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She looked up at him. “Do you give wise advice?”
He shrugged. “I am mostly used to giving orders.”
“How soon will you leave?”
Matthew walked in silence for several steps, both of them gazing straight ahead. “I am not sure yet. Obviously after the wedding. But I need to settle some matters regarding the estate. And also bring you into our affairs. Introduce you to our man of business, our land managers and stewards.”
“It will take time for them to trust me.”
He nodded. “But it should be enough in the beginning that they trust me. And that they know I trust you.”
“Do you trust me?”
“It is far too soon to tell. But I will not leave if I do not.”
“Ah, so you are a wise man after all.”
Laughing, he stopped, peering down at her. “I do believe, Lady Crewood, that you are as skilled at manipulating a conversation as my mother.”
“I prefer to think I am focused.”
“This is what makes you a superb gambler.”
“How do you know I am a superb gambler?”
“Because you have been paying your mortgage with that skill. No one makes two months of payments on one hand of commerce without some fine card skills.”
Sarah resumed walking, oddly pleased by his compliment. “And luck.”
“Luck is too precarious to be factored into a situation. Preparation. Skill. Determination. That is what usually wins the day.”
“Spoken like a true soldier.”
“Thank you.”
Ahead of them, Mark and Phyllida had paused to speak to two couples. As Sarah and Matthew approached, Sarah could hear snippets of words in the chatter, including “Almack’s,” “pushed,” and “rumors.” When they were close enough, Phyllida drew them into the conversation with introductions. This time, Sarah resisted the urge to curtsy, as she outranked both of the couples, especially with a duke on her arm. The newcomers seemed pleasant, although all four gave Sarah’s scars surreptitious glances.
As they walked away, Phyllida leaned closer to Sarah, lowering her voice. “By the end of today, half thetonwill know that you will be seen at Almack’s and what I think about those nasty rumors.”
“I am not going to—”
Phyllida’s fan poked Matthew in the chest.
Sarah bit back a grin. “So what did you mean we are flanking the first salvo?”
“Battle tactics,” Mark said, his eyes bright with glee. “The first volley often comes as a surprise. That was their advancing their attack on you. We are now flanking them by sowing discredit on their inquiries. The more you are out—”
“Such as dancing at Almack’s—” Phyllida interjected.
“I am not going to—”
“The more petty and sour they look. And the more they press their case against you, the less support they will have.”
Sarah shook her head. “I know these two. They will not give up because people do not believe them.”
Phyllida squeezed her hand. “Of course not. That is why we must be prepared for their counterattack. Because it will not be in the realm of gossip. It may be something much more vicious.”
Matthew watched Sarahclosely as she absorbed what his mother had said. Her eyes slowly widened in alarm and she jerked her head to look at him. “You think they will come after us with the law? Or violence?”
