Once aboard, Gwen surveyed the family already assembled on deck. A few of her cousins played shuffleboard on the rear deck, and Oscar’s wife sat in a deck chair like it was a throne. Poppy Blackstone was Oscar’s second wife and younger than Gwen. Having a male child was desperately important to her uncle. When his first wife died after thirty years of marriage, having given birth to only a single daughter, Oscar wasted no time seeking out a young and healthy bride. Rumor had it that before he married her, he ordered Poppy to visit a specialist to ensure she was capable of bearing children. Poppy had conceived seven months ago, and now she swanned around like she was carrying the child of Zeus, constantly cradling her expanding waistline.

Gwen took the seat beside her. “Do you know why we’ve all been summoned?” Aside from funding the college, she had no interest in bank business, and ordering the entire family to a meeting was odd.

“I have no idea,” Poppy said, slowly waving a fan before her face. Her blond curls were artfully arranged beneath a jaunty hat perched on her head. “It can’t be too important, since Natalia isn’t here.”

That was a surprise. Natalia was Oscar’s daughter from his first marriage, and he always wanted her nearby when discussing bank business.

“Where is she?” Gwen asked.

“At the bank.” Poppy rolled her eyes. “Some excuse about building a railroad through Siberia. Apparently, the funding for supplies simply can’t wait until Monday.” Poppy leaned in a little closer. “Russians,” she muttered, not bothering to hide her disdain. Oscar’s first wife had been Russian, and Poppy instinctively competed with the dead woman’s memory.

Oscar strolled over, his cane tapping on the decking. “Natalia is transmitting payments for supplies to the Trans-Siberian Railway because construction will grind to a halt without food and fuel. We are both very proud of Natalia, aren’t we, Poppy.”

It was a statement, not a question, and Poppy wisely sat up a little straighter and brightened her tone. “Heavens, yes. You should see her at the bank, Gwen. Natalia sits right beside the telegraph operator to arrange the negotiations because he doesn’t understand Russian, but she speaks it like a native. It’s very impressive.”

Oscar would probably have made Natalia his successor at the bank if the operating trust permitted it, but the rules were clear. Only men could inherit power at the bank. Gwen had never minded that, but Natalia did.

Oscar tapped the leg of Gwen’s chair with his cane. “Natalia told me that one of your college professors cured a woman with tetanus. Is it true?”

“It appears so.”

Uncle Oscar nodded in approval. “Good. When can the serum be monetized?”

“That’s a question for Dr. Haas, not me.”