Charlotte hadn’t been to the types of social activities to which Lady Yolten had been invited, not at the beginning of Lady Yolten’s entrance into Society and certainly not near the end, when she had climbed the ranks enough to attend events where Lord Bryant and Lord Yolten would be present. Charlotte had married Mr. Richardson when neither of them had had much in the way of worldly possessions. However, Mr. Richardson’s prowess in the railroad industry had changed all of that.

The bell clanged, and a regal man about Nate’s age walked through the door, his top hat taller than any other Diana had ever seen, his collar stiff and high. Diana jumped to her feet. What had she been thinking? Requesting that a peer come see her in her office? The man must have a thousand other things to do, and she invented some trumped-up reason to speak with him. Spending so much time with Lord Bryant must have made her less aware of impropriety.

“Lord Yolten, please sit down.” Diana motioned to the chair in front of her desk. “I’m sorry to interrupt your busy schedule.”

Lord Yolten scoffed. “Yes, well, today I had hoped to solve the mystery of why one of my favorite novels went missing.” He shrugged his slim shoulders. “But then I found it.”

Or perhaps the man wasn’t as busy as she had thought. “Where did you find it?”

“On my nightstand. I had set another novel on top of it, you see, and it covered up the one I had been searching for. With the book found, my schedule opened up quite conveniently, and I am happy to meet with you.”

She couldn’t quite tell if the man was serious. Most likely not. “I’m glad to hear it.”

“What can I do for you, Miss Barton? I must admit I am quite curious about how the railroad line is doing since—” He stopped.

“Since a woman took over?”

“Well, yes.” He leaned forward, his eyes filled with curiosity. “You don’t find it exhausting? I find my investment meetings with my solicitor exhausting, and we only meet once a week.”

Exhausting? Of course it was exhausting. “I find the business side of the railroad to be quite fascinating. I suppose that keeps me from feeling overwhelmed.”

Lord Yolten’s eyes widened, and he raised an eyebrow. Diana looked down at her desk. Perhaps she shouldn’t have requested he come. The last thing she needed was a married man’s interest on top of all the other men.

“I should have brought my wife with me.”

Diana jerked her head back up and met his eyes. He was interested in her but not romantically interested. Too many merchants giving her attention for her business had gone to her head. Heat rose to her cheeks. When had she become so vain? “She’s welcome to come anytime she would like. I’d be happy to show her what I am working on.”

“Do you mean that?”

“Yes, of course.”