Page 58 of Their Brazen Countess
“Why do you insist on associating with such lowbrow trash as those Lustful Lords?” Bernard grated out. “I’ve told you,Josephine, keeping company with the likes of those reprobates looks bad on the whole family.”
“I don’t know who you mean.” Jo straightened her spine, unwilling to cower before this man.
His arm raised up and then the sound of flesh meeting flesh cracked into the silence a moment before heat and pain bloomed on her left cheek.
“You bloody bastard!”
“That’s the least of what I’ll do to you and to that little bastard of yours. Is he even of my brother’s loins?” Bernard had a fearsome snarl on his face as he took a step closer to her. Then he reached out and spun her around toward her little writing desk. “Those two bounders, Dunmere and Lincolnshire, have come to visit for the last time. I want you to write them a note explaining you have no desire to see them ever again. Cut ties with them, or you and your brat will regret it.”
Face throbbing from where he had slapped her, Jo began drafting the required note. She wrote the words he dictated in the most awkward and formal manner she could manage.
They loved her. They would read it and understand. That, and her secret note would hopefully arrive not long after they received this one.
Arthur and Linc sat with Lords Stonemere, Brougham, Wolfington, Flintshire, and Portridge, although the latter still preferred to go by Lucifer.
“Gentlemen, thank you for coming on such short notice.” Arthur looked at each of them in turn before continuing. “Linc and I cannot tell you how much your support means to us.”
Stone nodded. “We’ve all been in your shoes at one time or another.”
“Still, our situation is unique because we have so little information,” Linc picked up the conversation. “Today, when we stopped by to check on Jo, we found a rather strange situation. Her butler wouldn’t let us in, which is unusual. I noticed a suspicious sort lurked in the shadows behind him. I couldn’t get a good look at the man, but he seemed to hover close to Bell as though to ensure he said nothing he shouldn’t.”
“You didn’t see or hear anything else?” Wolf asked.
“That was it. As I said, we don’t have a lot to go on.” Linc shrugged one shoulder.
A knock sounded and Harris entered the front salon. “My lord, two letters have come for you from Lady Whitestone.”
“Two?” Arthur was surprised, but waved Harris over. “Thank you.”
He opened the first letter, breaking the Whitestone seal.
Dear Lords Dunmere and Lincolnshire,
I find myself rather unfortunately indisposed for the long term. It will be best for all parties involved if we remove ourselves from each other’s orbits. I do hope you both will understand the need for this permanent parting of the ways.
With all sincerity,
Lady Josephine Marie Whitestone
Arthur snorted, finding the whole bit of correspondence contrived. He handed it to Linc. “Someone made her write this. I don’t believe a word of what she says.”
Linc took it from him and read. At the end, he snorted in turn. “Most definitely either forced to write it or someone has attempted to write it on her behalf. Though it appears to be her handwriting.”
“Agreed. It is her penmanship. I wonder what the second note says?” Arthur opened the second piece of correspondence.
My dearest Arthur and Linc,
Last evening Bernard burst into my home with the assistance of four brutal men. They have been hired to “safeguard” me. They are of course, simply put, my jailers. Bernard has threatened—though I am still not convinced of his veracity—to dispose of his wife and marry me should I continue to prove difficult—though I believe that was merely a threat to gain my compliance.
I am confident I can escape out of my window with Matthew in tow, but once away from here, we shall need a place to hide. I trust one or both of you can assist me with this. I shall make my escape tonight while the household sleeps. I hope to see you soon.
All my love,
Jo
“Bloody hell!” Arthur passed the note to Linc. “There are four men working for Lord Downs and acting as guards, and so Jo has determined she will escape out her window tonight. We shall need to be there to help her slip away. The bastard has threatened to get rid of his wife and force Jo to marry him!”
Linc balled the letter up. “That bloody blighter needs to be dealt with.”
