“Oh… ah no.”Johanna shrugged and relayed the story that Lady Stark had given the rest of the ton.Which had them all sitting back and frowning at each other.
“That does not sound like Matthew,” Delilah said skeptically.
“Well… I believe he used his coin to make the actual decisions,” Johanna tempered.These ladies clearly knew the duke better than the crowd at Hyde Park, and even they had guessed about the coin.
“That does sound more like Matthew.”Tiffany giggled.“I cannot believe it finally said yes.Every time he asks it questions about a lady—should he be introduced, should he ask her to dance, should he court her—it inevitably comes back with an eventual denial.”
“That would make sense with the odds,” Mei said, finally speaking up.
Johanna got the feeling she was very happy sitting, listening, and observing, but not because she was intimidated by the august company.She was just content that way.
“Yes, but Matthew always defies the odds,” Lady Astrid explained.“That’s why thetoncalls him the Lord of Luck.”
“Should it not be ‘Duke of Luck’?”Mei asked, frowning.
“Yes, but the alliteration is too appealing to adhere to his actual title.And Matthew is very easygoing, so he does not object.”
“I wonder what made him think of you again,” Kalina said, tilting her head as she looked at Johanna.“I will admit, I am somewhat disappointed.I was hoping to have another secret scandal on our hands.”
“Another secret scandal?”
They told her about Tiffany’s marriage, too.Not quite as scandalous as Kalina’s, though a kiss in the library during a ball from a stranger who turned out to be her brother’s closest friend, which led to immediate fisticuffs in the library, did sound very exciting.
That was also when Johanna learned that both situations had been covered up, so thetonat large had no idea the reasons behind the hasty marriage.In Tiffany’s case, it was put about that she and Gregory had been secretly engaged because she was supposed to be enjoying her first Season and confirming he was who she wanted before the announcement was made.The public scandal of the kiss dimmed very quickly in light of the more romantic explanation, especially as they truly had fallen in love.
Kalina’s story was somewhat similar in that thetonwas under the impression that she and Hereford had fallen in love during the house party and married in haste due to desire rather than necessity.The other guests of the house party had been completely discreet, and nary a rumor had arisen about their marriage since their return to London.
“Though we did not actually fall in love until we were back in London,” Kalina confided.“But we were acting the part beforehand.”
Their honesty with her made Johanna’s guilt stir.
“It is possible Lady Stark had a similar idea to cover the real story of how the duke and I became engaged…” Johanna admitted.They had been truthful with her, giving her their trust, and she could do no less when faced with their vulnerability.
She did exactly what Lady Stark would have advised against and told them the truth.
ChapterNine
Johanna
Telling the truth ended up having unintended consequences, and Johanna felt awful.
“I am certain Drake had other reasons for being there,” Delilah reassured Lady Astrid, who was gripping her teacup’s delicate handle so tightly, it was a wonder the china did not shatter.
“It is no matter to me howLuciferconducts himself,” Lady Astrid said haughtily, even though, by the way her face had paled and her entire demeanor changed, it was clear she was very much affected by hearing that her betrothed had been in the same bawdy house as Matthew and the Duke of Montagu.Even more so that Johanna could not give her an explanation of what he was doing there, exactly, or why he disappeared back into the house while the other two dukes escorted her out.“We are not married yet, after all.What he does with his time is no concern of mine.”
All the other ladies cast worried glances at her, but it was clear she did not want to talk about it.
“I am so sorry to hear about your family,” Kalina said, taking some of the attention off Lady Astrid.Out of the corner of Johanna’s eye, she saw Lady Astrid relax when everyone was no longer staring at her, trying to gauge her reaction.The lady’s shoulders slumped.“Hereford’s estate was in similar straits when he married me.There is a lot of work to reinvigorate everything, but I am sure Matthew will be able to help.”
“He certainly has the money to invest,” Delilah said with a snort of amusement.“And if he needs more, he’ll just visit the tables.The man has the devil’s own luck, I swear.”
“Do not ever bet against him,” Tiffany chimed in, looking at Johanna.
As if she would ever think to do such a thing.She would not even know what to bet.Or what to bet on.
Mei, who had been silent again up to this point, reached out to put a gentle hand on Johanna’s arm.
“Thank you for sharing with us.I am sure that could not have been easy,” she said softly.