Absolutely, Positively

invention, sad to say. Even at the corporate level, research and development funds are always lacking. This country needs to invest much more into its inventive brains if it wants to maintain a competitive edge in the global economy.”

    Molly politely turned him out, as she often did. She had nothing against Cutter. It was hard not to feel tolerant if not downright friendly toward him. He was an affable man who enjoyed playing host. He was gallant and solicitous toward Venicia. But he did have a tendency to pontificate.

    Odd, how she never really minded when Harry launched into a lecture, Molly thought, amused. Harry never bored her. Admittedly, he occasionally tried her patience, but he never bored her. Even sitting in her kitchen watching him dismantle the black box that had been left at her front door had been anything but boring.

    Cutter was another matter. He was a retired engineering executive who had a tendency to hold forth on whatever subject was being discussed. He considered himself an expert on everything.

    Cutter was in his late fifties, a year or two older than Venicia. Balding and blunt-featured, he had the ruddy looks and sturdy build that hinted of a childhood spent on a farm.

    Molly had once asked him why he had retired at such an early age. He had given her a kindly smile and allowed as to how he'd come into some family money. In addition, he'd taken advantage of a very generous early retirement plan offered by his firm. Life was short, he'd explained. He had wanted to enjoy it while he was still relatively young and in good health.

    After he and Venicia had met on the spring cruise, they had been inseparable. Their engagement had been announced a month ago.

    “…Don't you agree, Molly?” Cutter asked.

    It was the note of concern in his voice that brought Molly's attention back to Cutter. She gave him an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I didn't catch that. What was your question?”

    “I said,” Cutter repeated patiently, “don't you think it's a little strange that your high-priced grant proposal consultant can't seem to find any worthwhile projects for you to fund?”

    “I've discussed the problem with him.”

    “How many proposals has the foundation received?”

    “About a hundred.”

    “And this Dr. Trevelyan hasn't approved a single one.” Cutter frowned. “Odd. Very odd. My experience in the corporate world suggests that at least five or ten percent of those proposals should have been solid.”

    Venicia looked at him with some surprise. “Five or ten?”

    Cutter hacked off another chunk of beef. “At least. I'm not saying one would want to fund all five or ten, but there should have been that many that warranted serious consideration.”

    “Statistics can be tricky,” Molly said. For some reason she felt compelled to defend Harry's decisions. “One hundred grant proposals isn't a very large sample.”

    “Quite true,” Cutter agreed. “Still, one does wonder what this Dr. Trevelyan is up to.”

    “Up to?” Molly gave him a sharp look. “What do you mean?”

    “Nothing, I'm sure,” Cutter said soothingly. “Nevertheless…”

    “Nevertheless, what?” Molly demanded.

    “I would advise caution, my dear,” Cutter said.

    “Caution?”

    “You're new at this sort of thing.” Cutter put down his knife and regarded her with a slightly troubled frown. “Bear in mind that there is always a great deal of money to be made in the administrative end of any charity operation. An unscrupulous person in Trevelyan's position could make himself a tidy fortune in consulting fees over a period of time.”

    “I don't believe Harry would use his position to con me.” Molly realized that she was inexplicably incensed by what had been nothing more than a reasonable warning from a man who had seen more of the world than she had. “I'm aware that there is no shortage of embezzlers and frauds hanging around waiting to take advantage of foundations such as mine, but I can promise you that Harry Trevelyan isn't one of them.”

    Cutter raised his heavy brows. “The more charming they are, the more clever they are, my dear.”

    “Harry isn't particularly charming,” Molly muttered. But he had given her very similar advice, she reminded herself.

    “No offense,” Cutter said gently, “but he does appear to have you eating out of the palm of his hand.”

    “That's nonsense,” Molly said.

    Venicia touched her napkin to her lips and gave Cutter a worried look.