15
Jensen had worn his brown velvet coat hand a champagne cummerbund, He looked good in dark colors. He would have worn black, but he promised Katie he would try to be more fashionable. When Pauline came downstairs he was surprised at the transformation in his aunt. He knew she was pretty for her age, but she was striking and if people did not know her age they would be surprised since she had such a youthful glow about her. Something he had never seen her have. Johanna was good for Pauline she had brought her back to life.
Pauline had been waiting twenty years for this night. She would shine for Luther and let him know that she knew he did not send the letter nor did she and that she always loved him. Jo had already told her that he still loved her and was going to come for her, but she was impatient and wanted him now. She would no longer live in regret. She would do what she should have done twenty years ago if she had to and that was to give herself to Luther under any circumstances. She was nervous but that was to be expected she had not seen her Beloved for oh so long.
Luther was waiting downstairs he had no love of going to balls. He only went when he had to. He realized a long time ago that without Pauline by his side he just did not enjoy the parties there was no point to them. He was hoping Jo made a good match right away and he did not need to attend to many balls. But he would go to as many as needed for her to find love.
When she finally came down the stairs she was a vision she was wearing a champagne colored dress that brought out the gold in her brown eyes, and her blond hair was cascading down the side and she had pearls decorating her hair. Luther was holding a box and he handed it to his sister. It was their mother's pearls. He remembered the first time he saw her in them she was going to the theater and she was wearing a black velvet dress and all the accessories she had was her pearls. She was stunning. Jo opened the box and was surprised to see her mother's pearls it was something so special that she began to weep.
"Are you sure Luther they are very special to you?"
"This is a way mother can be a part of your first season. She would have been so proud of you and so would have father."
She hugged her brother and then they left for the Cormens. When they were announced all eyes turned to watch Johanna descend the stairs, she was a vision and she knew all eyes were on her. But it was only one set of green eyes that mattered to Johanna. Luther lend over and whispered into her year.
"I think you might be this year's incomparable."
"I do not want to be I have already set my cap on someone, and no one else will do for me."
"Do you want to tell me who this man is so I can make sure he is good enough for you?"
"He is a good man Luther and he is the only man for me. It is the Duke of Richmond."
"We'll let us go and say hello to the Duke seems from what I can tell he only had eyes for her as well. He is also standing with Uncle Wayne and Jen. I do not think we could have avoided him."
When they made it to their uncle and the Duke his eyes did not go to them he was looking at Pauline who was wearing a dark blue dress with the necklace he had given her when they were fifteen. He was choked up he put his hand out hoping she would extend hers to him. His heart sored when she put her hand in his and smiled he did something he would have never thought he would do in public. He pulled her to him and hugged her.
When she pulled away she still had a smile on her face and her eyes were glycinin with her tears. To everyone's surprise Pauline opened her mouth to talk.
"I missed you Luther."
"I missed you too Luv, I missed you too and I will never let you go again."
He turned to Jensen.
"I intend to marry your aunt and I will not take no for an answer."
Jensen and Wayne started to laugh leaving everyone unsure of what was so funny. Pauline thought they were laughing because Luther could not marry her but that was not it at all.
"I guess it is only fair Luther since I plan on marrying your sister."
They all started to laugh at Jensen's comment until Johanna threw her arms around him and kissed him."
"I love you so much I just told Luther you were the only man I could ever marry."
"That is a good thing Johanna since I will be the only man you marry. I love you too."
The guests were surprised no one had ever showed such public display of affection at a ball. To everyone's amazement both couples walked out to the center of the dancefloor when the first note of the waltz played they danced closer than was normally proper. After the dance Johanna left the ballroom and went to the lady's lounge so she could tell Cordy her news.
Johanna rushed in like a child ready to reveal the biggest secret of all times.
"Cory guess what I have the best news ever!"
Cordy laughed she knew Jo was working on a mystery but most of her investigations were finding dogs and cats. Once she had a mystery about looking for a friend's lost sister. Jo found out the girl boarded a ship for the colonies with a young man who claimed she was his wife. Six months later the sister wrote and said she married before leaving England, but she was now living in a place called Main with her husband and they were expecting their first baby.
"You solved another case?"
"No, I am going to be married to the Duke of Richmond."
Cordy's eyes grew big. You're going to marry Thoth I mean a Duke?"
"So that is his code name Thoth suits him."
"How do you know he is in service to the crown?"
"I know you Katie and Jacob are as well so is my Uncle and Jennifer. I am not stupid Cordy I am good at what I do and knowing things about my friends is something I am incredibly good at."
"Wow I did not know you knew I was in service. So what case are you working on that let you meet the very handsome Duke of Richmond?"
"More handsome than the Duke of Lincolnshire?"
"To me there is no one handsomer. I wish he would notice that I have grown up and I love him to distraction. I flirt enough you would think for a smart man he would get a hint."
"Who said men are smart?"
They both laughed because they were both smarter than most men.
"Have you gotten any good information on those men for me?"
"I have been keeping my ears open about the missing girls. I heard my mother crying and telling my father about. She is worried about you going missing like the girls if you get to close to the men you are investigating."
"I have a special protector Jensen has been assigned to keep me safe. Have you heard who might have put a target on my head?"
"I have to be one of the men you sent a letter too. The Marquis of Newbury's wife told the Duchess of Buckingham that her husband has been acting strangely since receiving a post a few months back. She told the Duchess that he has been going out and spending a lot of time in one of the guest bedrooms and out by a specific tree. Then one night she heard him fighting with a gentleman she did not know, but it was loud enough for her to make out that the unknown man shouted at the marquis you were supposed to make sure no one ever found out about our packed. How come some young girl knows. Then they concluded with something like I will do something about it. Do not worry I have it handled."
"That certainly sounds like I upset them with the inquiry I made about the message I received. I still do not know who sent the message I have a suspicion, but I do not know for sure. I will ask them tomorrow after I talk with Jennifer."
"Oh, there was another thing I heard, they were going to go to Madam Ransom's to take out another contract. I do not know what all that means but I will tell you Madam's is run by the crown in the lower end of London and it is your intended who runs it. His cover name is Jack Billings."
"How do you know so much Cory?"
"People and agents talk around me as if I am not even there. So, I learn things I probably should not. Like you know who is with what mistress. I also know Addie wants to be a bigger rake than Vince Valentine, but I have other plans for that Duke so help me Jo if I cannot have him I will remain unwed. It would take an act of God or the King to marry someone other than my Beloved Addie."
"I am sure he is just waiting for you to have your first season before he offers for you. I know that particular Duke is quite a flirt and you like to flirt so I am not surprised he may not know how you really feel."
Before Jo and Cordy could say any more a group of women came in the time of privacy was over and time for Jo to go back to the ball. On her way back down to the ballroom she had a strange feeling someone was watching her or following her. She knew she needed to be careful there was someone who wanted her dead. She made it to the stairway when she felt someone breathing down her neck. She was going to turn around but suddenly she found herself rolling down the staircase. She tucked her head and prayed that she would survive, but evidently she had taken to long Jensen came looking for her and he caught her in her downward spiral breaking her fall.
"What happened Luv?"
"Someone pushed me down the stairs."
Jensen became more alert and made sure Johanna was alright and then took off running up the stairs trying to find out who pushed her down them. Jo waited for him on the landing he caught her on but when he came back he did not look happy.
"I think we need to get you home unless you saw who pushed you?"
"I did not just as I was turning to look to see who was behind me I found myself rolling down the stairs."
He led her back into the ballroom and found her brother with his aunt. They seemed to have a lot of catching up to do and she was talking to him.
"I need to get Johanna home someone pushed her down the stairs. If you could take my aunt home I will take Johanna and put her into protection."
Wayne was right behind them he had seen Jensen look agitated which is something Jensen never was.
"What happened?"
"She was pushed down the stairs."
"Did she see who did it?"
"No, and I can talk for myself. I am fine I think everyone is overreacting a bit."
"Someone has put a price on your head how can you think we are overreacting? Take her to a house you think she will be the most protected in and then let me know where you have placed her."
"Take her to Iris and Poseidon."
"I was I will tell them you will be coming for a visit does that suit you?"
"Yes, now get her the bloody hell out of here."