6
When he returned he found is Aunt and Lady Hartford sitting in the parlor awaiting dinner for him. He smiled at the two of them it was nice to see his aunt laughing and smiling she did not do that often. He ran up the stairs to change he smelled like horse and that would not do.
When dinner was announced the women were surprised to find him already in the dining room waiting for them. He could see the puzzled look on his Aunts face, and he laughed. He was surprised that Lady Hartford asked the question his Aunt was thinking. After all they did not know each other well.
"When did you sneak in your Grace?"
"About an hour ago. I did not want to disturb the two of you, and if you want the truth I did not want you to know I smelt like a horse after riding all day."
They all laughed at his humor and sat down for dinner. Jensen could not help thinking he could get used to having Lady Hartford at his dinner table she was very pleasing to the eye.
"So how goes the investigation today?"
"Oh, it was very informative do you not think so Pauline?"
Pauline nodded her head and smiled at her nephew and wrote down a message.
"Did you know that My brother Nesbit was caught cheating at Eaton?" We found a letter from the headmaster to my father about it."
"I did not know but I am not surprised."
"He was expelled from the school and never graduated."
Jensen laughed,
"That explains a lot he came by today asking for his allowance early. I told him no or we could gather all the siblings together and take a vote."
"What did he say?"
"He did not say anything other than you would vote him down. What is the thing between the two of you? You are close to all your siblings but him?"
Instead of writing down and answer she started to shake her head no violently. What had he said to upset her? It was Lady Hartford who claimed her down.
"You do not have to tell us unless you want to is that not right your grace?"
"Yes of course you never have to divulge what he did or why you do not like him."
Pauline settled down and started to eat vigorously the conversation was over, but both Jensen and Johanna's curiosity was peeked. He would have to talk with William and Michael to see if they knew what happened. The rest of the dinner was spent in silence both afraid they would upset Pauline. After dinner Jensen took Jo home he was not surprised she brought up Pauline.
"I hope your aunt will be alright, she was acting a little strange when she came across some things that were your uncle Nisbet's like a letter someone sent him that told him he better keep his mouth shut or brag about what they had done. She sat on the bed and started to weep. I comforted her as best I could, but she would not tell me what it was that suddenly made her sad. I am sure it had to do with a memory of something your Uncle did to her."
"Thank you for telling me I will look into it and see if she will talk to me about it. Thinking back, I do not remember her even acknowledging him at family gatherings she is incredibly happy to see the others just not him. I wonder why?"
Jo leaned over and touched Jensen's hand as if it were the most natural thing to do. The small gesture sent a surge of lightning through his body and he almost missed what she was saying.
"Do not worry your Grace we will work out this mystery together."
"Thank you Lady Hartford I will appreciate your assistance in the matter."
"Think nothing of it after all we are friends of sorts. I find I like being with you and your Aunt."
Before he could tell her that he too liked their time together the carriage came to a stop and the groom was opening the door to help her out.
"Well until tomorrow your Grace."
"Yes, until tomorrow Lady Hartford."
Then she was gone disappearing away behind the big wooden door. As the door closed, he knew she was now safe, and he could concentrate on who put a price on her pretty little head. When he returned home he found his aunt waiting for him.
"Is something wrong Aunt Pauline?"
She nodded yes and started to cry, then she took out some paper and wrote down.
"I am so sorry I wish I could tell you everything, but I cannot at the moment, but I will as soon as I am able."
With that said or rather written she ran out of the room sobbing. What the bloody hell was going on. This was the strangest day he could remember having. He went to his study an poured himself a drink to figure out this crazy day.
Jo entered the house quietly she did not want to face Wilma she had been in a mood of late and she did not need the stress of fighting with her. Instead she was greeted by the sound of her brother's voice calling her into his study. She did not know he had even returned home. She went in and plopped down in the chair across from him which was in front of the fire.
"Is something amiss Luther?"
"Shut the door behind you."
He took a drink from the glass in his hand and gave a little chuckle.
"I just needed to talk to you about something is all."
"I am listening."
"I have taken steps to divorce Wilma, I have gotten the dissolution from the church, I have filed today in the courts suing Mr. Zaft for causing alienation of affection between a husband and a wife. After that I will have to take it to the House of Lords, and they will have to vote on the manner. I just wanted you to know because this might mess up your season if people start to shun me for my actions."
She flung herself out of her chair and threw her arms around her brothers neck the amber liquid in his glass splashed on her dress.
"Luther, I do not even want a season, so you do what you need too so you are happy."
"Thanks Jo. I need you to promise me something Johanna?"
She knew he was serious when he called her Johanna.
"Anything Luther just ask."
"Only marry for love, never bow to the will of others you can never be happy if you do. Always follow your heart."
"I promise Luther I will only marry for Love. I am so sorry you did not and ended up so unhappy."
"Thanks Jo, that helps so when I tell you that until Wilma is served we have to play along as nothing is going to change. Because of this I need you to be here for dinner tomorrow night She has invited the Marquis of Rude he is in the market for a wife. I just need you to be here to keep her happy. They will be serving her on Saturday so Friday we will be going to London, so we do not have to be here when the magistrate comes and escorts them off."
"I will have to tell my new friend that I have a change of plans and will be leaving the area a week early."
"I am sorry if I ruined any of your plans."
"No not at all. Well good night Luther I will see you at dinner tomorrow and I will put the biggest smile on for the Marquis."
"Thank you Jo I really appreciate it."
"I love you Luther I would do anything for you."
"Thanks Luv."
The next morning Jo was surprised that the Duke of Richmond's carriage was waiting outside her door to take her to Bountiful. When she arrived, Pauline was waiting for her and today she was also in breeches which was a good thing since Jo only had two more days of searching the house. That day when the Duke finally made his appearance around noon Jo had to tell him she would not be staying for dinner. She explained she had to go and have dinner with Wilma who was having the Marquis of Rude as her guest so she could get to know him. There seemed to be a change in the Duke but for the life of her she could not figure out why.
Jensen was worried this was the same Marquis who got Katie sent home for taking her in to an alcove.
"Will your brother be in attendance?"
"I truly do not know Luther gave me some news last night that makes me think he will avoid the dinner."
"What news could possibly keep him from being there to protect you from a bounder such as Rude."
"Luther told me last night he is Divorcing his wife and that he has already gotten the church annulment, and on Saturday they will be serving her and her friend papers for the civil suit. Then on to the house of Lords. I for one am glad he is Divorcing her she makes him so unhappy. Last night when we talked, he seemed so sad, and made me promise that I would only marry for love nothing less. I think Luther loved someone dearly and was not allowed to marry her. I do not know but that is what it sounded like to me."
Pauline got up and walked out of the room she did not want either of them to see her crying. She had loved Luther from the bottom of her heart even after he shattered it by calling off their engagement. She held on to the necklace around her neck it had been given to her by Luther. Jensen did not notice his Aunts abrupt departure, but Jo did.
"Is something wrong with Pauline she ran out of here at the mention of my brother's problems. Do they know each other?"
"I do not know it's not like she talks about anything. How old is your brother?"
"He is thirty-nine."
"They are the same age it is possible. I wonder..."
Jensen had to bring her back to the conversation they were having before the one about his aunt came up.
"The Marquis is not someone who should be around young innocent women alone, and I do not think your sister in law Wilma is going to worry about your virtue."
"If this man is that bad your grace why not come and dine with us. Bring your aunt and then you can protect my honor if the tries to take advantage of me."
She knew she was baiting him, but she never thought he would accept her offer.
"That is a fine idea, I have not seen the marquis since he came to visit my father when I was a young man. We will all go together."
"I will send a message to expect two more for dinner your grace."
"Fine, Fine I would like to meet your family."
"I do not think my brother will be there your grace."
"I know and I do not want you alone with the Marquis he has a bad reputation he cornered my friend into an alcove at a ball last year and her season was finished."
"You know the Duke and Duchess of Wyld, she smiled at him?"
"Do you?"
"I know Katie better than the Duke, but we all grew up together. Her grandfather and my father were friends."
Jensen had to laugh Katie would be pleased with this situation. He would have to surprise the couple and bring Johanna to see them. That night they all three arrived at Teck Castle where they were brought into the parlor where the soon to be ex duchess was with her guests. When they walked into the parlor Jensen was surprised to see two people he recognized from Madam's and he was not sure how this would go he would have to wait and see. He walked in addressed himself to the Duchess.
"Thank you for having us my aunt and I do not socialize much."
He turned to the Marquis.
"Rude it is nice to see you again."
"Your grace it has been a while I think you were a young lad the last time we saw each other. I was sorry to hear about your father and Jenner I was out of the country or I would have come pay my respects earlier."
"thank you for your condolences. Their loss was a surprise to all of us."
The Marquis turned to Pauline who was standing next to Johanna and behind the Marquis. She curtsied and he took her hand and smiled. Jo could not help noticing the man could be a charmer. He leaned over Pauline's hand and placed a gentle kiss upon the back of it.
"Lady Everleigh you are as beautiful today as you were when you had your first season."
Wilma did the introduction of Johanna to the Marquis.
"Your Lordship this is my sister-in-law Johanna Hartford, Johanna this is the Marquis of Rude."
She curtsied and smiled, all the while thinking she did not like this man at all no matter how handsome he was there was just something about him she did not like.
Johanna decided to shock everyone by introducing the Duke to the Duchess and Egbert.
"Your grace this is my sister-in-law Wilma, and her lover Egbert."
There was stunned silence in the room Pauline snickered. Jensen was the one who reprimanded her making everyone wonder what was really between Johanna and the Duke.
"Behave Lady Hartford."
She swatted at him and laughed.
"Make me your grace."
She heard him growl and she laughed. She liked teasing this man. He was fun and exciting, and he made her feel alive as if they had known each other forever. Stevens called them to dinner before Wilma was able to respond. She was escorted by Egbert and the marquis sought out Pauline, and of course the Duke escorted Jo into the dining room with a stern warning for her to behave.
"I never behave in Wilma's company your grace it is the best way to irritate her."
He just rolled his eyes it was clear the sisters-in-law did not get a long at all. During the meal Wilma kept looking at the duke wondering where she had seen him before. It was not like her to forget a face as pretty as his.
"Is something wrong your grace?"
"I am just trying to place where I know you from, but it escapes me."
"I am sure we have not met, or I would remember meeting someone with such beauty."
Under her breath Jo commented.
"I think you are pouring it on a bit too thick your grace."
He just gave her a look that seemed to quiet her. She shrugged and started to eat. Wilma would not let this go, and Jensen started to worry she would put two and two together and come up with Jack Billings. He knew he had seen them both in Madam's and he knew she owed the bank at Madam's for a couple of notes she took out for herself and Egbert.
"Do you play cards your grace?"
He took a sip of his wine and smiled behind his glass.
"No, I am afraid not your grace, I am terrible at the game and I have found I like investing money rather than squandering it."
"That is a very admirable trait. Do you do well in your investments"
She was getting at something, but he was not sure what and he certainly did not want to get into his net worth.
"I live comfortably your grace I want for nothing if that is what you are asking."
After dinner Wilma led them into the music room where she planned on showing Johanna's talent off to the marquis, but it would really be the Duke she wanted to impress.
"Johanna dear do play for us."
She would enjoy playing for the Duke she was very accomplished and never minded being the center of attention. She sat down at the harp and started to play Handel Passacaglia. Jo played for a little over seven minutes and she never missed a note. The applause in the room said that her talent was appreciated. She was glad Wilma did not ask her to sing, because she would not have gotten the same reaction out of her audience. After their playing and they were sitting back in the parlor talking and having tea Johanna made her announcement the one she discussed with her brother the night before.
"Oh, Wilma before I forget I will be leaving in the morning for London. You will have the house to yourself. Lady Everleigh has agreed to join me in London so for a change I will be chaperoned."
"I was not informed of this. I will not give my consent."
"I do not need your consent Luther already gave me his and he is expecting me in London upon the marrow."