14
The first thing Jensen did was to go to the house of Lords to vote on Luther's divorce he knew they would give it to him there was no reason not to. After all he must have paid a huge sum to the house of Lords to get the official divorce decree from the crown. Once this step concluded Luther would be a free man. When Luther's barrister gave the lords the reasons for wanting a divorce. When they took the vote it was unanimous that Luther was granted his divorce from Wilma there was no decent not even Wilma's father Lord Ferrell protested the divorce he had warned his daughter that this could happen after Luther sent back the dowry he had given him. Personally, after everything he heard he thought maybe he should return the dowry and cut off his daughter completely.
When Luther was walking out Jensen was by his side.
"You are a free man now. Enjoy it!"
Luther laughed.
"I do not want to be free I want to be with the one I have always loved."
"Well I wish you luck and hope the woman is receptive."
"I do as well. Well good day Richmond I am sure I will see you around the season will officially begin tonight I am sure you will be in attendance. I have to present my sister so I have to succumb to the social graces of society instead of my own pursuits, but it has waited this long it can wait a few months more."
Luther and Jensen parted ways only to find that Johanna was sitting on the bench waiting for Jensen. She had told Luther she would be out all day and would be ready for the Corman's ball tonight. He was surprised to see her there and alone what he was going to do with her?
"I thought I would save us sometime."
"You do realize someone is trying to kill you?"
"I do but they have only made one attempt, so I am not feeling particularly afraid. Besides, I have a big strong man to protect me do I not?"
He took her hands and pulled her up from the bench and they went to get into the carriage.
"We will need to stop and pick up my aunt?"
"She said she was not going with us she was going to spend the day getting ready for the Cormen's ball."
"I did not know she was planning on attending the Cormen's ball."
"She is and so are you!"
"I do not venture out into polite society much anymore."
"Is it because of your service for the crown?"
"Yes, actually it is. I work in the darkest parts of London and so I do not really venture out into polite society."
"I can understand that but you are now the Duke of Richmond and you need to be a part of the ton if for nothing else if you have investments it is a good way to make good connections."
They were settled in the carriage and he placed a blanket around them, and he kissed her on the cheek.
"You do not think like a normal girl Lady Hartford."
She laughed and reached up and kissed him and that his how they spent the two hours on the road to Coccium hall. When they reached the hall, they had been expected so they were led straight to Holland's study. Once they were situated he started to give a report. This is the Holland he knew in charge and on top of everything.
"Holly said you needed to know what I knew about the incident thirty-four years ago with all the girls. I have a file that my father amassed trying to find them. There were no signs of them not bodies or sightings."
He offered them the file and continued his narrative.
"It was believed also that someone caused Genevieve's death as well. My father always thought it was strange that a girl who was so terrified of water would get close enough to the water to drown."
Jensen was busy reading the report first so Johanna gave the Marquis some information.
"We think the three other girls were held captive at least one in each of the culprit's houses. We believe it was a group of third year boys we know for sure that Nesbit Everleigh was keeping Trudy Summers in a secret room we happened to find at Jensen's London estate. There were letters or maybe they were diary entries telling about her confinement and her abuse. We believe she died within a year giving birth. Your sister confirmed the handwriting was Trudy's."
'Who do you think the other boys are?"
"Warren Landers, Richard Moss, and Thomas Canton."
Holland thought back to when he was at Eaton in 1793 he was fourteen and a second-year student. He remembered the four boys always being together
"They were called the outliers they had nothing to do with anyone but each other. All of them were the youngest sons of Dukes and walked around feeling entitled. Your father and Uncles were all at the school at one time and none of them walked around as if they were entitled to anything least of all Joel. He was the most down to earth of the four. William was the clown; Michael was Williams shadow and tried to act like him all the time. As for Nesbit what I can remember was he was mean to everyone even his siblings."
"That is what my uncles and aunt have said about him as well as his oldest son."
Jensen handed the report to Johanna she began reading it. She was quite sure there were some answers to the crimes in the report, but she was sure there was an eyewitness and they just needed to get her to talk. Jensen brought up the danger Johanna was in.
"It seems Lady Hartford made a few enemies asking questions about this case and now has a target on her head."
Holland seemed impressed that the girl did not show any signs of being hysterical over being a target for hire.
"You should have been working for me Lady Hartford I have not seen detective skill like yours since Clara. You are hugely impressive for gathering all this information and figuring out as much as you have."
"I think my uncle would have not been happy for me to be in service My Lord. I think other than Jennifer he is of the opinion woman should not be agents."
"Ah you are Wayne's niece."
"I am."
"Simon has mentioned you a time or two my niece Cordy has recommended you into service."
"I would be honored to use my skills to protect the crown and its people. I enjoy investigating all types of things."
Holland turned to Jensen.
"You should let Simon know. I would not be talking around like I am doing other than Holly already told her, so I have no worries and since Cordy believes in you. I choose to do the same."
"Thank you my lord. Lady Burkhart was the one who had all the information I did not do anything special but ask questions."
"Asking questions is an art my dear and getting the answers you need makes you a master. I have never thought to ask Holly about this nor did my father and as you know she was in service so there was no reason not to ask her. It was a total lack of accepting she could know as much as she did at the age of twelve. Take the report I hope it helps I will let Simon know I gave it to you."
The couple thank the Marquis and then left for the two-hour drive back and the one stop Jensen had to make to talk with Daniel. Jensen was not sure he ever wanted to travel without Johanna ever again she made the time go quicker with all the kisses. He knew they needed to stop but it felt to good. He would have done more if he did not think it would scare her. After all they were to be married they would not be the first couple to get carried away before the wedding. Before he could make his thought a reality they arrived at Daniels country estate.
There was a party going on. Jensen laughed he had heard that the Duchess got it in her mind to bring the best men out to the country to mingle with Maddie so they could find her a husband before anyone collected on the marker. Jensen was quite sure Daniel had not told her he was the one who oversaw her life and not Cuthbert. Well men had to have a little fun in this bit of the courting ritual.
"Maddie said the Duchess had planned a honey trap. I feel so sorry for Maddie what the Earl did to her is just unforgivable. Now if they could just get the Duke to come to his senses they would all be happy. So, the Duchess thinks, but Maddie and the Duke have not seen each other in ten years and they never got along. Did you know when they were younger he pushed her into a mud puddle."
"No, I did not know Daniel had pushed her in to a puddle. I have to go and talk with the Duke will you be alright."
"I am a ten and seven-year-old girl in a group of prospective husbands trust me when I say all young girls are groomed for this. I will be fine."
There were two butlers one took Jensen and the other took Johanna out to where everyone was gathered in the garden. When Maddie saw her, she waved to Jo and laughed Maddie was surrounded by Alvin Jefferies the Marquis of Black Lake. She knew to be on alert when she saw Lord Honeywell coming towards her.
"When did you arrive, I would have remembered seeing you this week, you're a looker?"
"Why thank you your grace I just arrived but I will be leaving soon. I have to make it back to London before the start of the ball I am to attend tonight."
"What a shame the only pretty girl here besides, you are Lady Jacobs and you are not staying."
"Is there anything I could say to make you change your mind?"
"I do not think my escort would leave me behind your grace."
"No, I would not. Honeywell are you trying to flirt with this young lady?"
"Everleigh what are you doing here?"
"I came to relay a message to Daniel do you have a problem with that? And now that it is done Johanna dear we must be going, so you can make your debut into society."
Johanna noticed the Duke of Bedford looking for Maddie and she heard him growl. She looked over The Marquis of Black Lake had taken her hand and was leading her down the garden path.
"Excuse me I need to go and kill someone. Thank you for the news Jen. I will take the information and well you can imagine."
"I can Daniel, and I am sure you would do the same for me."
"You know I will if ever I am needed."
The Duke stormed off to where Maddie and the Marquis had last been seen. Evidently the duke must have caught him doing something to Maddie because on the ride back to London they saw the Marquis riding back in all due haste. They both laughed seems the Duke was becoming territorial. Jo had to wonder if he would marry her that is all Maddie had ever wanted when she was younger. Jo also knew that the Earl and the Duchess also wanted them together but would not force a marriage on them.
They arrived back in the city by six and by the time Jensen was able to drop Johanna off at her home it was six thirty the traffic was heavy tonight. It must be because of the first official balls of the season. Johanna rushed up to her room where her lady's maid was waiting with a nice hot bath for her.