“This is rather a delicate situation,” Diana began.

Lady Yolten leaned forward in her chair. “Do you have a competitor you want us to pulverize? I think we could do it, couldn’t we, Yolty?”

For a moment, Diana’s mind went blank. She had barely met the woman, but Diana had the distinct impression that Lady Yolten would happily race off to destroy some young railroad company in Diana’s name. Diana shook her head to one side, then slowly to the other.

“No, nothing quite so delicate as that.” Diana’s fingers were tapping a quick pattern on the desk, and she stilled them. Both Lord and Lady Yolten sat on the edges of their seats, waiting for her next word. “I simply would like some information on one of my investors.” She paused as the couple leaned forward. Diana lowered her voice so Mrs. Oliver was less likely to hear. “Lord Bryant.”

The change that came over the two of them was palpable. They both immediately sat back in their chairs, their faces guarded. All the brightness and excitement the two of them had brought into the office was gone.

This was a bad idea.

The couple in front of her was obviously in love, but one mention of Lord Bryant, and suddenly they were eying each other awkwardly.

Lord Yolten shifted uncomfortably in his chair. When he did speak, he followed her pattern of speaking softly. “What, exactly, are you looking to learn about him?”

How to proceed? She couldn’t regret meeting Lady Yolten, and yet, if she had only one of the two here, no doubt she would get a more honest answer. Together, they were more likely to protect each other’s feelings than give Diana the information she needed. “My main interest is knowing a bit about his character. I hear such conflicting reports on him.”

“Conflicting?” Lady Yolten asked. “In my experience, Society has been ever consistent at painting him as a rake and a scoundrel.”

Diana smiled slowly. “I suppose you are right, Lady Yolten. If Lord Bryant is anything, he is constant in the impression he makes. But I, for one, don’t always trust Society as a whole, and I was hoping to get your viewpoint on the matter.”

“What made you think to ask us?” Lord Yolten asked stiffly.

Diana glanced back and forth between the two of them. Should she admit she knew Lady Yolten had had a scandal with him? Wasn’t that, in fact, what Lord Yolten was inferring? Up until this point, she was quite certain the couple had seen her as competent and not completely unaware of the world around her. She didn’t want to lessen their opinion of her.

Nor did she want to cause them marital strife.

“I may have heard something about you and Lord Bryant both vying for Lady Yolten’s hand at one point. You came off conqueror, of course.”

Lady Yolten sniggered, then quickly covered her mouth with her hand. Lord Yolten simply lifted an eyebrow.