Everton took the stairs two at a time, and when he reached the top, he was out of breath. Still not waiting, he found the door that would lead to the balcony Diana sat in. He pulled it open.

“Diana,” he called.

Nate Barton stepped in front of Diana, even though they were still many feet away. Everton weaved his way through those trying to exit until he came up to the pair.

The muscles in Nate’s jaw worked frantically. “Before we go any further, I will remind you I have not given my permission for—well—anything. I know Diana thinks the best of you, but I have a hard time understanding it.” Mr. Barton—Nate—for why would he stand on ceremony with his soon to be brother-in-law—glared at their spectators, but continued. “Where were you today?” he demanded.

Everton carefully maneuvered his way past several overly interested bystanders to where Diana and Mr. Barton stood.

“I’m sorry. Truly I am.” Everton reached into his breast pocket to pull out the note that had caused him so much trouble. “I was intercepted on my way into Parliament and given this note.” Everton held out the note, looking back and forth between Diana and Nate before finally handing it to Diana. She stood, and he pointed to the scrawling script. “I thought it must be a hoax, but Diana, you have been telling me how much happier Mrs. Richardson has been of late. The more I thought about it, the more I realized I had to find out.”

Diana skimmed the contents of the hastily scrawled note he had handed her. It was from someone named Daniels. “Do you know this Daniels?” he asked.

“No, I’ve never heard of him in my life.” She didn’t look up, and her brother leaned over her shoulder to read the note as well. “This says Mrs. Richardson is to marry Mr. Broadcreek today,” Mr. Barton said.

Diana shook her head. “That is ridiculous. Mrs. Richardson knows Mr. Broadcreek is only after her railroad line.”

Nate took the note from her hands. “But it is your railroad line now.”

Lord Bryant pulled at his already crumpled cravat. “That was my thinking as well, but if he knew of your agreement to sell and split the profits once it had more value . . . Did Mrs. Richardson ever tell you the name of the man who was calling on her?”

Diana froze. Everton pushed down his desire to fold her into his arms. The swelling in his nose was only just beginning to come down. He couldn’t risk another blow.

“No,” Diana said. “She never did. She never even admitted there was such a man. Whoever it was, she didn’t want to tell me.”

“At first I thought perhaps this was a ruse to keep me away from the vote. But I couldn’t deny that the note might actually be true.” Everton reached for her hand and tightened his fingers around hers. “I don’t know Mrs. Richardson very well, but I know she’s the reason you have fought so hard to make this company successful. Knowing that, I couldn’t wait for the vote. I had to ascertain whether there was any truth to this. First, I checked to see whether you or Mrs. Richardson were home. I supposed that if she had been home, I could quickly rule out the hoax and return to Parliament in plenty of time to vote.”