“Rubbish.”
“I fail to see why you are concerned with learning how to charm gentlemen,” Tobias said. “You contrive to do rather well without that skill.”
“I believe that is an insult, sir.”
“I did not mean it as such.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Perhaps I would enjoy charming certain gentlemen.”
“Me, for instance?” He smiled in a kindly fashion. “It is a pretty thought, but it is not necessary, my dear. I am content with you just the way you are.”
“Really, Tobias.”
“Yes, really. It is apparent to me that you and I have established an understanding of each other’s nature that goes beyond insincere platitudes and meaningless compliments.”
“You may be correct; nevertheless, it strikes me as an extraordinarily useful inquiry technique and I am strongly inclined to perform some experiments of my own before I abandon the whole notion.”
“I trust you will be cautious, madam. I am not at all certain that my nerves are strong enough to sustain the shock of a heady dose of charm delivered by you.”
She had had enough of his teasing. “Do not concern yourself, sir. I was not planning to waste any such hard-won skill on you. I suspect you would be utterly impervious to charm, in any event.”
“No doubt.” His voice softened to that low pitch that told her he was no longer teasing her. “Nevertheless, if you choose to conduct any experiments with charm, I must insist that you confine your researches to me.”
She caught a glimpse of something in his eyes that was both dangerous and exciting, but she was not certain what to make of it. There was an element of irony here, she thought. This was just the sort of situation where the ability to charm a gentleman would be quite useful.
“Why should I confine my experiments to you, sir?” she asked lightly.
“I cannot, in good conscience, allow you to put any other innocent gentlemen at risk.”
“You, sir, are no innocent.”
“It was a figure of speech.” His gaze went past her shoulder. “Speaking of one who knows the value of charm, here is Mrs. Dove.”
Lavinia was oddly disappointed that Joan had chosen this moment to seek her out in the crowded ballroom. These brisk verbal exchanges with Tobias never failed to invigorate her senses and infuse her with a certain pleasant heat.
Nevertheless, business called.
She collected herself and turned to greet the striking woman coming toward them.
Joan Dove was in her mid-forties, but her pale blond hair hid the telltale streaks of silver well. With her fine, classical features and her superb sense of style, she was frequently mistaken for a much younger woman. It was not until one drew close enough to notice the faint lines at the corners of her eyes and the worldly experience in her gaze that one got a hint of her true age.
Although she had been widowed for a full year, Joan still wore only gray and black in memory of her much-loved husband. While the gowns were limited in their colors and hues, they were inevitably in the first stare of fashion. Madam Francesca saw to that.
Tonight she was serenely elegant in silver satin trimmed with exquisite little black roses. The neckline was cut low to frame her fine shoulders and bosom. The skirts fell in perfect folds to her ankles.
“Ah, there you are, Lavinia. Tobias.” Joan smiled at both of them. “A pleasure to see you this evening. I collect that Emeline and Anthony are enjoying themselves on the dance floor.”
“Indeed.” Lavinia smiled with satisfaction. “This is another social coup for both of them, and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your efforts to secure the invitations for us.”
“Think nothing of it. Now that I am getting out a bit more, it is in my own best interests to ensure that there will be people at these affairs with whom I can enjoy conversation. I consider you and Tobias to be not only good friends but colleagues as well.”
Lavinia caught Tobias’s eye. They exchanged glances of mutual understanding that needed no words. The thought of Joan as a colleague was unsettling.
It had been Joan’s suggestion that they should consult with her on difficult cases where her unusual connections might prove useful. Indeed, she was quite enthusiastic about what she viewed as her new hobby.
Although Joan had been their first important client and Lavinia would always be grateful to her, not only for the business but for introducing her to Madam Francesca, there was good reason to have some misgivings about the notion of taking her on as a consultant. On the positive side, however, she offered her services for free.
Joan was a mysterious woman with a shadowy past. One of the few things that Lavinia knew for certain about her was that, before his untimely death, her husband, Fielding Dove, had controlled a powerful criminal organization known as the Blue Chamber. At its zenith, the ring had possessed extensive legal and illegal business interests that reached beyond England all the way to the Continent.
The Chamber had supposedly disintegrated and collapsed following Dove’s death last year. But Tobias had picked up rumors in certain underworld quarters to the effect that many of the Chamber’s enterprises had not been destroyed after all. They were merely under new management.
And the most likely new proprietor in sight, as far as Lavinia and Tobias could determine, was Joan Dove.
Some questions, Lavinia thought, were better left unasked.
“I am happy to tell you that I have been quite busy with my researches on behalf of Lake and March this evening,” Joan said cheerfully.
The enthusiasm in her voice caught Lavinia’s attention and made her look at her friend more closely. This lightness of spirit was new. Perhaps Joan was, at long last, emerging from mourning.
“Lake and March,” Lavinia repeated thoughtfully. “I rather like the sound of that.”
“Personally, 1 do not care for it,” Tobias said. “If you must give our occasional partnership a formal designation, Joan, you may refer to the firm as March and Lake.”
“Rubbish,” Lavinia shot back. “Lake and March is far more appropriate.”
“I disagree,” Tobias said. “The senior partner always comes first.”
“Age is a consideration, of course, although I would not have been so rude as to call attention to yours. Nevertheless-”
“I was referring to being the senior in terms of experience in the profession,” Tobias muttered. “Not my years.”
Lavinia smiled sweetly and turned back to Joan with an inquiring expression. “Now, then, you were saying, madam?”
“Before I was so rudely interrupted by your little squabble about the proper name for your business relationship with Mr. March, do you mean?” Joan’s eyes glinted with a rare amusement. “Yes, well, I was about to tell you of some rumors that are circulating among certain members of the ton who take a keen interest in antiquities.”
Tobias put down his champagne glass and looked at Joan with acute interest. “You have my undivided attention, madam.”
“I knew it,” Lavinia said, excitement bubbling inside her. “Word of the missing Medusa has begun to move through high circles, has it not? That is precisely why I contacted you earlier today and asked for your assistance, Joan. With your social connections you are in an ideal position to learn this sort of information.”
“I am delighted to be able to consult on this matter.” Joan kept her eyes on the crowd and lowered her voice to a confidential tone. “What I discovered is that the news of the Blue Medusa has captured the interest of a certain collector, an extremely wealthy, powerful gentleman who has a reputation for obtaining whatever he sets out to possess.”