'I generally meet new clients here at the Institute for the initial meeting.'
Welch gave her a reproving look. 'You cannot expect a person of Lady Mansfield's consequence to come to you for a meeting. You must go to her. Naturally I told Mrs. Fordham to schedule the consultation.'
Virginia sighed. 'Naturally.'
'It is for this Thursday afternoon at three.' Welch smiled benignly. 'In her note Lady Mansfield very graciously said that she would send her carriage to your address to convey you to the appointment. Just think, Miss Dean, you will not be obliged to hire a public cab. Isn't that splendidly generous of the client?'
'Splendidly generous, Mr. Welch. Thank you.'
'Indeed, you're quite welcome. I can't wait to inform Mr. Leybrook.'
Welch scurried away.
Virginia continued up the stairs, Matt at her heels.
What was Helen thinking? Virginia wondered. She was surely aware of the risks involved in promoting a connection between her daughter and her dead husband's illegitimate offspring. On the other hand, it was obvious that Helen genuinely cared for Elizabeth. Perhaps she had concluded that it would be best if Elizabeth were given some practical advice in regard to managing her talent.
At the top of the stairs Virginia led Matt along the hall to the door of her small office. She opened the small chatelaine purse that dangled from her belt and took out her key. Her fingers brushed against the lock pick. She smiled. Most gentlemen gave their lovers jewelry. The Sweetwater men were more original when it came to tokens of affection. After two hours of intense instruction and practice on every lock in the house, Matt had pronounced her quite adept at lock-picking.You would have made a very good burglar, Miss Dean, he'd said.
She opened the door of the office. Matt followed her into the small space.
'Leave the door open,' she said in a low voice. 'Our goal is to try to gain some information from my colleagues. The easiest way to do that is with casual conversation, and the quickest route to that end is an open door.'
'Yes, ma'am,' he said.
'There is no reason for you to stand around. Take one of the client chairs. I have a copy of the most recent edition of the Institute'sJournal that you might like to examine.'
'Thanks.'
She sat behind the tidy little desk and plucked the copy of the LeybrookJournal off a nearby bookshelf. Matt took it from her and studied the cover with great interest.
'It looks very much like a copy of Arcane'sJournal of Paranormal and Psychical Research, ' he said.
Virginia smiled wryly. 'I believe Mr. Leybrook deliberately patterned it after the Society's publication. I told you, he is intent on establishing the credibility of the Institute.'
Matt opened the journal and glanced at the table of contents. He grinned and read aloud, 'An Investigation of Automatic Writing as a Method for Relaying Messages from the Other Side.' He looked up. 'The LeybrookJournal may look like an Arcane publication, but I can assure you that no self-respecting member of the Society believes that spirits communicate through mediums who transmit their messages with automatic writing.'
'I'm aware of that,' she said. 'Leybrook doesn't believe in visitations from the Other Side, either, but he says that is the sort of paranormal investigation that intrigues the public.'
'And sells a great many copies of hisJournal. '
'Yes.' She reached for her appointment book.
She heard Gilmore Leybrook's confident footsteps in the hall outside her door just as she opened the book. He paused in the doorway. Matt got to his feet.
'Good morning, Virginia,' Gilmore said. 'Welch told me that you had arrived.' He gave Matt a speculative survey. 'He also mentioned that you have acquired a new assistant.'
'I decided to follow your example, Mr. Leybrook,' she said smoothly. 'You have told me on more than one occasion that clients are always impressed by a practitioner who employs an assistant. Mr. Kern has accepted a position with me.'
'I see.' Gilmore did not look pleased. He ignored Matt and glanced at the open appointment book. 'Busy day?' he said to Virginia.
'Not especially,' she said. She was careful, as she always was with Leybrook, to use her most exquisitely professional tones. 'I have an appointment for a consultation later this afternoon but no readings tonight.'
'Welch tells me that you have attracted a very important new client, Lady Mansfield.' Gilmore sauntered, uninvited, into the office. 'Congratulations.'
The small room was suddenly quite crowded, Virginia thought. The two men seemed to take up a great deal of the available space.
'Lady Mansfield has requested only a consultation,' she said. 'I doubt that she will become a regular client.'
Gilmore lowered himself into one of the two wooden chairs arranged in front of the desk and hitched up his expensive trousers. 'Let us hope that you can convince her otherwise.'
Virginia smiled and prepared to lie through her teeth. 'I will certainly do my best. Was there anything else, Mr. Leybrook? If not, I would like to prepare for my appointment.'
'Yes, Virginia, there is something else.' Leybrook cocked a dark brow at Matt. 'Be so good as to step out into the hall, Mr. Kern. I wish to speak to Miss Dean privately.'
Matt made no move to leave. He looked at Virginia for direction. She had known this confrontation was coming, she reminded herself. Best to get it over with as quickly and as privately as possible.
'It's all right, Matt,' she said quietly. 'Please wait in the hall. Mr. Leybrook won't be long. Take theJournal with you to read.'
Matt did not look happy, but he did not argue. 'I'll be just outside if you need me, ma'am.'
'Thank you,' Virginia said.
Matt walked out of the office. He did not close the door behind him. Leybrook got up and closed it quite firmly.
'Your new employee appears to be quite devoted to you,' he remarked, returning to the chair.
Virginia readied herself for the skirmish. If she did not handle things very carefully, today could prove to be her last at the Institute.
'I believe Mr. Kern has a flair for the business,' she said. 'What was it you wanted to speak to me about?'
'Unfortunately it has become clear that Miss Walters is not suited to the position for which I employed her.'
'I'm surprised to hear that. She appears to meet all your requirements in an assistant.'
'I have changed some of my requirements.'
'I see.'
'As it happens, Miss Dean, I have concluded that you will suit the position very nicely. I have decided to offer you the post.'
Virginia smiled with what she hoped was just the right degree of regret.
'I am certainly flattered, Mr. Leybrook, but I am afraid that I will not be able to take the position,' she said. 'As you can see, I have, in fact, just hired my own assistant.'
Displeasure flashed across Leybrook's handsome face. It vanished in the next instant.
'It is hardly the same sort of position that I am offering to you,' he said. 'May I ask why you are not interested?'
'Do not mistake me, I am very aware of the singular honor you are offering. But I am determined to pursue my career as a glass-reader.'
'I never meant to imply that I would expect you to give up your readings if you became my assistant,' Gilmore said quickly. 'The opposite, in fact. I have given the matter a great deal of thought, and I am convinced that working together as a team we could establish ourselves as the most fashionable glass-reading consultants in London.'
She picked up her pen. 'But you do not read mirrors.'
'No,' he agreed. He smiled. 'My talents lie in other directions. But that does not mean we cannot conduct consultations as a team. You would perform the actual reading of the mirrors, of course.'
