Introducing Miss Joanna (Once a Wallflower #2) - Maggi Andersen Page 0,52

Fifteen

After luncheon, Aunt Mary retired to her bedchamber, complaining too much excitement gave her a headache. Jo guiltily sent for Feverfew and left her aunt to sleep.

As Jo paced the parlor, a note arrived from Reade. She left the house and flew down the steps to catch the man who’d delivered the missive into the butler’s hands.

“Wait!” she called as he walked away up the street. “I want you to take a message back to Lord Reade,” she instructed him. “Please wait in the hall for a moment.”

“Yes, miss.”

Spears stood poker-faced at the door, but Jo still felt his displeasure as she ushered the man inside. She hurried into the empty library. This was her father’s favorite room, his pipes arranged on the leather-topped desk, but he had gone out again with Mrs. Millet. Jo had been waiting impatiently for him to return.

She scanned Reade’s note.

“Oh!” Her breath caught in her throat, and she fell onto the leather chair beside the desk. He had found Charlotte. She read it twice, fearing she’d misunderstood his words. But it was true. A tear splattered onto the page. Jo dipped the quill in the inkwell. She scratched him a hasty note, telling him she would be near the Brook Street gate at Hyde Park at three o’clock in the hope he could meet her.

Jo left the library and handed the note to the ginger-haired gentleman who’d introduced himself as Mr. Black. “Please ensure Lord Reade gets this as soon as possible.”

“I will, Miss Dalrymple, but it might be a while, he has an appointment with the Prince Regent.”

“Tell him I will wait as long as I can.” It concerned her what her father would say when he heard. When Black left, she returned to the library and read Reade’s note again.

They had restored Charlotte to her home in good health. There were no details. Jo would have to wait to satisfy her curiosity. She roamed the room, removing scarlet and gold bound books from the shelves and then returning them with nary a glance. Was Mrs. Millet involved in Sally’s abduction? Was it she who persuaded the abductor to let her maid go? It seemed preposterous, and yet she could not discount it. She had never liked the woman. Jo didn’t have a good reason, except she’d sensed Mrs. Millet was insincere. But her father was unlikely to believe anything she told him on such sketchy evidence.

The door knocker echoed through the hall.

Jo darted out just as the butler closed the door again. “Another note, Miss Dalrymple,” Spears said as if such a thing was insupportable.

“Thank you, Spears,” Jo unfolded it and read it. “My father will not be dining at home,” she explained. Her father and Mrs. Millet would dine after viewing an exhibition of Turner’s artworks. He had spent almost the entire day with the woman, and now the evening. Was she becoming dear to him? He’d be distressed if they discovered she was not who she appeared.

Spears nodded somberly. “I shall instruct Cook.”

“Thank you.” At least she didn’t have to tell her father she was walking to the park. He would forbid her. “Please send Sally to my bedchamber.”

Spears murmured an assent. Never deviating from his usual upright stance, he shifted his foot as if it pained him, drawing her attention. Jo admitted she had never really looked at the butler. His hair was turning white, his face deeply lined. He was a good deal older than she first thought.

“My father could be late tonight. Have a footman answer the door, Mr. Spears. I don’t expect anyone else to call today.”

She thought the suggestion that he needed rest might ruffle his feathers, but his usually indifferent gaze focused on hers with warm surprise. “I believe I will. Thank you, Miss Dalrymple.”

How wrong one could be about people, she thought as she climbed the stairs. But she was not wrong about Mrs. Millet. She was sure of it.

Jo had taken her lilac walking dress out of the wardrobe when Sally came in. “Only imagine, Sally, Charlotte has been found safe and well! I went to tell Aunt Mary, but she is still asleep.”

Sally clapped her hands to her cheeks. “That’s such wonderful news, Miss Jo.”

“I need to see Lord Reade. I’ve sent him a letter. We must return to the park.”

Sally took the dress from her and shook it out. “We aren’t to ride this time, Miss Jo?”

“No. I’ll leave a message for Aunt Mary.” She glanced at her watch. “It’s