12
The next morning Jo and Luther left for court Jo noticed he did not look so well.
"Too much to drink?"
"Way too much, when I got home I could have sworn there was a room full of strangers and Uncle Wayne and Jennifer it was so strange. To be honest it was like a nightmare."
Jo did not say anything she figured Luther must have come home right after she went upstairs, and they had not left yet. She figured she would let Luther think it was all part of his muddled state. After all there was no reason for him to worry about her being shot at. Least of all while he had a criminal civil case to worry about this morning. They walked into the court both heads held high going to the front pew where he left his sister and went to take his seat next to his barrister.
Wayne and the others walked in and sat next to Johanna and waited for the defendant to arrive. Egbert showed up in one of Luther's suits which enraged Luther, but his barrister put his hand on his arm letting him know not to react. When Wilma walked into court Jo was not surprised to find her in a bright red dress after all she needed to be the center of attention. Jo could not help thinking she stuck out like Beau Brummel wearing one of his ostentatious costumes.
She knew just when Jensen walked into the courtroom his presents demanded attention well hers anyway. He was a fine-looking man and she laughed to herself an incredibly good kisser. Since Simon could not appear he was going to have to figure out a way to get the Duke the gambling receipts they had taken out against his estate. He walked over to where Jo was sitting at the end of the bench and waited for her to scoot over to let him sit next to her. He leaned over her to talk with Wayne.
"Thoth sent this to help him win this case."
Wayne took the paper and read it over and he smiled at Jensen which he did not think he would do after he found out he had been kissing Jo in his carriage. Wayne got up and walked over to Luther and handed him the papers and whispered in his ear.
"This should help you in your case against them."
He patted his nephew on the back and went back to sit down next to Jo. Wayne looked at the paper and shared it with his barrister who turned around and looked at Wayne with a big smile on his face. When Egberts barrister walked in the clerk called the court to order and the judge walked in and everyone rose for respect. The judge looked around the courthouse and saw a lot of influential people in his court room.
"Is this a special occasion for so many noblemen to be present?"
The barrister stood and responded.
"No, your honor this is the plaintiff's family they are not here to intimidate but to support his grace in this matter."
The Judged looked to the opposite side of the room and found only the Dukes wife in the audience. This was not going to be pleasant, but this kind of case never was. He turned to the plaintiff and nodded.
"Go ahead and present your case."
"Your honor we come here seeking civil damages from one Mr. Egbert Bouquet who moved into a cottage against the Dukes wishes so he was there for the Duchesses convenience. He moved in shortly after the wedding which the Duchess had never let be consummated."
The judged looked to Luther and the barrister.
"Are you saying in all the time you and the duchess were married you never once consummated the marriage. Was it lack, of desire on your part your grace?"
Luther stood up to address the court.
"No, your honor my wife is most beautiful it is true I did not want to marry her I loved another but once we said our vows I never stepped out on her so to speak."
"Do you have proof this marriage was never consummated?"
"I do your honor two of my grooms' men who stood guard one with in the adjoining hall between the Duchesses chamber and my own and one outside of the duchess's door. I also have witnesses who saw the two of them au naturel and being intimate with each other. I also have been just given markers from Madam Ransom's that they put against my estate to the amount of 10,000 pounds."
"call your first witness your grace."
The barrister stood up and Luther sat down.
"I call on Mr. Taber the groomsmen who stood in the hallway between the rooms."
Mr. Taber was sworn in and testified that he had been sitting in the hallway every night since they had been married and she never once opened the door not even to see what was behind it. During daylight hours she was down at the old care takers cottage. He was dismissed since the defense had no questions and they brought up Mr. Stone who testified to the same thing only he was out in the hallway in front of the duchess's door. They moved on to the last witness which was Jo who had seen the couple together in the all together at the cottage. Jo was sworn in.
"Lady Hartford what is it you saw going on between the defendant and your sister-in-law?"
"I saw her with Egbert, and they used the secret room in the ballroom. Then there was the time I found them in an embrace at the pond, also at the cottage Egbert uses. There was a time I found them let us say wearing only a smile."
"You saw Egbert nude?"
The barrister asked.
"Yes, sir I saw them both nude."
"Thank you Lady Hartford I have no more questions."
For the first time during the trial Egberts barrister stood up and wanted to question the witness. Jo was ready and she would not let her brother down.
"Lady Hartford, if the room you say you saw them in is secret then how did you know about it?"
Jo laughed that was a funny story indeed.
"I saw my father use it with one of his special friends."
I am a curious sort and I looked for the room and found it. There were furnishings in the room I did not understand but the bed I did. I learned that there was a second floor where I could watch as the balls were taking place so I would go up there and watch the dancing. It was one of those times Wilma and Egbert used that room."
"What about the time you saw them at the pond?"
"They were together it could have been perfectly innocent other than they were holding hands and kissing."
"How do we know you saw the couple in the nude?"
Jo thought for a while she could not tell them things about their private parts that would be to embarrassing so she had to think of what she could tell them. Then it dawned on her Egbert had a birthmark in the shape of an egg it was a red mark. Probably how they got his name.
"Well Egbert has this mark on his left buttocks it is a red birthmark in the shape of an egg. Wilma had no birthmarks that I could see she was pressed up against Egbert, she did have a habit of biting him one time she drew blood."
"Where did you see her bite Mr. Bouquet?"
She did not think they would ask her that and she surely did not want to answer that in front of Jensen. She began to blush.
"Oh, my do I have to say it out loud in front of.."
She looked at Jensen and smiled then waited for an answer. It was the judge who responded.
"You must answer the question Lady Hartford even if it is something unconventional."
"Oh, I am sure they are conventional your honor, let me put it this way every man has one?"
Everyone in the court room laughed other than the Duchess and Egbert. The judged asked if the barrister had any more questions and he did not she was able to go back and sit down next to Jensen, but she refused to look at him. It was one thing to tease Luther about Egbert not being like Michael Angelo's David, but it was quite another to say something like that to a man she just met and seemed quite attached to. He leaned over and whispered in her ear.
"We will talk later young lady."
Instead of saying anything she threw him a salute. Then they were quiet and waited for the barrister to put into evidence the bank notes.
"Your honor I have one last bit of evidence that I just received from the Earl of Carlisle it is three markers from Madam Ransom's totaling ten thousand pounds they are signed by the Duchess and her lover and if you look at the line of who is responsible it is signed with the Dukes name making the Duke of Teck responsible for them."
The barrister passed around the notes so the judge and the other party could see. Egbert had a sneaky idea that they might have been able to get out of this mess if it had not been for the bake notes. The judge turned to the defense side and asked if they had any witnesses to call and since they did not the judge was ready to render a verdict.
The judged look back and forth between both sides and knew how he was going to rule it was apparent that the Duchess never had plans to consummate the marriage between the Duke and herself.
"If what eyewitnesses have said is the truth and I have no caused to doubt any of them. The Duchess was not worried about her virginity she was quite faithful to one man unfortunately it was not her husband. It is true that we do not know if Mr. Bouquet was not in the picture if the Duchess would still have refused to consummate the marriage. It is clear in the situation we are in she did not plan on ever giving a legitimate heir to the Duke. I find for the Duke of Teck Luther Hartford in the manner of twenty thousand pounds and grant him his civil annulment. Your grace you now have to face the Lords of London and get your final divorce before the laws of England seeing yourself fully set apart from this woman you have achieved both a church annulment and a civil one may God bless you and see you soon on the road to happiness. You are all free to go."
When they all left the courtroom, Luther was elated he was one step closer to being free of Wilma and going to beg forgiveness to Pauline. First he needed to know who his sister had been sitting with and why they seemed so comfortable with each other. He went up to the couple and interrupted their conversation.
"Where are we going to investigate today Jensen?"
"I was thinking of taking all the material and going back to visit the Duchess of St. Helens."
"You will not leave me behind again?"
"I learned what I needed. So, no I will take you with me."
Luther stuck out his hand breaking apart the couple.
"I am Luther the Duke of Teck and you are?"
"I am Jensen the Duke of Richmond?"
"What may I ask is your relationship to my sister?"
"She came to my Richmond home and asked to explore it trying to solve a local mystery."
"I thought you were meeting with Pauline?"
"She is but I did not think my aunt should be in court this mystery has her a bit upset."
"You are Pauline's nephew?"
"What happen to Joel?"
"My father died a few months back along with my older brother Jenner."
"I am so sorry I did not know. Please accept my condolences. Your father and brother were both good men. They helped me a lot after my father died, I will never forget their kindness."
"Thank you for your condolences, and your kind words. My father would have been honored to be remembered in that way. He strived to be a good and honorable man."
Jo reached up and kissed her brother on the cheek and smiled at him knowing he was not going to win whatever battle she was about to launch.
"I will be home late we have a lot to do since tomorrow we cannot investigate. Go out and celebrate your win and know that we are all behind you."
She started to stroll off and get into the Dukes carriage. What the bloody hell was going on. He knew he never forced her to have a chaperone before, but he was bloody well going to start putting his foot down in that regard. Wayne walked up behind Luther along with Jennifer.
"When did they get so bloody close?"
"I would say over the last week when you were not minding what your sister was doing."
"What am I going to do?"
"Jen instructed me to let nature take its course and let them be. He seems to be quite fond of her. He also seems to be able to do the thing neither you or your father have ever been able to do and that is keep her in line. The boy gives her a look and she fall into place. I personally think he will be good for her and eliminate the headaches she has given over the years to the family."
They watched as the two of them as they rode off into the distance Luther confused and Wayne pleased. This was a good thing and they did not have to worry now about making her a good match. The couple arrived at the Duchess home at about three Jensen had sent word they would be by in late afternoon. When they arrived, the Duchess had tea ready for her guests. They were shown into the parlor which Jo could not help but notice was in pale pinks and greens it was a very pleasant room. To pleasant for the subject they were going to talk about.
They sat and sipped at their tea when they each finished their cup it seemed to be the signal to start the unfortunate conversation. Johanna was the one to start off.
"Your grace we found some things and wonder if you could help us sort it out. On the Dukes last visit you gave him a list of boys who you thought would have been capable of hurting the girls we need to know if any of them were close friends. A group that could have a pact between them something that would connect any of these men on the list together?"
Jo had the list with her and pulled it out.
"These are the names you gave us. I know of two of them Nesbit which is a relative of Jensen's and Warren Landers do you know if they knew each other?"
"They attended Eaton together they are the same age, so I assume they knew each other. To be honest this list could be broken down by age and classes at Eaton. Nesbit, Warren, Richard Moss, and Thomas Canton were all third years. Randolph Slater, Martin Mann, Hamond John and Eyvyn Holmes were all sixth years. Jena Wayne, Stacey Evers, Gervase Smith, and Clement Humphrey were all first years."
Jensen broke into her reading.
"I do not think first years or even second years could master mind girls disappearing nor do I think a girl of fifteen would leave with a thirteen-year-old boy."
Holly laughed
"You are correct your grace they lack the maturity to plan this. Let us look at the fifth years. That would be Nigel Stokes, Maddock Polk, Benedict Ryan, and Denis Moore they were the fifth years during 1793."
"What group do you think more likely to have made the girls disappear?"
Holly thought about it for quite some time before she answered.
"I would say it had to be the third, fourth or fifth years. I will be honest it does not make sense to me that it was the older boys. They are all well respected men and all very wealthy. Not one of them inherited a title and never felt entitlement. I would look at the other classes first and if they do not pan out then we can look at those four."
"That makes sense. Let us work on narrowing it down to a group of boys. Let us look at what they all have in common and then figure out what could set them apart. I know each of these boys could be capable of hurting someone."
Jo felt left out so she started listing off what she knew about the names on the list.
"First they all went to Eaton. Second, they all spent their weekends in Richmond, they were all sons of noblemen, did any of them gain a title?"
Holly thought about its Giles Parks is an Earl, Denis Moore is now a Viscount, and Richard Moss is a Marquis, but he was not in line for it both his brothers died for him to obtain it."
Jensen's curiosity was peeked.
"How did they die?"
Holly had to think back on how they had died.
"One of them was thrown from his horse and broke his neck. The other one died in his sleep."
Jensen was hesitant to look at the third years, but he felt in his gut his uncle was a part of the disappearances especially after finding the girls letters in the secret room. Jo could see the conflict on Jensen's beautiful face and knew she was the one who was going to have to bring up the painful information they found in the secret room.
"I think we should look at the third years we found something at Jensen's townhouse that makes me believe they were the ones who kept the girls."
Holly was curious as to what they could have found relating to the girls. Jensen pulled out a piece of paper. Holly could tell it was old and weathered. He handed the letter to Holly and in an instant she recognized the writing as Trudy's she had a specialized style and it was always so free flowing. Holly caught her breath and the tears started to trail down her face. Jo put her hand on the Duchesses hopefully giving her some comfort.
"It is Trudy's writing I would know it anywhere."
She got up off the sofa and went to an ornate box on the mantel of the fireplace and pulled out a letter that was inside. She brought it over to Jensen and Johanna to look at. It was Jo's turn to catch her breath the writing was the same. So now they knew it was Trudy who had been put in the tower and possibly died giving birth.
They took a moment to let the Duchess collect herself before they moved on. When she was composed they carried on to the next girl on the list. They now knew what happened to two of the girls Genevieve had drowned and Trudy died alone in a tower giving birth. Now to figure out what happened to Clementine and Marsha.
"I think the best person to ask about this would be my Brother Holland he was a second year when this happened He has been at Coccium hall since he retired from service. His health has not been the best. But he might have information about all the men on the list. I will write him and let him know you will be coming. I cannot go because Cordy is helping at Lady Hansen's ball and I promised I would lend her my support. So, I cannot go this week, and then the season starts on Thursday and she is helping at a ball a night in the ladies lounge."
Jensen laughed Cordy was in service to the crowns, she had gossip no one else had maybe they should talk with her as well.
"I have a family commitment tomorrow, but I think we can be there on Thursday."
He saw the look on Johanna's face and laughed leave it to a woman to worry about the first ball of the season she had not said a word but he could see it written all over her face.
"I am sure we will be back before you need to get ready for the ball."
He laughed as the consternation was lifted off her face. Women had such strange priorities. On the ride to take back Jo to her home they sat in silence. Jo was thinking about kissing the duke but in the back of her head something was nagging at her. Jensen knew he was going to have to woo his bride to be and he did not want Wayne to think he was not making any effort. Jensen pulled her on to his lap and gently kissed her then it turned more aggressive and passionate as if they would die without the other. Then suddenly she pulled away startling him.
"Is something wrong Luv?"
"I just remembered when I was doing my search I wrote letters to families that I had been told had houses in the Richmond area back in 1793 and one of the men was a marquis but I cannot tell you if it was this Richard Moss."
"What was the title of the Marquis?"
"Newbury."
"We will have to figure out if he is the Marquis we are looking for and who put a price on that pretty little head of yours."
"You think I am pretty?"
She was glowing she had hoped he thought she was pretty and was not playing with her affections. Jensen laughed all women wanted to hear the same thing and they were happy.
"I think you to be the most beautiful woman in all of London."
Her heart sored into the heavens he thought she was the most beautiful woman in all of London. That was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her. When they reached her place, she leaned over and kissed him then sat back for the groom to open the door.
"I suppose I will not see you tomorrow since you are having your family dinner, but I look forward to seeing you on Thursday."
"I thought you would have dinner with my family. I think it would be nice for Pauline since she has taken a liking to you and seems to be stronger when you are around. Then of course I cannot think of a meal without you there again. But I have nothing to do in the early part of the day so if you would like to visit some friends of mine before we have to be home for dinner."
"I would love to spend the day with you Jensen, but I cannot impose on a family gathering that just would not be right."
"I am the head of the family and I want you there so that makes it right."
"Are you sure? I am aware personal things are brought up at family gatherings and I am sure you would not like the chance of family secrets getting out."
"I do not think any secrets we may talk about will be worse or more damaging than someone hiding away a young girl and getting her with child, so our secrets are safe I am sure."
"Alright if you do not think I would be imposing."
"Not at all so I will pick you up at about eleven and we will go and visit my friends."
She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and then the door was opened, and she was let out. Jensen followed her and she seemed confused.
"You were shot at Luv. I am going to keep you safe."
"But that puts you in danger!"
"Better me than you."
She changed her mind that was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her. Her mother gave her life for her, but she never thought there would be another who would do that for her. He got her to the door and made sure she got in and then left knowing for sure he was in love and getting soft in the head. All that mushy stuff he said the worse part was he meant every single word of it. Jacob and Katie were going to poke fun at him for his behavior. Katie was going to reintroduce him to society so he could settle down and find a wife. It turns out he found one for himself.