Page 72 of Anything But a Duke
Unfortunately, none of the noblewomen to whom he’d been introduced was the one lady who persisted in his thoughts day and night.
Diana was right. She had fulfilled her part of their bargain.
Yet here he sat, scribbling notes for an upcoming meeting and thinking chiefly of one dark-haired lady inventor.
A pile of papers sat at the edge of his desk, beckoning him. Diana’s notes on all her friends. They’d spent most of the week in a drawer, but this morning he’d pulled them out. He’d told himself to attempt to find something among the lists and notes regarding her friends that appealed to him half as much as Diana herself.
It had proved a futile effort. Now something caused him to reach for the pages once more.
The notes on Miss Grinstead, he crumpled and set aside. The lady seemed utterly smitten with her young man. Though Aidan doubted her family would ever allow the match, she seemed steel-willed enough to find a way to marry the lad.
Lady Sophie was too fond of frivolity and giggling. He couldn’t imagine a lifetime of the lady’s high-pitched titter filling his ears.
In truth, the only real possibility was Lady Elizabeth. She had been kind the evening of her séance. He tapped his finger on Lady Elizabeth’s list. Only one detail interested him. She had been matron of Diana’s dormitory at their finishing school, and Diana said they’d been good friends. Though he had no desire to marry the lady, that didn’t mean there wasn’t merit in speaking to her about Diana.
“Coggins,” he shouted through his half-open door.
The young man appeared a moment later.
“I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep my next appointment this afternoon. Have a message sent to him, will you? We can reschedule for next week.”
“Very good, sir.” Coggins began to back out.
“Actually, do the same for the later appointment too.”
The boy stuck his head in again. “Yes, Mr. Iverson.”
Aidan donned his suit jacket and overcoat and made his way down to the street. He hailed a cab and directed him to the Merton town house. Calling unexpectedly might be considered bad form, but he couldn’t resist the opportunity to learn more about Diana.
He was admitted by a friendly housemaid and waited in the same drawing room he’d visited a week prior. Strange how the room seemed cool and lifeless now. He’d remembered it as a more vibrant color, but the only thing he could truly recall was the rich purple of Diana’s dress. The bright enticing blue of her eyes.
“Mr. Iverson.” Lady Elizabeth entered the room and offered her hand in greeting. “You weren’t frightened away by talk of spirits the other evening. How refreshing.”
“I thought we were talkingtospirits.” He took the seat she indicated and crossed one leg over the other while she sat on the opposite settee and arranged her skirts. “Are the séances meant as a test to put off feckless potential suitors?”
“No. But perhaps they should be. Thank you for the idea.”
After Lady Elizabeth had poured them both a cup of tea, she settled back against the cushions and assessed him over the gilded rim of porcelain as she took a sip.
“You didn’t come here today as a potential suitor, did you, Mr. Iverson?”
“No.” Aidan offered her a tight smile. He had no wish to insult the noblewoman, but he had no intention of feigning interest either.
“You haven’t offended me, sir. I promise. Tell me why you’ve come to call.”
“I wish to know whatever you’re willing to tell me about Miss Ashby.”
Lady Elizabeth’s eyes widened in surprise. “I thought you two were well acquainted. Perhaps I assumed too much when she asked you to accompany her last week.”
“Miss Ashby and I are... quite recently acquainted.” He could hardly confess the truth. On the face of it, their agreement was inappropriate. He was beginning to wonder why it had made so much sense that day in Diana’s laboratory.
But of course Diana was the reason he’d agreed. He’d been half smitten with her then. He was afraid to name what he was now.
“What would you like to know?”
Aidan worked his jaw and considered all his questions. Finally, he pulled one of Diana’s lists from his coat pocket and handed it to Lady Elizabeth.
“Miss Ashby agreed to introduce me to eligible marriage-minded noblewomen.”
