“Johanna is not a proper young lady who befits a duke’s station,” Bridget replied, undeterred.“We are too poor, and she never had a debut.The Duchess of Hereford isalsonot a proper young lady who befitted a duke’s station.I heard yesterday that the duke did not want to marry her because of a scandal around her family, but then he had to marry her because of a scandal with her.Which makes no sense to me, but that is what her brother said.”
There was another long silence.Johanna knew what Kalina’s brother meant, and now that she knew intimately something of the kind of scandal Hereford had with her before their marriage, she knew she was absolutely not going to explain it to Bridget.Certainly not with Charlotte in the room, even if she wanted to make the attempt.
“It is time to get ready,” Lady Stark announced, cutting off the conversation with brisk efficiency, rather than letting Bridget continue to lead them where she wanted to go.She got to her feet, putting Johanna in mind of a battleship, moving with determination and no intention of stopping.“Johanna, come join us after you have seen to your mother.Come along, Rose.”
“I… yes, of course.”Rose shot Johanna a look, but she merely shrugged.
It was not the worst thing to put off talking to Rose about her wedding night since she still did not know exactly what she would say.And she did not need Rose in order to check on her mother.Besides, if her mother reacted badly to the fact that Johanna had married the duke yesterday, despite what she’d said, it was better if Rose was not there.
ChapterTwenty-One
Matthew
Drake and Zachary were waiting for him in the foyer, both of them dressed and ready for the day.Monkey Sinclair sat on Zachary’s shoulder, as usual, his yellow ribbon dangling from his collar.
“Apologies for interrupting the day after your wedding,” Zachary said regretfully.“Last night, my uncle mentioned seeing Cornwall back in town.We want to do the rounds of the clubs today and possibly the hells tonight to try to track him down, but…”
“But my presence there is less likely to cause comment than yours.Especially as you are newly engaged.”
Zachary flinched at the reminder, raking his hand through his long dark hair.The dark yellow waistcoat under his grey jacket was fitted perfectly to him, shifting as he moved.
“And even though you are newly married,” Drake said.“Christian and Sebastian are going around to some of the more vaunted haunts for gentlemen of theton.White’s, Hyde Park, and the like.Nathanial is not at-home to visitors at the moment, so we left him a note.Gregory and Zachary will be attending events with their ladies, in case Cornwall acts completely out of character.Which leaves you and me…”
“We will not cause comment at the gaming hells and the like.”Matthew sighed.Even the day after his wedding, no one would question the Lord of Luck trying his hand at the tables.
Perhaps they would think he was testing his luck now that his life had changed so drastically.Or trying to win a big pot to gift his new wife with something outrageous.The important thing was that the theories would have nothing to do with their fathers’ deaths, and no one would think twice about Matthew approaching Cornwall at a gaming table.
It was important to all of them that no one know they were investigating.
Firstly, because an investigation had already been completed, and thetonwas convinced the tragic deaths of such a large group of dukes was an accident.Gossip had died down rather quickly.Learning that it had been a conspiracy to murder would do more than set a fox among hens; it would cast a shadow on all the heirs.
Perhaps Matthew was naïve, but he fully trusted his friends, and he did not think any of them had anything to do with the explosion and subsequent fire that had killed all their fathers.Some of them did not have the best relationships with their fathers—Nathanial, for one—and if it was justhisfather who had died… well, truth be told, most of thetonwould likely have shrugged their shoulders and privately said it was for the best, even if Nathanial was guilty.
But Nathanial would not have done that to the other dukes.And he was the one who had come up with the clue about Cornwall, who had invited the former Duke of Hereford to the party at the hunting lodge, despite being owed a very large debt from Nathanial’s father.
It was suspicious, and until Drake’s men managed to track down Gregory’s old steward—who theyknewhad something to do with it—Cornwall was their only clue.That also meant they had to tread delicately because it was not as though the earl would be eager to implicate himself in the death of so many dukes.
Secondly, several of them now had wives and heirs.Not to mention mothers or grandmothers.If they were known to be investigating, all of them could be in danger.Nathanial and Gregory’s wives knew the truth, of course.Matthew would need to tell his wife eventually, too.
“Flip your coin to see if you’re coming with me,” Drake ordered impatiently.
Matthew pulled it out of his pocket and did as Drake asked.He was unsurprised by the answer.
“I am.”It only made sense after all.
He gave the coin another flip.He would not be telling his wife the truth about his father and the other duke’s fathers today.Which also made sense.It was her first day as his duchess.Better to let her get used to the household first, then ease her into things.
“What was that for?”Zachary asked, frowning at him.
“Nothing to do with this.Just a private matter.”Matthew tucked his coin back into his pocket.“Well, gentlemen, shall we?”He gestured to the door.
He glanced around for Holt, who was coming back from the hallway.
“Holt, let my grandmother and wife know that I have gone out with the Dukes of Grafton and Ormonde, and I expect I’ll return rather late this evening.”
Though Holt’s expression did not change one iota, Matthew got the distinct impression that the butler was displeased with his announcement.It was likely not well done of him to leave his new wife on her first day as his duchess, but his grandmama would have things well in hand.Matthew was not sure what he would be able to add to it.
The ladies ran the household; he would likely be rather useless hanging about.