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“I would congratulate you, but it feels as if I should be offering sympathy instead.”
“When you meet her, you will see I’ve made the right decision.”Matthew was mountain-top pleased, but there was no reason to make his friend feel lacking.
“Brilliant Sappho?”Jack asked.It was an apt comparison—a once-in-a-lifetime victory.
“The odds were in my favor this time.And I didn’t need your money.”
“You didn’t need it then either.”
“I needed your audacity,” Matthew said.
“Well, this does indeed change things.What about theDaily Informer?A duchess may not look too highly upon such an endeavor.”
“TheDaily Informeris the least of my businesses upon which she might frown.Once she knows all my reasons, she will understand.”Did the duchess know what a frightening man Sandhurst really was?What he’d been involved in?Matthew thought his own endeavors paled in comparison to Sandhurst’s apparent attempt at treason.
“You’re not going to sell theInformer, are you?”
“TheInformeris ours until the day one of us dies.Or until we need to pull another confidence trick,” Matthew said.
“Madame DuPuis was serious about purchasing, you know.”Jack pulled out a leather binder from his work valise.
“Only because she thought she could use it against me,” Matthew said.
“And yet, I would have been the only one hurt, if theInformerhad been sold.”
“It’s ours.”
“It’s ours, but mostly yours.”
Matthew shrugged.What should he say?Jack was a little more important than a London gossip rag.
Jack sighed and straightened his shoulders.“Down to business, my friend.What do you have for Thursday’s paper?Anything new on the Cato Street Conspiracy?”The sensational story of murder and treason had been on the front page of their paper for weeks.Now that Matthew had the incriminating letter from Cyril Elliston indicating his potential involvement, Matthew was even more interested in how the conspiracy came about and, of course, the results from the investigation and trial.
“Yes, but I’m still working on that revelation and the proper timing of it.But by God, I will take anything other than pages and pages of flummery about King George and Queen Caroline’s divorce.”
They worked for a few hours, until the clock struck eleven.Her footsteps sounded promptly.Matthew hadn’t heard Rose or the children return to the house.One would think a six-year-old and an eight-year-old would make a bit of noise.
Raleigh rapped on the door and swung it wide, allowing the new Mrs.Hardy into his sanctuary.Matthew took in the sight of his wife, looking fit with rosy cheeks with the tightest, roundest arse beneath her skirts.In his mind’s eye, he could see her form clearly.
“Your Grace,” Matthew said, bowing.“May I present my dear friend, Jack Sparling.Jack, this is Her Grace, Rose Elliston Hardy, Duchess of Sandhurst.”
Jack copied Matthew, bowing.“Your Grace.Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Mr.Sparling, but I am no longer a duchess.Mr.Hardy, I believe, enjoys the idea that I might still be.Are you staying for lunch?”
“Unfortunately, no.Matthew advised me I was to leave promptly at eleven since he wanted to devote some time to his new wife.”
“He didn’t need to do that since I will be a constant thorn in his side for several years.”
“I suspect it will be the other way around, Your Grace,” Jack said, smiling broadly but not ogling to the point of offense.
“You may call me Mrs.Hardy.I have accepted that reality.”Matthew saw she bit her lip, maybe a little uncomfortable she’d admitted that truth.A truth that might become heavier in the days to come.
“Well, I should take my leave then.”
“Give me a moment, Your Grace, while I see my friend to the door.”She nodded and stood with her hands entwined.
Outside, Jack’s horse was waiting for him.He turned to Matthew.“She’s a beauty.”
