inès’s. “I shall come immediately afterward.”

Gus frowned. “You are in pain.”

“Not pain,” Inès said. “A sort of tingling and…ooof! My stomach gets hard.”

Gus lifted a hand. “May I?”

“Yes, please.”