23
The rest of the week Johanna hardly saw either her brother or Jensen. Seemed Jensen and Luther were spending their last days in London before tying the knot. Pauline and Jo had more fittings for their bridal gowns that they had for their wardrobes for the entire season. Simon had Katie staying with Jo to keep her safe and so far there had not been another attempt.
The day before the wedding Johanna was out walking near the water with Katie and her cousin Eden. They ended up at the spot Pauline had set out the picnic and the book for Jo to find only weeks ago.
"Do tell is there any advice the two of you can give me so I can start this new journey prepared?"
Katie who was never one to shy away from anything smiled at Jo.
"Well to be honest Eden and I thought we should tell you about what goes on between a man and a woman so you do not get information that will scare the bloody hell out of you."
Jo laughed this was going to be fun since neither of them knew that Jensen and she had been together a couple of times and she could not wait for tomorrow night. They were going to spend their wedding night on the pirate ship making love for an entire week. That is how long they told everyone they would be gone on their honeymoon. They had been taking the supplies they would need down to the cave each morning before she was to meet with Pauline.
Jo was grateful now for all those punishments the Duke of New Cross gave her and Victor in the kitchen making them cook together. Because she was able to cook for them while they were on the ship. Their plan was to spend a lot of time in the Captains chambers and then explore all the treasure he had acquired and left in the cave and on the ship. She waited for the advice of her wiser friends.
When Katie was not able to say what she wanted to her looked at Eden with wide eye innocence and smiled at her. But she did not say anything either, but the joke was on them when after a few moments of them heeing and hawing and Eden's words to get them out of this Jo started to laugh and let them off the hook."
"Perhaps the Duchess should be telling you about this. I do know she is not a prude my father and her have been together for years. I do not think I can say those things to my little cousin."
Her laughter filled them with curiosity, and she let them in on the secret her and Jensen had already made love. She was sure she did not need any instruction since they both seemed to be quite happy with each other's talents. Once she broke the ice Eden told them about she had a list of places she wanted to make love to Nikki and some of the places they had already crossed off their list.
Katie told them that after they were married she convinced Jacob to take lessons on how to fly a hot air balloon and after they bought one they made love as they floated through the skies of England. At the end of their talk they started back to the manor when someone took another shot at Jo. Her dress was hit but today to be proper with all her guest around she wore the proper layers of clothing. They saw him run through the trees and brush and make his way out of the area. None of the girls could run after him since they were not dressed for a vigorous run. But they were able to get a glimpse of the man and gave the description to Simon. In the back of Katies mind she was sure she recognized the man but he was not close so she could not be positive.
It was the day of the wedding and they all arrived in London early so they could get ready for the ceremony. William and Michael were going to walk Pauline down the aisle. And Jo's Uncle Wayne was going to walk her down. The brides were in the bridal den waiting for the music to start. When the men came in to fetch them.
Michael and William hugged their sister. Both had tears in their eyes. They were so happy she was getting her happily ever after she deserved. While Wayne was telling Johanna how enormously proud he was of her and how brave she had been through this whole ordeal. He also told her she would have made her mother enormously proud at the man she had picked to marry. He handed her a family necklace that was supposed to have gone to Mary but before his mother gave it to her she died.
"This was to be your mothers I think she would have wanted you to have it. It was the oldest girls in the families to pass down to her daughter. Your grandmother did not want to part with it and your mother never received it, but this is rightfully yours. It was a gift made for the first Earl of Carlisle daughter whose favorite color was yellow, so he picked a priceless topaz and had this necklace made for her. Now it is yours to someday give to your oldest daughter."
Jo kissed her uncle on the cheek and then they heard the music it was time. The Abbey was filled with people all there to celebrate the love these two couples had for one another. When the women reached the men, they loved they both knew that life would never be the same, but it would be better as one big happy family.