Eleanor tried not to wring her hands. She was more nervous than she thought she would be when the idea came to her. “I want to prove that a mine can pay fair wages and be run with the health of the workers in mind and still make a profit.”

“Well.” He glanced briefly at Grace. “They are definitely getting more ambitious as they grow older.”

Grace’s eyes sparkled as she chuckled. “She is not attempting to attend university in Italy.”

“That’s true.” He turned back to Eleanor. “Do not get excited, this is in no way finished. Herndon will make the final decision. But I have a recollection that your property includes a mine. If I’m right, and you do what you plan to do, there will be a great deal of resistance from whoever is running it. In fact, Merton recently discovered, to his chagrin, that he must wait for the contract to be renewed before he can have more control over the mines on his properties.”

I have a mine!

Or she might have a mine. Eleanor wanted to bounce in her seat. Then what Matt said about Merton sank in. “What is our next step?”

“We talk to Herndon.” Matt glanced at Grace again. “Do you have any idea if they are in Town yet?”

She tapped her desk again. “Aunt Herndon has not called on us. I’ll send a note around, asking them to join us the day after tomorrow for tea. We will soon know if the knocker is up yet or not.”

Surely it could be faster than that. Now that there might be a way forward, Eleanor wanted to act on it. “Why not today or tomorrow?”

“No. It is too late for today, and tomorrow everyone will be preparing for Almack’s.” Grace gave Eleanor her I-am-sorry-you-cannot-do-this-now smile. “The day after tomorrow is for the best.”

That was the end of the conversation. Eleanor would have to accept her sister’s decision. “Very well.” At least they were both on her side. She rose from her chair. “Thank you for your help.”

“You’re welcome. Before you go, I should tell you I am attempting to discover at which mine the man Dobbins works. Unfortunately, Mr. Johnson took his wife and children on a holiday to celebrate them being a family.”

That was unfortunate. “Thank you again. I am sure you will hear from him when they return.”

Until then, Eleanor would have to be watchful.

She ambled to the hall as her twin and Madeline came down the stairs as quickly as was proper. “What is going on?”

“Dotty is here, and she brought her brother, Henry,” Alice said. “We have not seen him in years.”

Had it been that long? He had missed the Easter dinner. “Was he not home for Christmas last year?”

“Only for a day, and we did not see him,” Alice reminded her.