“One will be enough to send me to the hangman’s noose.”Her mother shook her head.A tear slid from beneath her lashes.“Though I worry more about how it would affect you and the others.You should have let me die, Johanna.I was ready.”
“No.”Johanna squeezed her mother’s hand.“Not when there was another way.And there may be another way now, too.Tell me everything you know.”
“I already have.”
“Then tell me again.”Johanna took a deep breath.“I am listening now.I promise.”
ChapterThirty-One
Matthew
There was something amiss with his wife.Ever since her megrim, she’d been… well, she’d been herself, but there was something amiss.
Matthew was not certain anyone else knew it, either.He did not think he would be able to describe the difference if asked.There was just something off about her.The only other person who seemed suspicious was Rose, but he could not even be sure of that.Rose always watched Johanna closely.
Perhaps it was the upcoming ball.
Which his wifedidseem nervous about.Though so did Rose.They were both attending quite a few of Bridget’s dance lessons, which Charlotte was now joining in on because she thought they looked fun.Her joining had spurred Bridget to take them more seriously, as she did not want to be outdone by her younger sister.As promised, Matthew brought in several of his friends to assist the day before the ball.Christian, Sebastian, and Zachary all answered his call.Not only that, but Nathanial brought his sisters, Fiona and Emma, and Kalina’s brother, Ashwin, as well.Which meant Micah came to join them to practice.
It was a very full dance lesson.
“You cannot just dance with me,” Johanna protested as Matthew took her hand for the third song in a row.“You need to dance with the others as well.”
“At the actual ball, yes, but not during the lessons.”Matthew glanced around.“Besides, everyone has their partners already.”
Micah was with Emma, Ashwin with Bridget—and looking appropriately terrified of her—Sebastian had claimed Fiona, and Zachary was bowing over Charlotte’s hand, which left Rose glaring at Christian as if daring him to ask her to dance.She’d already partnered with Micah and Ashwin for the first two dances.
“Go dance with Rose,” Johanna commanded.“She’ll dance with you.”
Sighing and trying not to feel as though his wife was avoiding his company—a feeling he’d had the past few days, ever since her megrim, despite her company in his bed every night—Matthew obliged.He stepped beside Christian, who appeared increasingly frustrated at Rose’s disinterest in his company, which was not something he was used to.As the acknowledged Adonis of theton… ladies chased him, not the other way round.
“Would you just dance with me?”Christian asked in a low voice, his brow furrowed, not seeming to register Matthew’s presence at his side.To be fair, Rose was glaring so hard at Christian, her arms crossed over the deep red fabric of her dress, she did not seem to notice Matthew either.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because.”
“That is not a reason!”
Matthew cleared his throat.Both of them whipped their heads in his direction, clearly startled he was now beside them.He smiled disarmingly.
“Johanna says we cannot dance three songs in a row.Christian, would you oblige my wife in partnering her for this one?”
“Of course,” Christian said, straightening up and squaring his shoulders.“It will be a pleasure to dance with a lady who isnota termagant.”
Rose audibly gasped, though she did not have time to respond before Christian had swiftly moved out of earshot.Instead, she ended up muttering something under her breath that Matthew was certain was horribly unflattering.He smiled at her genially.Rose was as prickly as the stems of the flower from which she got her name, but he did like her quite a bit.
Whether or not she liked him was up for debate, but she seemed to tolerate him for Johanna’s sake, and she had expressed her gratitude for the attention he paid Micah.
“My lady,” he said, holding out his hand as Christian took his place with Johanna, and the music began to start.
“I am not a lady.”Exasperated, Rose did not uncross her arms.“I was helping Micah and Ashwin learn how to dance.You do not need my assistance.”
“But Johanna will be put out with me if I do not dance with you,” he pointed out, still holding out his hand, smiling widely.“Besides, I wish to speak with you privately.About her.This is as good an opportunity as ever.”
Curiosity piqued, Rose’s mouth set in a mulish line before she sighed and let her guard drop, placing her hand in his with clear reluctance.Matthew could not help but be amused.He put his hand on her waist, and they moved into the steps of the country dance, joining the others.It was the perfect opportunity to speak with her as this particular dance did not require them to switch partners.