by Jane Charles
“Audrey, what is the matter?”
“What if my uncle or father says no?”
“To what?” Grace practically cried.
Audrey took Grace’s hands in her own and a deep breath. “Your brother-in-law wishes to marry me.” Giddy excitement rose up within her just saying the words. For a moment she was transported back to when she and Grace were just discovering that boys were not such vile creatures after all and that they could be rather cute and sweet on occasion.
Grace chuckled. “I am assuming you mean Jordan, since the other two are married. It would simply be bad ton if one of them proposed.”
“Of course I mean Jordan,” Audrey practically cried.
“Sit and tell me everything.”
Audrey sank onto the settee and Grace joined her, grinning.
“Has he said anything to your husband?”
Grace shook her head.
Oh dear. Audrey bit her bottom lip. What should she do or say. Bugger that, she needed to speak with someone and Grace was the only person she trusted completely. “Is it right that I tell you when he hasn’t told his brothers?”
“If you don’t tell me I will throttle you.” Grace insisted. “Besides, Matthew was summoned by Bentley and won’t return for a bit.”
Thank goodness he wasn’t home because Grace wasn’t certain she could speak openly if she thought he would overhear. She quickly told Grace about the day before and the discussion that they shared in the carriage, omitting the part of the kissing. Especially the part about all the different kissing.
“Why do you think your uncle or father will deny his request?”
“Uncle said it would depend on how Jordan answers the questions.”
Grace giggled. “That simply means that he wants to insure that you will be taken care of and that Jordan can provide for you.”
She hoped it was as simple as that, though she really had no idea what his financial situation was. Could he support a wife and future children? Where did he live? Did he have his own home, estate, or did he live with one of his brothers when not in London? Oh dear, she would hate to be a houseguest, but if Jordan couldn’t afford a home what was she to do?
“Audrey, you look worried again,” Grace interrupted her thoughts.
“Can he afford to be married?” she asked slowly.
Grace threw back her head and laughed. “According to Matthew, Jordan could never work a day in his life and have more money than he knows what to do with.”
“He is a second son, how is that possible.”
“His father,” Grace added with a slight bitterness to her tone. “I don’t hold it against Jordan, but their father was a bit controlling in dictating what his sons would become.”
Audrey nodded. She already knew this. At least she knew what had been expected of Jordan.
“So that Jordan could have the life that he couldn’t, his father made sure his second son had an allowance that rivaled a prince. It was more than his brothers allowances combined. And since Jordan never became a gambler, or truly wasted his funds, his bank account continued to grow.”
The relief of knowing that she would not have to live with his relatives began to sink in. It wasn’t as if they would have been destitute anyway. She did have a dowry and as she was her father’s only child, she would inherit the stables upon his death. She hoped that didn’t happen for a very long time, but it would be there in the future if needed. Apparently, it would not be needed.
She tilted her head in thought. Was he rich enough to start a stable of their own? She was certain papa would sell her, or maybe give her, a few mares and maybe she could mate them with Midnight Majesty and they could have their own racers.
Audrey shook the thoughts away. She was getting ahead of herself. “Where does he live in London?” How was it that she knew so little about him? Shouldn’t a bride know more about her future husband?
“He rents a townhouse in Mayfair.”
“What of when he is away from London, or does he reside here all year round?”
“He usually stays with Bentley if not in Town. He does not have an estate of his own.”
She dearly hoped he wished to buy property. Certainly Jordan would want a house and land now that he was to be married. Perhaps he would be willing to settle in or near Grosmont. Besides her own family and Shadley Farms, Grace and her husband lived there, as did his sister, part of the year, now that Madeline had married Lord Brachton last winter. If they were close to Shadley Farm, she could still help her father with the horses. She assumed Jordan wouldn’t object after yesterday. Papa could teach Jordan all he knew about breeding and racing.
But would he wish to? Jordan was a solicitor and wished to be a barrister. He may want to always reside in or near London so he could be close to the courts. If that were the case, she would simply have to accept it. There were places outside of London they could live and she could still have horses. At least she hoped that were the case.
“Audrey, what are you thinking?”
Grace’s words interrupted her thoughts. “I hope he doesn’t mind owning horses.”
Her friend chuckled. “I am sure you will have a stable. Matt told me Jordan spent a good part of his youth riding.”
The butler stepped into the room drawing their attention. “Lady Lydell has come to call.”
Audrey grimaced. She knew she would not be able to avoid Millicent but she really didn’t wish to see her today. “Please don’t mention my news to her.”
“I won’t,” Grace assured her before turning toward the butler. “Please show her in.”
A moment later Millicent sailed into the room and barely nodded to Grace. “Thank goodness I found you here, Audrey. I went to your home and was told you had gone out.” She settled on the settee beside Audrey.
“Did you need something?” She couldn’t imagine what Millicent would want her for.
“You haven’t heard the terrible news?”
Audrey looked at Grace and they both shook their head.
“Everton was murdered,” Millicent cried. “Last night. He was stabbed just like Dalton.”
“Who would kill both men?”
“I have no idea.” She dismissed. “And that isn’t the issue.”
“It’s not?” Grace asked.
“He was fitting in so well with my plans.”
Audrey’s stomach churned. A man was dead and all Millicent could think about was that her life had been disrupted somehow.
She turned toward Audrey. “He was such a fine match for you.”
“What?” She and Grace asked at the same time.
“He wasn’t the gentlemen I needed to make Jordan jealous but I thought he was perfect for you. If Jordan realized you were taken then he would return to me.”
“That is why he danced with me and took me into the garden?” Her anger began to build. Millicent had gone too far in her quest for Jordan.
“Of course,” she smiled. “I knew that once you experienced his passion you would marry him and Jordan wouldn’t feel like he had to court you.”
Millicent had truly lost her mind.
“He is only courting you because he thinks he can’t have me but with you married to someone else then he would come back to me.”
“You are married also,” Grace pointed out.
Millicent sighed and gave a wave of her hand as if that fact was inconsequential. “It is a shame Jordan came across you before it was too late.”
Audrey gaped at her. “Everton was set to ruin me. He ignored my protests.”
“If ladies weren’t ruined they wouldn’t be married.” She gestured to Grace. “It happened to the two of us. Why shouldn’t it happen to you?”
“Millicent, I do believe you have lost your mind.”
She laughed. “Audrey, you are so innocent. One day you will understand.”
“I will never understand setting up another lady to be ruined. Especially if the gentleman is someone she does not wish to be with.”
<
br /> She simply tisked and shook her head.
“Why did you need Audrey’s help, if not to deliver news?” Grace asked.
Of course Audrey had no intention of helping Millicent but she had to hear it so the woman would leave.
“Now that Dalton and Everton are unavailable; I need to find another gentleman to make Jordan jealous enough to realize how much he still wants me.”
No longer available? They were dead and not simply involved with someone else.
“I was thinking Mr. Victor would be a good choice. Perhaps I should have started with him.”
Grace choked on her tea but Millicent didn’t seem to notice and turned more fully to Audrey. “The two of you do make a handsome couple. I noticed that day you came to call when my wonderful court was there.”
“Court?” Grace asked.
“Oh yes,” Millicent laughed. “The most handsome young men come to call on me every day. I simply cannot go a day without being surrounded by them. Of course I won’t need any of them once I have Jordan back again.”
Audrey set her teacup on the table, afraid she might be ill. Millicent needed to face a few truths and she was ready to deliver them.
Jordan stepped into Clay’s library only to find his other two brothers, John and Matthew, also already present.
“We have been looking for you,” Clay announced from his chair by the fireplace.
“Why? Has something happened?”
“I think Adele and Julia must be in Covent Garden somewhere,” John announced. “I’ve seen a woman who looks like she could be Julia. At least she resembled the painting of Adele at Bentley Manor but I couldn’t get close enough to speak with her and then she disappeared.”
“I thought so too.”
His brothers looked at him.
“That is why I came here. I just left the flower market where I met a Genevieve.”
Clay came to his feet. “Was it Julia?”
Jordan shook his head and quickly explained the encounter. “She knows something, though I am not sure what. After I mentioned Adele and Julia she became agitated and could not wait to be away from me.”
“Could it have been Julia and she simply changed her name?” Matthew asked.
“No. I think she is at least a few years younger, but I could be incorrect.”
“You’ve never been good at judging a lady’s age,” Clayton reminded him with a half-smile.
Jordan ignored him. “Her hair was the right color, but her eyes were grey, not green.”
“Maybe Adele remarried, or took a lover when she arrived in Paris and this Genevieve was the result,” John offered.
Clayton and Matthew nodded. It was a thought that had also crossed Jordan’s mind while he rode here from the flower market.
“I’ll have some men watch for her. If she is spotted they can follow to see where she lives.”
“I have no doubt that is where we will find Adele and Julia. This young woman has to be another daughter of Adele,” Jordan insisted.
“Was there anything else you remember about her appearance to help the men locate her out of the dozens of ladies?” John asked.
Jordan brought forth the vision of Genevieve. “Her hair is blonde with hints of red, just like Adele’s. It always reminded me of the sunrise. Her eyes were light grey with a hint of blue. Her lips were a pale pink with a slightly fuller lower lip. They weren’t thin but not overly plump either. There were a few freckles across the bridge of her small nose, but you would have to be close enough to notice them.”
Clayton started to laugh and Jordan focused on him. “John asked me to describe her.”
“And only a rake would go into such detail. Had it been Matt who encountered the young woman he would have described her as grey eyes, reddish blonde hair and some freckles.”
Matthew shrugged in agreement.
Jordan decided to ignore them and continue. “She came about to my shoulder and had a slight frame. Not well endowed, but pleasantly enough formed that gentlemen would take notice.”
“Did she have a nicely turned ankle as well,” John asked with a laugh.
Jordan glared at him. “I didn’t look at her feet or ankles.”
“You seemed to look at everything else,” Clayton said.
“I was studying her before I approached,” Jordan defended. “I was trying to decide if she was Julia and looking for resemblances to Adele. I certainly was not attracted to her. Good God that could have been my sister.”
Matthew stepped forward. “Settle down. We are just giving you a difficult time.”
“Was there anything that reminded you of Adele?” John asked seriously.
Jordan nodded. “The tilt of her head when she spoke. Cocked slightly to the side, the way Adele used to do when she was listening to whatever we had to tell her. And the way she gestured with her wrist when pointing out the flowers.” He imitated the movement.
“I’ll tell them what to look for,” John acknowledged.
“What were you doing in Covent Garden so early?” Matthew asked.
“I think we can guess why he was there,” Clayton answered. “The question should be why you were in the flower market.”
Not even his brothers believed he could change. “I was not there for the reasons you believe.”
Clayton quirked a questioning brow.
Jordan stamped down his irritation and explained about the property and business transaction, which lead him to tell of Angelique and Lady Rothsbury. Perhaps they had insight into the attacks that he may not have noticed.
“Lady Lydell,” Matthew suggested.
“Why would she do something so horrendous? Besides, the women were attacked by a man.” Clayton asked.
“She could have hired someone,” John suggested.
“But to what purpose?” Jordan asked.
“Anyone in society can answer that question,” Matthew responded. “She has made no secret that she is in love with you. It was blasted uncomfortable at the dinner party Madeline held.”
And they weren’t even the ones she had backed against the wall. “I can’t imagine she would do such a thing. I would be more likely to think Creighton, yet he doesn’t know anything about Angelique, that I am aware of. Yet he has no money to gamble at Jesters any longer and Jesters wanted to buy the land that holds the brothel. Perhaps that is the link.”
John nodded. “It is a possibility. I’ll see what I can learn.”
“You still didn’t tell us why you were in the flower market,” Clayton reminded him. “If I recall, Madame Devine is a few streets away.”
“I was going to choose flowers for Audrey.” Had he not mentioned that earlier? No, he had simply said he was there when he noticed Genevieve.
All three of his brothers raised their eyebrows and studied him.
“Audrey, is it?” Matthew asked.
Jordan sighed. It was damned uncomfortable being related to these three. “Yes. I am calling on her uncle this afternoon to request her hand in marriage.”
Smiles broke out on all three faces.
“Congratulations,” Clayton came forward and shook his hand.
“Neither her uncle or father have agreed. They may reject me.” That was Jordan’s fear. What if he said the wrong thing or wasn’t considered good enough. His past was rather tarnished. It wasn’t just rather tarnished but very badly tarnished.
“Jordan Trent does not want you, Millicent.” Audrey stated firmly
A catlike smile formed on Millicent’s lips. “Of course he does. You are simply jealous.”
Audrey drew a deep breath and blew it out. “He has no desire to be with you. He was never been with you. He is not the father of your daughter.” She had to be firm and bring Millicent back to the reality the rest of them knew.
“Of course he is,” Millicent insisted. “I don’t expect him to tell you the truth. He does wish to protect my reputation.”
“If he loved you and had fathered your child, he would not have left, even
if he had gone to your chamber that night.”
“I am sure he had no choice.”
“Why didn’t he object when you married?” Audrey pressed.
“I am sure he wasn’t given a chance. Everything happened so quickly and Father did obtain a special license.”
“Not so quickly that word would not have reached Mr. Trent in time.”
“I wrote him and he simply didn’t get my letter.”
Or he tossed it away.
“Millicent, Mr. Trent intends to marry me. He will not come to you now or ever,” Audrey insisted. Would this woman ever see the truth? Would she need to be present in the church to witness the marriage to finally accept it or would she forever chase Jordan Trent?
“And I intend to make her my wife at the earliest moment possible.”
The ladies turned to find Jordan standing in the doorway with Matthew Trent.
“Jordan,” Millicent gave a happy cry and rose from her seat to go toward him.
Jordan stepped behind his brother and made his way to Audrey’s side before Millicent could reach him. Audrey stood and Jordan placed an arm around her waist. It was not proper to do so as they weren’t officially betrothed but Audrey sensed he needed to prove to Millicent the truth of the matter.
“I understand that you need to marry since I am not available.”
“I would still marry Audrey if you were free,” Jordan answered with a hint of anger. He was probably more tired of Millicent than she was.
“I would never consider a lady who would cuckold her husband or set innocent ladies up to be raped.”
“Certainly you can see what a good match Everton and Audrey would have been. You really shouldn’t have ruined the opportunity I arranged for her.”
Jordan stiffened by her side and Audrey wondered if he was just realizing how misguided Millicent was. Did Millicent even comprehend what she was saying? It was as if she didn’t even understand the reason for his rejection or that he was rejecting her.
“It is a shame Everton is dead.”
