Page 7 of Wicked Rivals
“Is it always like this?” Emily leaned in to whisper. “The way they stare at you?”
Rosalind answered with a faint nod.
Suddenly a tall, dark-haired man with honey-brown eyes stepped out of the crowd and approached them. Rosalind recognized the gentleman. She had half feared that Emily’s husband or one of the other so-called Rogues would be here to intercept her, but this man was not one of their number, though he was an acquaintance of theirs.
“Your Grace.” His smile dispelled some of the tension around them. There were still a few grumblings, but the majority of the men returned to their previous conversations.
“Lord Pembroke! How lovely to see you,” Emily greeted the man and turned to Rosalind. “Lord Pembroke, this is Lady Melbourne.”
Pembroke bowed over her hand and pressed his lips to her knuckles. “A pleasure. What brings you ladies to Drummond’s?” Pembroke’s eyes darted around them, but he did not seem entirely surprised at their being in such a bastion of masculine activity.
“We’re resolving an issue,” Emily said. “Rosalind, who is it we need to see?”
“Mr. Reed.”
“Very well.” Pembroke offered an arm to Emily and she took it, winking at Rosalind while he escorted them to Mr. Reed’s office.
The banker was settled at his writing table, poring over several letters. He glanced up and froze when he saw Rosalind, Emily and the Earl of Pembroke in his doorway.
“Lady Melbourne?” Her name escaped the banker in a stutter.
“Mr. Reed.” She took a seat in front of him and studied the older man closely. His skin had taken on a white pallor, and he began to shuffle all manner of papers and items on his table. This did not bode well.
“What may I do for you?” Mr. Reed asked as he slid a finger beneath his neckcloth and tugged on it.
“I wanted to see about extending my line of credit.”
“Your credit…” Mr. Reed swallowed and smiled a little, but the expression was forced.
“Yes, I have several notes out, and I am afraid they may be called in.” She hesitated when Mr. Reed’s glance darted away and then back.
“Lady Melbourne, I do regret to tell you this, but I cannot extend any further lines of credit.”
Knots formed in Rosalind’s stomach. She leaned forward in her seat. “Why not? Do you need more collateral?”
Mr. Reed shook his head. “I cannot extend your credit under any circumstances.”
“Why is that?” Lord Pembroke demanded.
Rosalind saw he had remained with her and Emily. He was now scowling as he leaned against the door frame to Mr. Reed’s office.
“Well, it’s bank policy to make decisions that protect our stability and—”
“Mr. Reed,” Emily cut in gently, though Rosalind caught a hard glint in the young woman’s eyes. “You have a daughter coming out this year, do you not?”
“Why, yes. Amelia. My youngest.” Mr. Reed sighed and dropped his head a few inches.
“She’s a lovely girl, I recall,” Emily continued. “And she could make a good match if she had help, say if aduchesssponsored her?”
Rosalind blinked. Was Emily actually offering herself as a sponsor to the banker’s daughter?
Mr. Reed’s face lit up. “Why, that would be wonderful.”
Emily raised a gloved hand. “It would be an honor to sponsor her, but I’m afraid that I simply could not do it unless I trusted you, Mr. Reed, inallthings.”
The banker stared at Emily for a long moment. “You would help Amelia find a good man, with say ten thousand pounds a year?”
Emily’s smile grew. “I have quite a few suitable candidates in mind already.”
