Page 3 of The Lyon Returns
Gwen was surprised by the woman’s insight. In a matter of seconds, she’d homed in on one of the factors that led Gwen to this juncture in her life. “Yes and no. Both our names went on the final works, so they were aware I contributed, certainly.”
“And then he died,” the woman said. “Did they terminate your employment?”
“No.” She pursed her lips. “I accomplished that on my own.”
The widow’s red lips twitched. “Go on.”
“J. Stern often called upon father and me to read submissions and make our recommendations as to whether they ought to accept a work for publication. They tended to honor our determinations, as our predictions of profitability proved reliable time and again. On occasion, however, the stakeholders balked.”
The widow sipped her tea and cocked her head with evident interest. “And did they explain their reasons on these occasions?”
Mrs. Dove-Lyon was very sharp. Gwen was impressed. She warmed to her subject. “Yes, if they deemed the work potentially scandalous or too provocative, for instance. Are you familiar with the wildly popular romantic novel author, G.T. Arlington?”
“Of course.”
“The author is one of mine. I had to push for…” she hesitated, choosing her words with care, “the first book’s acceptance. After the immense success it heralded, no further convincing was necessary.”
“Understandable.”
“I recently found another author, extremely talented, whose work, some would say, challenges the patriarchy.”
Amelia spoke up. “The Ladies’ Literary Club read it in draft form. Very thought-provoking.”
“I consider it socially relevant, and potentially an important seminal work,” Gwen added. “Shortly after my father’s death, I received word the stakeholders had spurned my recommendation to publish it, however.” A rush of anger ignited in her. “They also offered their condolences concerning my father’s demise and made a formal offer to keep me on—at a fraction of my previous salary.”
“Your father’s salary,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon corrected.
“The last four years I did most of the work. The last two,allof the work. I’m quite good.”
“I’m sure you are. But you are a woman.”
Gwen inclined her head, and made a concerted effort to tamp down her annoyance. She had no business holding the way of the world against the widow, who, Harriet informed her, was no stranger to the difficulties many a woman on her own faced.
According to Harriet, when Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s upper crust husband died unexpectedly, she found herself buried under a staggering debt of which she had no previous knowledge. Instead of crumpling, she remade herself and turned her fashionable home into the most notorious gambling den in all of London.
Gwen could not imagine making a similar choice, but she had to respect the woman’s tenacity.
“May I ask how this situation lends itself to you needing a husband?” she now asked.
“I told J. Stern and the stakeholders to go hang, and summarily hired Lady Harriet’s man-of-affairs to search out any competitors in need of editorial help. He did not find a position for me, but hediddiscover a publishing house available for purchase.
“The majority stakeholder wishes to sell, and is happy to take my money, of which I have an ample supply. My inheritances from both my husband and my father add up to a sizable fortune,” she explained, then lifted her tea and sipped, soothed by the warm liquid as it slid down her throat. “Unfortunately, the remaining stakeholders must approve the sale, and therein lies the problem.”
Mrs. Dove-Lyon folded her gloved hands in her lap, all business.
“The buyer must have the available funds, which I do. He or she must have publishing experience, which I have.” Gwen couldn’t hold back a heavy sigh. “They made it clear they would prefer a male buyer of some standing, and that an unknown widow wouldneverdo, but a wife of a well-to-do Englishman, preferably a peer, would be acceptable.”
Gwen stared at the cap’s black netting, imagining she looked into the woman’s eyes. “My friends told me you could provide me a husband, however—”
“For a price,” the Black Widow interjected.
“Of course. But even if we could agree on terms, I have no wish to be married.”
“I am curious to know what it is you have against marriage.”
“As you stated earlier, most marriages are basically business transactions. As I have my own money, and goals I would not like to see circumvented, I see no reason to complicate matters.”
The widow nodded. “You will marry for love or not at all.”
