Chapter 15
After you left me at Vauxhall, I encountered Lady Deborah at our supper box.
Miss Jennings is in London. Lady Deborah told me of it --- she has even written to her on occasion, though Lord Prentis does not know it.
My brother's reaction to the conversation was most telling.
He went rigid and tried to make us leave at once.
I am more certain than ever that Miss Jennings is at the heart of this.
Josiah stood stock still, his heart beating wildly.
Miss Jennings was here, in London? Raking one hand through his hair, he let out a slow breath.
Clara's note implied what he already knew --- that he was the one who could move freely through London, and therefore the one who must find her. But where to begin?
If I find her, then I will be able to ask about Lord Tyrone and Lord Thomas. I might be able to uncover the truth!
A rap on the study door had him turning from where he stood by the window. "Come in."
The butler stepped inside. "My lord, your cousin has come to call."
Josiah blinked. "My cousin?"
"Lord Prentis," the butler explained. "Where should I take him?"
"The drawing room. I will attend there in a few minutes."
The butler nodded and stepped out. Josiah set Clara's note aside, curiosity sharpening in his chest. What had brought his cousin here unannounced?
Walking directly to the parlor, Josiah came inside and then shook Lord Prentis's hand, seeing the gentleman beam at him. "Cousin! You look to be in fine spirits today."
"I am, I am." Lord Prentis sat back down as Josiah rang the bell, expecting refreshments to be sent up to them. "I know that my visit is unexpected but I did hope that you would be quite all right with my stepping in for a few minutes."
Josiah shrugged. "I have no other plans this afternoon, Prentis. I am glad of your company, truly."
"That is good." Lord Prentis smiled, sat back in his chair and then steepled his fingers, his elbows on the arms of the chair. The look in his eye became a little steadier and Josiah frowned, wondering at it.
"There is something I should like to talk to you about, if I may," Lord Prentis continued, as Josiah nodded. "You and I, we spoke recently, did we not? At White's, I think."
"Yes, that is so."
Lord Prentis winced. "I think I was a trifle merry that evening, was I not?"
Josiah could not help but grin. "Yes, you were."
"And I am heartily ashamed of that," came the immediate response. "I should not have been so."
"I am not in the least bit upset about that!" Josiah exclaimed, his grin remaining. "Please, do not think that I consider you in a poor light simply because you were enjoying yourself a good deal!"
Relief softened Lord Prentis's expression, his shoulders dropping. "I am glad to hear that. I did feel somewhat ashamed of myself once I awoke. I think..." His head tilted. "I think I may have spoken harshly to you at some point?"
Josiah shook his head. "No, you did not. You were determined and decisive, that is all."
"About Miss Jennings."
A little surprised that his cousin remembered that part of the conversation so clearly, Josiah nodded. "Yes, that is correct. You did not want to tell me about her or the reasons for her departure from your family and that is quite understandable."
Lord Prentis winced. "One will do anything one can to save one's reputation --- or the reputation of one's family."
"But Miss Jennings is not related to you."
"Oh, but she is."
Josiah's eyebrows shot upwards in surprise.
"A distant cousin to the both of us," Lord Prentis continued, as Josiah bit down hard, making sure that he did not interrupt.
"You would not know of her. I did not either, truth be told.
She is related to my father's side, the daughter of one of his cousins.
" His brow furrowed. "Her father once had wealth and good standing but disgraced himself.
When he died, her mother went to reside with her eldest daughter who had married well.
There was no room for Sophia, however, and so I received a letter. "
"A letter that asked you to think charitably of the family?"
Lord Prentis nodded. "It was the first I had heard of our relations but my mother confirmed it all.
So what could I do? My father was no longer living so the responsibility lay with me.
My mother was certainly somewhat lonely after the loss of my father and thus, it seemed right to me to do as was asked.
I hired Miss Jennings as a companion rather than a relation. "
A frown tugged at Josiah's face. "Why would you do such a thing as that? If she was a relation, then ---"
"Because of the disgrace that her father had brought to their name.
I did not want there to be any association and so, if anyone was to ask, I would be able to state that she was a paid companion.
" Lord Prentis ran one hand through his hair.
"I am sorry that I did not tell you the truth about her, cousin, especially since we were residing with you for Christmas.
You did not recognize her as a relation and I did not see the need to introduce her as such.
I am sure that she did not think you a cousin either. "
"You did not have to explain," Josiah answered, quickly. "I can understand why one might speak so. You wanted to protect your family and your reputation, especially since both of your sisters were still unmarried. It is what any gentleman might do."
One side of Lord Prentis's lips tipped upwards. "I am grateful for your understanding. I am quite sure that I did speak harshly to you in White's but you are too generous to say otherwise."
Josiah chuckled although he did so deliberately, in an attempt to keep his manner light. He did not want to make Lord Prentis ill at ease. "I hear that she is now in London."
This made Lord Prentis's head lift sharply, his eyes rounding at the edges. "Whatever makes you say such a thing as that?"
"Your sister spoke of her." Josiah did not say that Lady Deborah had spoken to Lady Clara about the matter as opposed to himself, choosing to keep that information back from Lord Prentis. "Perhaps she was not meant to?"
Closing his eyes, Lord Prentis let out a long breath. "I did not know Deborah knew of her presence here. That does not surprise me, however, for she was always very close to Sophia."
"You have not gone to visit her yourself as yet?
" Josiah knew he was pushing his cousin gently but he prayed that Lord Prentis would not respond poorly to his question.
He was doing his best to sound merely a little interested, nearly entirely nonchalant whilst inwardly, he was silently begging his cousin to tell him all.
"I know you said that you were unaware of her reasons for departing but ---"
"I sent her here."
Josiah's eyes rounded.
"My mother insisted upon it. She said that she did not want Sophia to be disgraced, that her family had endured enough already and that, even though she would not have her reside with us any longer, it was still my duty to take care of her.
" His chin lifted. "I take my responsibilities seriously and therefore, I felt as if I had no other choice but to do as my mother asked. "
"And still, you do not know as to why she was sent away?"
Lord Prentis shook his head. "Nor do I want to.
I have enough to think on when it comes to my two sisters and their futures!
I did as my mother asked and I was grateful indeed to have one less person to think on!
Miss Jennings is given a monthly allowance, she has a small residence on the outskirts of London and, as far as I am concerned, that is all that she requires.
I do not feel the need to go and visit her although given the way you are frowning, mayhap I should feel myself a little rebuked for that attitude! "
Josiah hastily removed any frown from his features. "No, not in the least. I was frowning simply because of the strangeness of it all. I confess that my curiosity does bite at me somewhat!"
Lord Prentis chuckled ruefully. "As it does my own heart but I will not allow it to linger. Asking Miss Jennings a good many questions will do nothing good, I am sure of it."
The tray of refreshments was brought in at this juncture and Josiah, thinking it best to stay back from any further questions about Miss Jennings, diverted the conversation to another, more banal topic.
As they talked, however, one thought sat firm beneath all others: his cousin might have no desire to visit Miss Jennings, but Josiah certainly did --- and he would write to Clara the moment Prentis left.