Page 29 of The Lyon and the Lamb

Mrs. Dove-Lyon interrupted him. “In my experience,” she said, sounding not unlike a haughty schoolmistress, “those who care deeply enough about something to argue over it usually have more in common than they know. A heated disagreement arouses the passions and can fan a spark to become a flame.”

She paused, letting her words sink in, then added, “Alternatively, Lord Aylsham would recognize the value of such generous donations, and would therefore be more amenable to the idea of marrying an heiress. Or so Mr. Roland Chetwynd encouraged me to believe.”

Leo’s breath hissed out between his teeth. “That scheming brother of mine!”

Mrs. Dove-Lyon waved a hand. “The scheming was all mine—your brother was merely an unwitting instrument. Pray, do not blame him. Anyway, we’re all happy with the outcome, are we not?”

Squeezing her hand, Leo gazed into Araminta’s eyes. As he looked at her, she forgot that they were in a public place, forgot they had company, and lost herself in the heady pleasure of his adoration.

A discreet cough from Mrs. Dove-Lyon burst the bubble. “I understand there was a difficulty regarding the first child of your marriage—it was to be taken away, I gather. Has that potential stumbling block been overcome?”

“Indeed, it has.” Leo had worked everything out so cleverly—his intelligence, and his willingness to make sacrifices for her, made her want to share her pride in him with all the world.

“My first husband’s will stated that any surviving heir should be given into fosterage shortly after birth. The child would thus be taken away from me and become estranged, which was no doubt what the late Lord Lamb intended, as he always made it abundantly clear how disappointed he was in me. He had no faith in my capabilities as a mother or as the manager of an estate. However, the will never specified what form the fostering should take. Therefore, a foundlings’ hospital or an orphanage home would meet the terms adequately.”

She allowed herself a beam of pleasure as a frisson of excitement thrilled through her. Not yet. She wanted to hug her delicious secret to herself just a little longer. And it was something that should only be divulged in private.

“When Lord Aylsham came to my home, he conceived the idea of transferring the Lady Aylsham Home for foundling children to Forty Court. London expands northward at such a pace, there will soon be plenty of employment opportunities closer to home. Brampton Hall can be given into Roland Chetwynd’s care.”

“Into his well-supervised care,” Leo amended.

“Of course. Leo discussed the possibilities of adapting Forty Court so we could share it with the foundlings—we would live there too, alongside my sister Belinda.”

Leo’s blue eyes caught the sparkle of the chandeliers. “Not forgetting that I made sensible use of the surveyor and valuer my wife’s despicable cousin had already invited to view the place.”

“Indeed. Anyway, the new arrangement would mean we could see our child at least once a day and have a say in how it was brought up.”

“As best we can without making the other children jealous,” Leo reminded her.

“They’d never be jealous, so long as you give them the same attention you always have.” She laid her hand over his, where it rested on the balcony rail. “I don’t deserve a husband as generous, as caring, as you.”

“You deserve far better, but I’ll have to do for now.” His grin sent tingles coursing across her skin.

Another polite cough from Mrs. Dove-Lyon brought Araminta back to earth. Ah, if only she’d remove her veil so she could see the woman whose machinations had resulted in such a splendid outcome! But Araminta had no right to complain about veils, having deliberately—and no doubt, foolishly—originally concealed her identity from Leo.

“I couldn’t be more pleased for the pair of you. I’m also incredibly proud of having engineered this match, despite both of you proving to be difficult subjects. But love is blind, as they say, until someone like myself gives people the eyes to see. Anyway—I wanted to give you a gift. Call it a belated wedding gift, if you wish.”

“There’s no need, madam. You have already done enough.”

Araminta entwined her fingers with Leo’s and nodded her agreement. It would be embarrassing to receive a gift from a woman she’d paid to find her a husband.

“I don’t think you’ll want to refuse it when you see what it is.” Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s gesture encompassed the hall below.

“I don’t understand.” Leo frowned.

“I led you to believe that this fundraising ball is for one of my veterans’ charities. It is not. The proceeds from the tickets, and whatever the House wins at the tables later, are in aid of the Lady Aylsham Foundlings’ Hospital. I didn’t know when I planned this that the hospital’s location would be changing, but I’m sure you’ll find the money useful in organizing the removals.”

Araminta gasped. They didn’t really need the money anymore, but such a grand gesture could not be refused.

“That’s most generous of you, Mrs. Dove-Lyon.” Leo bowed to their hostess. “Anything that will smooth the transition from Clerkenwell to the children’s new home in the country is much appreciated. We’ve decided to make the new establishment completely self-sustaining—there will no longer be any subscribers or any Board of Trustees. No one will ever again think of the institution as an asset or of making a profit from the foundlings’ plight. Well, I suppose that grasping Pargeter might just turn a profit now he’s bought the place. However, I suspect he’ll have more difficulty demolishing the buildings than he’d like—Mama ensured they were solidly constructed. It’ll be several years before his new warehouses bring him any profit. I, for one, won’t be selling any of my cotton in them.”

“It seems everything has turned out as it should.”

“Thanks to you, madam. I apologize if I ever misunderstood what goes on here. Should any of our acquaintance take the name of the Lyon’s Den in vain, we’ll be the first to correct them. Won’t we, my darling?”

The atmosphere warmed, and Mrs. Dove-Lyon must have sensed her presence was no longer required, for the next instant, she was gone.

Leo snaked an arm around Araminta’s waist, and she snuggled into his side.