They had to work fast now. And hope to get the information they needed.
“Tell Charles to come speak with me if he’s interested.” Ted looked thoughtful. “It would be a boon to have him on board. But I’m surprised you were not approached to invest.”
“Me?” She didn’t have to feign surprise this time.
“Why not? You’ve come into your money by now, have you not?” She had, the previous year. “We’ve other female investors. Could make quite a profit, you know.” Ted leaned in close, so close she could smell the liquor on his breath. Her skin began to crawl. “Think about it, hmm? You know where to find me.”
Ted tipped her a wink, running his hand on her bare arm for the briefest of moments before Daniel forcibly stepped between them. Ted gave a small bow and backed away, raising his hands. “Glad we had a chance to speak, Genevieve. I do hope you or Charles consider joining us. It would be ideal for our families to mend fences.”
Genevieve managed a tight smile until he was gone, then gulped half her glass in one swallow. “Odious man,” she muttered.
“Shall I knock out his front teeth?” Daniel asked, as if inquiring about the quality of the champagne.
“Much as I wish it, no,” she said. Excitement began to edge out her exhaustion. “We need to talk privately, and fast.”
CHAPTER 16
Daniel’s pulse began to quicken. “All right. Let me think for a moment on the best way to handle that. But I have one more person to speak to first.”
“I’m not sure we have time.” Genevieve swallowed the rest of her champagne. “Ted thinks someone approached me about investing,” she whispered as she leaned in to hand him her empty glass. “Once he speaks to the others and realizes it was a ruse …” Her wide eyes bored into his, conveying urgency.
He nodded quickly, understanding. Their time was limited now. “I’ll be fast.” Rupert sauntered by and gave him a casual nod, then continued past.
Good, everything was arranged. “Meet me back in the alcove in five minutes,” he said.
“Not private enough,” she murmured. “Get us a room.”
Daniel couldn’t help himself; he jerked back slightly in shock. “What?”
She laid a hand on his arm and smiled up at him, but he could see the growing frustration on her face. “Don’t be such a namby-pamby. A hotel room, here. We haven’t time to return to your house, and everywhere else is too public.”
He patted the hand on his arm, keeping up the pretense of a besotted courting couple, and leaned in close again. “If anyone sees us, your reputation will be damaged irreparably,” he said through clenched teeth. “It’s too risky.”
“We haven’t any choice,” she hissed back, then feigned a small laugh, as if they were sharing a private joke. “Do you know Eliza Lindsay, there in the blue?” He nodded shortly; they’d been introduced some years ago. “After you retain a room, meet her at the top of the staircase and tell her the room number. She will relay it to me, and I’ll join you in fifteen minutes.”
He tried to protest again. “But—”
She cut him off. “There’s no time, Daniel. Go.” And with that, she patted his arm again, looking every inch the figure of a young lady in love, and made her way toward her friend.
Damn, damn, damn. She was right again, of course. Minutes, seconds, mattered now; they had to speak privately and compare notes as soon as possible. But damn if he didn’t think this was a foolhardy plan all the same. He just didn’t see a way around it.
Daniel elbowed through the crowd toward his own target.
Sarah Huffington appeared deep in conversation with Rupert on the peripheries of the dance floor. At Rupert’s gesture, he joined them.
Head tilted, Sarah eyed him in consideration. “Daniel,” she drawled. “Rupert says you might wish to join our little venture.”
He smiled in return, exhilaration coursing through him. He’d had a hunch that Mrs. Huffington was more involved in her husband’s dealings than either Huffington publicly acknowledged, and asked Rupert to place one or two discreet inquiries. It had paid off.
“I might. I’ve heard rumors of phenomenal potential returns.”
“And you’d spot Rupert the funds until he gets his hands on the Bradley girl’s dowry?” Rupert gave him a bright, innocent smile. Daniel hid his annoyance with difficulty. He didn’t mind giving Rupert money, but he hadn’t had time to tell his friend the entire story. There was no way he was getting in bed financially with the Huffingtons.
“Of course.” He slid a look toward Rupert, who appeared to divine its meaning and instantly looked contrite. Sarah caught the exchange.
“Now, now, don’t be cross with darling Rupert.” She slid a hand up Rupert’s arm. “The wedding’s been delayed with this murder business, and the poor lad now has to wait for all that money. As his friends, it’s our duty to help him. At least you get to socialize without that albatross of a girl around your neck for a few months.” She leaned into Rupert’s side while casting Daniel a flirtatious look from under her combined horn and halo. Rupert’s mouth tightened at the disparagement of his fiancée, but he said nothing.
“You look ravishing, by the way.” Sarah directed this toward Daniel, eyes moving to and lingering on his breeches. “You should have dressed as a B’hoy,” she remarked, referring to the decades-old nickname given to Five Points toughs. “That would really have knocked off everyone’s socks.”
He affected a look of wry amusement, privately wishing the damn breeches weren’t so tight. “I shall leave the knocking off of socks to you.” He pretended to catch sight of the time on the large gilded clock visible on the wall just outside the grand ballroom’s open double doors. “I have something else to attend to right now”—he glanced around as if wishing for discretion—“but let’s be in touch soon about this opportunity.”
The hallway clock began to chime, deep and sonorous. Two o’clock. In a
