Page 17 of The Lyon’s Paw

“Do have a seat my lady, my lord.” Mr. Hoare motioned to the two leather chairs drawn up before the desk before returning to his seat. “I will be more than happy to attend to your banking needs.”

Lord Longford nodded and assisted her to the left-hand chair then took the right one. “I assume Mr. Boniface apprised you of the situation. We wish to open an account here at Hoares for my wife’s inheritance, from her uncle, Mr. George Edgerton. I believe you hold his account.”

“We do, my lord.” Mr. Hoare frowned. “As we hold your account. But you wish to open a separate account for the inheritance?”

“We do.” Lord Longford leaned back in his chair, a smile playing about his lips. “An account in my wife’s name only.”

Mr. Hoare’s mouth dropped open in a most comical way.

Diana had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing out loud.

“The account is to be in your wife’s name, my lord?” The banker seemed unable to take the words in. “In yours and your wife’s names, you mean?”

“No, Mr. Hoare, I assure you.” Her husband seemed to be enjoying the older man’s discomfort. “The funds are to be at my wife’s disposal. In her name alone, sir. It is her inheritance, after all.”

Mr. Hoare shook his head, muttering to himself and shooting disbelieving looks at Lord Longford. “Very irregular, my lord. Very irregular.” His eyes became unfocussed as he stared off over Diana’s shoulder. “To have an account of such momentous value in the unrestricted hands of a woman…”

“Irregular is not impossible, Mr. Hoare.” Lord Longford stared at the banker, his mouth pursed. “But, if you find you cannot accommodate our request, we will be forced to close both accounts and take our custom to The Bank of England.” His smile was far from pleasant. “I am certain they will be more than willing to accede to our request.”

At the mention of the rival establishment, Mr. Hoare’s eyes regained their focus and he straightened in his seat. “I assure you, that will not be necessary, my lord. As you say, irregular does not mean impossible.” The banker rang a bell and the clerk scurried in. “Bring me the forms for opening an account, Perkins. And be quick about it.”

“Yes, sir.” The younger man hurried out faster than he’d come in.

Mr. Hoare beamed at them across the large mahogany desk. “It won’t be but a minute, my lord, and we will have Lady Longford’s account open and at her disposal.”

“Thank you, Mr. Hoare.” The look of satisfaction on Lord Longford’s face sent an unexpected frisson of pleasure down Diana’s spine. “I never doubted you for a moment.”

Chapter Seven

The afternoon sun was just setting as Geoffrey’s carriage pulled up before Longford Manor. The three-hour drive—the second in as many days—had been more silent than he’d expected, but he’d been grateful for the solitude. His wife had surprised him by making only a few remarks—on general topics such as the smoothness of the road and the brightness of the day—before falling asleep with her head pillowed on the plush leather side of the carriage.

Geoffrey had watched her for a long time, trying to ascertain if she was indeed asleep. When her mouth opened and a gentle snore issued forth, he’d smiled and settled back in the seat, availing himself of the time to take stock of what had just been accomplished and what there was yet left to do.

The first thing he’d done this morning, upon arrival in London, was to inquire at Hoare’s if his instructions regarding the twenty thousand pounds had been carried out. Mr. Hoare himself had assured him that the full amount had been deposited into the account of Mr. Dandridge at the Bank of England and Geoffrey had felt an immense weight slide off his shoulders. Joanna was safe. That was all that mattered.

Then he’d called at Mrs. Beaumont’s house and collected his bride. She’d brought very little with her, only two trunks that had fit easily on the back of the carriage. Geoffrey wondered if his wife had sufficient clothes for the coming winter. The ensembles she’d worn yesterday and today were decent, but scarcely as stylish as he would have expected. Of course, she’d likely had little in the way of funds until day before yesterday and today he was whisking her out of Town before she could have clothes made. Not that it was any of his business, of course, but Geoffrey suddenly felt badly about that. He might not like the woman, but dash it, he didn’t wish her to be unhappy while under his roof. Perhaps he could find an appropriate time in the next few days to suggest a trip back to London to the modiste. His wife could stay with her aunt and he could open Longford House briefly as his digs. At least he assumed such an arrangement would be satisfactory to her. Perhaps such an outing would help persuade her that he was trying to make their time together palatable. It wouldn’t hurt to try.

The carriage pulled to a halt in front of the weathered wooden door and Geoffrey put a light hand on his wife’s shoulder. “Lady Longford?”

She jerked away from him, her left hand flailing out, catching him a wallop on his right cheekbone.

Geoffrey grunted and dodged away from her, but his wife was shaking the sleep from her head and looking around at him, his hand over his eye.

“What happened to you?” She blinked at him.

“I had no idea you were an expert at fisticuffs, my lady.” Geoffrey pressed his palm against his eye gently. “I will have to take more lessons at Jackson’s next time we are in London.”

“I am sorry.” She did look rather sheepish. “Was I asleep? I tend to flail about when I am.”

“Another excellent reason for couples to have separate bed chambers.” Opening his eye and discovering he could still see, Geoffrey opened the door and hurried out of the carriage. “This way, my lady.” He took her hand and assisted her down the steps. “I only have one request of you this evening.”

“Not to blacken your other eye?” Her lips puckered in a smile.

“Two requests, then.” He smiled in return. Geoffrey had to admit he enjoyed his wife’s quick wit. “The other one being for you not to say anything about our coming voyage to America or why we are making it. My mother and sister have just been informed of our marriage. Please give me some time before I break that news to them as well. As we will be absent for some time, I need to put my affairs in order and provide for them while we are gone.”

Her eyebrow rose and she made a moue. “I believe I can restrain myself from revealing our plans, my lord.”

They had reached the front door and a footman opened the door for them.