7
On the way back to Bountiful Jensen gave his Aunt an inquisitive look.
"When were you going to tell me, you were leaving for London tomorrow and what about Lady Hartford's investigation."
Pauline pulled out her slate and scribbled a note to Jensen.
"We are not leaving until tomorrow night we think we can finish the investigation of Bountiful tomorrow."
"We force you to go to London for the family gathering what is so special about this girl?"
"She makes me feel alive again. I have not felt that in an exceptionally long time. I have had only family to talk to in years. She is a chance for a new start."
"I do not understand but I will go to London with the two of you so you two stay out of trouble."
She laughed.
"You are smitten?"
"I am not sure I would call it that, but I do like her. She is a breath of fresh air."
"Very well let us take this opportunity and come out from the dark clouds of mystery we have covered ourselves in?"
"When did you get so smart my dear Aunt?"
She just smiled and remained silent.
The next day Jo showed up early with all her trunks she was never going to see Wilma and Egbert again if she had her way. The women spent the entire day searching the last three floors before they left for London. It was not until they made it to Jensen's room did they find something. In a secret panel in his bed Jensen was not even aware of was a letter written by his father.
This letter is to share information I have just recently come to have knowledge of. I have hidden the journal in the London home be careful I do not know what course of action I need to take if you are reading this letter then I am gone and have not achieved my goal of righting the wrongs of the past, a close member of my family committed thirty four years ago to a child. I am hoping that my sons survive this danger I have chosen to put myself into, but I do not even know if they are safe from my brother. If you are reading this please make sure justice is done for me and the child and keep my boys safe.
Joel Everleigh Duke of Richmond
Jensen was in shock it was true his brother and his father had been murdered for something one of his uncles had done. He would lay odds it was Nesbit not one of the others was as despicable as Nesbit. Now not only did he have to keep Johanna alive he needed to find justice for his father and Jenner.
That night they all left for London after dinner. Jensen decided to go and talk with Othello in the morning hopefully before he could pick Johanna up from her house and escort her to his London townhome. When they reached London the streets were empty except for the occasional pre-season parties but the look on Johanna's face at seeing all the people in their finery and the houses lit up he knew he was going to be in for a long season if they could not find who put the hit out on her.
In the morning Jensen left to go and talk with Othello and Apollo and let them know what they had found. It was a crime to kill anyone, but a nobleman was a crime of a different matter. He walked into the office to find a young girl giving a report to Othello under the watchful eye of Hermes. The two of them nodded at each other and Jensen proceeded to walk into Othello's office as the young girl walked out. She was beautiful she had red hair and the oddest blue eyes they almost seemed green. He heard the girl address Hermes informally even though he was a Duke.
"Hi Addie..."
Then he closed the door and heard nothing else of their conversation. He had Simon's full attention.
"What are you doing here and not spending your time with the Lady Hartford?"
"Yesterday she found this in my chambers?"
Jensen laughed at the raised brow of Simon.
"My Aunt was in there with her searching for information and they found a secret panel I did not even know existed."
He handed the letter to Simon to read.
"Do you know what this is about?"
"No Idea I was not even born I am only twenty-five. I do think I can guess which of the family members it is. My Uncle Nesbit would have my vote on the matter. He is the most unstable of anyone in my family even my Aunt who has not said a word for the last thirty-four years.... Bloody Hell that is when Pauline stopped talking. I wonder if she knows what this wrong to a child was. I wonder if that is why she stopped talking."
Simon handed the letter back to Jensen.
"That is something you will have to find out. I will put a protection detail on you, Pauline and Lady Hartford."
"I plan on staying with the women when they go around town."
Simon laughed, to himself.
"There are certain places only a woman can go into and I do not think you can use your position to get into any of those places. I will have a woman assigned to follow them."
"My suggestion would be Bo Peep because Lady Hartford is related to Charming. My Aunt and her are close in age so it should not be a problem."
"I will see if I can spare Jen she is on assignment now and I will see if she has enough information to pull her out of the field. If not I think the Duchess of Norwich would be a good choice and I know Katie would be glad to keep you informed of any strange behavior after all you and the Duchess became friends when Blue Beard went missing."
"Just let me know."
Jensen pulled out his time piece and checked the time.
"I need to get to Lady Hartford's townhouse before she leaves on her own."
"Very well keep me or Apollo apprised, and I will look into what your father discovered and what happened thirty-four years ago."
Jo was sitting eating her breakfast she wanted to get to the Dukes as early as possible. She was surprised when Luther walked in and joined her.
"What do I owe the honor of having breakfast with you my dear brother?"
"I have to go and talk with the barrister this morning. Wilma will be served on the marrow and I need to make sure all our family assets are secure. I also need to meet with him because come Tuesday we will be in court to battle our freedom from Wilma."
"I would like to be present to give you support."
"A courtroom is no place for an innocent young lady."
"I am not going there to go on trial, only to support you and if needed give testimony to what I have seen over the last couple of years."
Luther put down his fork he was getting ready to shovel into his mouth.
"What pray tell did you see?"
"I saw her with Egbert, and they used that secret room in the ballroom. Then there was the time I found them in an embrace at the pond, also at the cottage Egbert uses. There was a time I found them let us say wearing only a smile."
"You saw Egbert nude?"
"Yes, he was not as fine as Michelangelo's David, but he seemed to have all the correct parts."
Luther put his fork down and looked over at his sister.
"Where did I go wrong with you? You're incorrigible."
She had finished her breakfast, so she got up and walked over to her brother and kissed him on the head.
"You did nothing wrong I am perfect."
She left him wondering what his father would have done with her, but if he were honest he would not want her any other way. He was twenty-two years older than her, but when their mother died giving birth he knew he would always take care of her. After his heart was broken he threw himself into help raise her. He had to laugh neither his father or him had any notion on how to raise a baby let alone a little girl, but they did it together and he couldn't help think she was right she was pretty perfect.
When Jo was walking out of the front door the Dukes carriage pulled up in front of the house. She had to laugh he seemed to have a sixth sense to when she was going to do something he might not like her to do. Today before she was going to his house she was going to do a little shopping she had an appointment at not the place she wanted to take a gentleman too. She walked past his carriage as if she hadn't noticed it, but she could not help ignoring him when the door opened, and he stepped out and became a wall in front of her.
"Where do you think you are going? I thought I made it clear when I dropped you off last night I would pick you up and see you to my home."
"You did your grace, but I am not going to your home, yet I have an appointment, and then I was going to your home."
"When could you possibly have made an appointment?"
"The other day before I came over to investigate I sent a message to one of the shops I frequent."
"That is fine I will just escort you to the shop which one is it?"
"I would rather not say and just go by myself and meet you at your home afterwards."
His curiosity was peeked and the last place he would let her go someplace she would rather not tell him about.
"Johanna Hartford, if you do not tell me what kind of shop you are going to I will march up those steps and tell your brother."
"I do not think he would care; he is familiar with the bills that are sent from there."
"Johanna I swear you are going to drive me crazy."
She liked the way he said her name and she gave him a big smile. She was in a sassy mood and she knew she should not tease him, but she just could not help it.
"If I told you where I was going it would drive you crazy."
Now he really needed to know where she was going. He gave her a look that told her he was at the end of his tether.
"Fine, I am going to I have a few personal things to purchase."
Madam Galois was a name all men knew because she was the shop you would purchase lingerie from for your mistresses. What the bloody hell was she going there for, as far as he knew she was an innocent. The look on his face brought laughter to Johanna.
"Is there something wrong Jensen."
His name coming from her lips surprised him and pleased him all at the same time. But the pleasure was short lived when he realized she was trying to distract him from the point of this whole conversation.
"Why are you going to Madam's?"
"Because it is time for me to buy new sleepwear for the warmer months and other things that I need."
Her explanation was honest, and he could not fault her for wanting cooler clothing for the warmer season, but how did she even know about Madam's?
"Jensen I must really get going or I am going to miss my appointment. You can either get out of my way or go with me the choice is yours."
"You cannot be seen at Madam Galois with me."
"Then I will go alone and see you later at your home. Pauline and I have a lot of plans on where to look for more information."
He was trying to think of an honorable solution, but so far all he could think of was he would ruin her reputation and hurt her chances for a good match. He knew she was in danger no matter which way he chose and so he chose to go with her to keep her safe. Maybe they could make a stop along the way to help save her reputation. He would stop at the house and pick up his aunt. He knew this would shock her she was such an innocent she was not someone who would shop at Madam's, but she would have to do this for them it was the only way. He told his driver to take them home and she was about to protest but he put his finger on her lips.
"I am picking up my aunt to save your reputation."
"If you would have just let me be on my way my reputation would never have been even suspect."
They remained quiet on the carriage ride to the house. When Pauline who was hurried out of the house was made comfortable in the carriage and was told where they were going Jensen was surprised she took out her slate and wrote a note.
"She has very good quality sleepwear."
Jo started to talk to Pauline about Madam's. All Jensen could think about was how did his Spinster Aunt know about the place? Had he been living in the underbelly of London for so long he had lost touch with the women of the day. Before he could ask either of them any questions they had arrived and both women seemed to get out in a hurry shutting the door behind them neither of them wanted Jensen to follow them. He decided he would sit in the carriage to wait and watch for the women.
Jo and Pauline went into Madam's and spent a good hour in the shop looking at all the latest items. When the women came out of the shop he was surprised that they came out with three men carrying packages heading for his carriage. How many things did the women need for a change of season? He said nothing but when the women started to talk about their purchases he knew he needed to get away from the beautiful young lady sitting by him. The thought of the unmentionables they were talking about were giving him some ideas that he should not be having of the young girl.
When they arrived back at his place Toby had lunch waiting for them. He was grateful they had changed the conversation. Their new one was not any better. They were talking about some of the places they were planning on visiting during the season. He had not even known his aunt was going to stay the entire season. As soon as Jo and Pauline were finished eating they excused themselves and went to search the house for anything Jensen's father may have left as a way of clues for them to find. The first room they searched was Jensen's room hoping his father had left them some more clues.
They spent hours in the room giving Jensen pause to wonder if they were planning on spending the night in his room searching. According to Toby he was sure they had left no place in the room unsearched. When Pauline enter the dining room for dinner he was surprised, disappointed and a bit angry that Johanna was not with her. He was supposed to protect her how could he do that if she were running off all on her own.
"Where is Lady Hartford?"
Pauline laughed, he was certainly upset, and she would guess smitten with the young lady who seemed to make herself home within their hearts. She took out her slate and answered his question.
"She had to leave, she received a message from someone, and she left right away."
"Did no one think to tell me that she had left?"
She again answered on her slate.
"I did not think you needed to be informed of the young ladies coming and goings since the two of you are not attached."
"Do you know who the message was from?"
"No, she did not say, and I did not pry. Why are you so upset is there something I should know?"
He debated whether to tell her that Lady Hartford was the target of someone because of her investigation into this mystery. But he decided against it.
"No, I have just gotten used to her being with us for dinner is all."
Pauline did not believe him for one minute there was something he was not telling her. It bothered her he did not trust her enough to tell her what was going on. She put her slate away she was finished talking, she would see if Jo knew what this was all about tomorrow.