Chapter 9

A s Jo sat in the coach with her parents on the way to Henlow House for the betrothal ball, she couldn't help thinking how strange this had all become. She'd never thought she would be betrothed, and certainly not to an earl with all the Society trappings that accompanied that. And she'd never, ever imagined her parents together for a social event as they were this evening.

She had no idea what to expect next, except the unexpected.

"I know I've already complimented your gown, but it really is stunning," Jo's father said from the rear-facing seat. "The fabric is so unique, and the design is beautifully original. I love the simple elegance of the style. Fussy flounces don't suit you. Everyone will be watching you tonight, as if they weren't going to be already," he added with a low chuckle.

Jo hated that she would be the center of attention, but it was just for one night. "Thank you, Papa."

The coach stopped in front of Henlow House, one of the largest homes in Grosvenor Square. The door opened, and a footman in the Henlow livery helped Jo down and then her mother. When her father stood on the pavement, they made their way to the front door, which was held open by another footman.

They'd arrived early in order to position themselves in the receiving line so attendees could be sure to greet the betrothed couple. Jo anticipated an ache in her cheeks from smiling too much and hoped refreshment would be accessible as her mouth was likely to become dry from talking.

The butler welcomed them and showed them to the drawing room on the first floor. The duchess was the only person present.

Dressed in a lavender gown trimmed in mulberry, Sheff's mother appeared cool and serene, her narrow lips pressed together, and her hands clasped before her. "Good evening," she said. "I expect Shefford any moment." Her gaze moved over them, starting with Jo's mother on Jo's left, then sliding to Jo, then fixing on her father. The duchess's eyes narrowed for the barest moment, and color rose in her cheeks.

Did she know Jo's father?

Jo glanced at him to see his reaction, but there was none. He smiled benignly as he looked about the room.

"Your décor is so very tasteful and elegant, Your Grace."

"Thank you," she replied, her voice tight. Jo couldn't tell if that was still a reaction to her father or simply the way the duchess sounded. Her tone had been much the same the other day when they'd been on Bond Street.

The duchess returned her focus to Jo. "The gown is spectacular. It was a very good choice. And I'm pleased to see your hair looks fashionable. I'm glad you are wearing the combs I loaned you."

Jo hadn't really wanted to use the duchess's diamond-encrusted combs, but she wanted to quibble over it even less. Besides, wearing them would send a message that she was endorsed by Sheff's mother, and since Jo hadn't been certain that was the case, she'd taken it as a positive sign.

"Thank you, Your Grace," Jo replied. "I appreciate you lending them to me. I'll return them tomorrow."

"That would be acceptable," the duchess said. Her brow creased, and her brows pitched low over her eyes, making her appear rather distressed. "What is not acceptable is the reason for your missing the ball the other night. You said you were otherwise engaged."

"Actually, I said that," Jo's mother interjected.

The duchess sent Jo's mother a withering stare before looking back to Jo. "I have come to learn that you were working at that gaming club. You must cease doing so immediately."

Jo heard her mother's sharp intake of breath just as her own belly somersaulted. But it was her father who spoke. He took a step toward the duchess and summoned his most charming smile. "My dear duchess, let us not speak of such matters tonight when we are celebrating such a glorious occasion—the joining of our two families."

The duchess's eyes nearly popped out of her face. It was almost comical, in fact, despite there being nothing amusing about this conversation. Jo appreciated her father's efforts, but felt certain the duchess hadn't considered a union between her son and Jo to be a joining of their families. No, she would hope to never encounter the Harkers ever again, especially the woman who owned a gaming club.

Sheff strolled in then, his features set in a pleasant smile that seemed to crack as soon as he looked at them. "Good evening," he said robustly. "I'm sorry I'm running late. One of my coaching horses picked up a pebble. I had to take a hack."

"I'm just glad you are finally here," the duchess murmured, her expression settling into one of mild irritation instead of raging anger. "You must ensure your betrothed understands that she can no longer work in that gaming club." She turned her attention back to Jo and her parents. "We will stand in the receiving line for at least an hour, at which time I will assess whether we need to continue. I would estimate it may be closer to two hours. If you would like a drink before we move to our places, Percy, our butler, will make sure you have it."

The duchess swept from the room, leaving the four of them to stare after her. Jo's father went to shake Sheff's hand.

Jo's mother leaned toward her and whispered, "I'm so relieved this betrothal is fake. I fear the duchess will make any woman who is foolish enough to wed her son quite miserable."

"Do you think she knows Papa?" Jo whispered back. "I had the sense she recognized him. But then, you've also met her before."

"Mmm, yes."

Jo was beginning to grow frustrated with her mother's vague responses on this issue. "You said it wasn't an interesting story, but I should like to know how you all know one another."

"Why?" Jo's mother shrugged. "We met years ago, and as you can see, we did not become friendly. Indeed, we've had no reason to cross paths since. And this confluence will, thankfully, be temporary."

Before Jo could query her further, her mother went on to say, "Don't let Shefford talk you into not working at the club."

Jo bristled. "I wouldn't let him talk me into anything."

"You went along with this ridiculous faux betrothal," her mother noted, making Jo bristle even more. "You should also inform him that no one is going to believe this is a love match if he continues to visit the Rogue's Den. He's been there multiple times since your ‘betrothal.'"

"I don't care if he goes there." Except Jo felt a peculiar twist in her gut upon learning this information.

"Of course not, but if you were actually betrothed and in love with him, you sure as hell would."

"What are you two whispering about over there?" Jo's father asked pleasantly.

"Boring things that ladies discuss," Jo's mother replied.

Jo's father smiled wickedly. "Now, you know I don't find any of that boring. And I daresay my future son-in-law doesn't either." He clapped Sheff on the shoulder.

Sheff looked at Jo. "Shall we adjourn to the antechamber to the ballroom?" He moved to Jo and offered her his arm.

Placing her hand on his sleeve, Jo ignored the jolt of heat that shot through her, disrupting the knot that had formed with her mother's mention of the Rogue's Den. She glanced back at her mother just as her father offered her his arm, but she did not take it. Rather, she glowered at him and started after Jo and Sheff.

Jo did not mind if they didn't appear to be happily together just so long as they were both here. Sheff's parents wouldn't appear to be happily together either. "Will your father be joining us in the receiving line?" Jo asked.

"I think so?" Sheff lifted a shoulder. "One can never know what my father will do. To be honest, I'm not even sure he's here."

But there he was, handsome and striking in his dark blue ensemble accented with an embroidered gold waistcoat. He didn't look like a man whose son had to constantly rescue him from potentially embarrassing situations.

He stood next to the duchess, who rather looked as if she preferred to catch on fire than be in his proximity. Indeed, she directed everyone where to stand, and she put him at the start while positioning herself at the end of the line. Jo wanted to point out that her parents didn't have to be separated, that they were mature enough to stand next to each other for a whole two hours.

The duchess had put Jo's father next to the duke, then Jo's mother, then Jo, and then Sheff who had the great pleasure of his mother's direct company for the duration. Jo felt a little sorry for him. She would rather have stood next to his father than his mother. In that moment, she realized that both of Sheff's parents were difficult, that he'd grown up with a very different sense of family than Jo had.

Though her parents had lived apart, they both loved her, and she never doubted that they wanted her happiness above all. Indeed, they'd come together to support her in this endeavor, and that alone showed how much they cared.

Guests began to arrive, and time passed quickly, for which Jo was most grateful. The best parts of the reception were when her friends showed up. She'd been thrilled to greet Gwen and her husband, Somerton, as well as Tamsin and her austere husband, Droxford. Jo went out of her way to coax a smile from him. Gwen's brother, Evan, arrived with their parents, and Jo enjoyed speaking with them.

The awkward moments, however, far exceeded the pleasant, as there were many gentlemen whom Jo knew from the Siren's Call. She'd seen a number of them roaringly drunk and even a few in tears as they'd lost great sums. A few others couldn't meet her gaze as they'd once attempted a flirtation with her that she'd batted away with the efficiency of swatting a fly.

It wasn't that she didn't flirt—innocently—with gentlemen. Except, when she really thought about it, she didn't behave with anyone the way she did with Sheff. It was clear she was battling an attraction to him. But had she always felt drawn to him, or was this a new sensation brought on by their fake betrothal? She hadn't ever thought about it, and now she was consumed with trying to determine the origin.

Then she needed to squash it as she would a fly.

The receiving line dispersed, and the duchess directed Jo and Sheff to the dance floor, where they would lead the ball with a waltz. Jo knew her mother planned to leave as soon as the receiving line was finished. Their eyes met, and Jo gave her a nod. Her mother blew her a kiss and then departed.

Jo's father planned to stay until the bitter end of the festivities. Or so he'd said with a gleeful cackle.

Taking Sheff's arm, Jo walked with him into the ballroom, where the majordomo announced them. There was applause, and Jo felt the attention of every person in the massive space, which looked more like an oblong gallery than a ballroom, but what did she know?

The candles in the chandeliers had to number nearly a thousand, their light flickering in the mirrors that lined one wall. Windows cloaked with ivory damask lined the opposite wall, and there were two sets of doors that led out onto a balcony. Though the evening was cool, the doors were open to let in the air. Soon, the ballroom would be sweltering.

Sheff guided her to the center of the dance floor and took her into his arms for the waltz. "Are you ready?" he asked softly, a hint of mischief in his gaze.

Jo arched a brow at him. "Are you ready for your feet to be mangled?"

He laughed. "You learned the dance quite well by the time we finished last week. I have no concerns for the state of my feet this evening."

"I hope you don't overestimate my abilities. Give me a moment or two to settle into the rhythm." The music started before she finished speaking, and he swept her into the dance.

Jo focused on counting and moving her feet and was surprised at how much easier it was this time. "This isn't so bad."

"Not at all. You are a natural." His hand pressed into her back, sending a pleasant, dizzying sensation up her spine.

Other couples moved onto the dance floor, and they were no longer alone. This helped Jo relax even more. She was soon waltzing without counting.

That allowed her mind to turn to what her mother had said about Sheff visiting the Rogue's Den. Jo considered bringing it up; however, she wasn't going to demand things of him, even if her mother had made a good point about appearances. What Sheff did was none of her business, not even in a fake betrothal. He only had to follow her rules, and, so far, he'd done a reasonably good job, the proposal kiss notwithstanding.

There had also been the kiss he'd pressed to her wrist at the park—after tackling her and holding her in a rather intimate position. Both of those activities had technically violated her rule, but she hadn't complained. Because she hadn't minded either one of them.

And now his hands were currently on her, his body so close to hers that she could smell his scent of pine and sandalwood. Not only did she not mind, she was enjoying the dance.

He spoke, and she was grateful for the interruption to her troubling thoughts. "I want you to know that I have no intention of convincing you to stop working at the Siren's Call. That was not part of our arrangement, and I would not change the rules now."

Jo was glad to hear that neither one of them wished to dictate to the other. "Does that mean if you could go back and make a rule that I don't work there, you would?" she teased.

He grinned. "I am fairly certain you would have declined my offer."

"You are correct. I can't stop working, particularly now because my mother is preparing to be away from London for a time, and I am taking on more responsibility."

His brow furrowed. "This can't be a good time for you to be away from the club several nights a week."

"Which is a primary reason I asked that I only have to attend two social events per week. Your mother did tell me that invitations would come pouring in after tonight, and that I would need to accept most of them." Jo shook her head. "There is no way I'm doing that. Your mother won't be pleased—about that or my continuing to work at the Siren's Call."

He shrugged as if it weren't a problem at all. "We'll manage it."

"‘We'll'?" Jo asked, slightly annoyed by his cavalier attitude. " You will manage her. I do not want to put up with her snide comments or judgmental glowers."

"She can't have been that bad," he said as they moved across the floor.

"Why would you say that?" Jo blinked at him, somewhat incredulous at his obtuseness. "When you have initiated an elaborate scheme—at no small expense—to avoid her cheerful encouragement of your participation in the Marriage Mart," she remarked with considerable sarcasm.

Sheff stepped wrong, and his foot came down on her toe.

"Ow!" She winced as pain shot up her foot.

"Sorry!" He clenched his jaw. "For the foot and my mother. I didn't realize she was being that awful."

"I can only hope that I won't have to endure her company after tonight."

"You won't," he said quickly. And firmly. "I promise."

The music ended, and Sheff escorted her from the floor. Jo couldn't shake the bead of irritation that had worked its way into her mind after his reaction to his mother's meddling and obnoxious attitude. She could only hope that he would keep his promise. She wasn't sure he could in the face of his mother's demanding nature.

Jo caught sight of the duchess standing nearby and immediately extricated herself from Sheff, saying she needed to speak with her friends. Then she stalked off with no idea of where to even find them.

Thankfully, Min located her. "Jo, I'm sorry I didn't see you before the ball." She looped her arm through Jo's. "My mother insisted I oversee the final placement of some flowers." She rolled her eyes. "Come and have a respite with us. You must want some lemonade."

What Jo really wanted was a large tankard of ale. Alas, that was not available. She settled for the lemonade, which they plucked from a table on their way to the relatively quiet corner where Tamsin, Gwen, and Ellis stood together.

Jo hadn't had time to see Gwen this week to tell her about the "marriage of convenience." She'd informed Tamsin when they'd gone to the park together.

"Here is the bride!" Tamsin said with a smile as Jo approached.

Jo removed her arm from Min's and took a long drink of lemonade.

"During the waltz, we told Gwen about it being a marriage of convenience," Min said softly.

Gwen gave her a supportive smile. "I understand you've been busy. And I have not been entirely available due to my recent marriage and the wound in my arm. I'm feeling much better now, especially since I don't have to wear the silly sling any longer. I'm clumsy enough without making one arm unusable!" She laughed, and they joined with her.

A few days before she wed, Gwen had been shot by an angry mother who'd wanted Somerton to marry her daughter instead of Gwen. It was an incredible tale, but the truth had been kept quiet to keep the mother from being arrested. Everyone thought a book had fallen on Gwen, which, given her deep love of reading and persistent clumsiness, was completely believable.

"Is the marriage truly in name only?" Gwen asked. "Is there any hope it might turn out like Tamsin's?"

Though Jo hadn't known them when Tamsin and the baron had become betrothed, she'd heard the story. A compromising situation had prompted Droxford to propose. Tamsin had accepted, despite them not having any feelings for one another or even discussing their expectations for the marriage. They were fortunate in that they fell deeply in love. Their marriage was most enviable—if a love match was the objective.

Jo shook her head in response to Gwen's question. "Sheff and I will not be falling in love. We have specific rules for navigating this union." How she longed to tell them the truth!

"Perhaps you'll change your mind," Tamsin said with a shrug. "You never know what may happen."

Jo knew enough to not only avoid an actual marriage—even in name only—to Sheff but to avoid any attachments whatsoever. And not just to him. This ruse had shown her how lucky she was to have avoided marriage and how she must continue to do so. The idea of a mother-in-law even half as demanding as the duchess was enough to make a young lady of marriageable age run screaming for the remote Highlands of Scotland.

"Just be sure not to kiss him then," Gwen said with a laugh. "I'm teasing. Of course you won't."

But she had kissed him. And it had been shockingly delightful. So much so that Jo thought of it often and imagined what a longer, deeper kiss with Sheff might be like. Or if he caressed her. It had been hard not to imagine his hands exploring intimate parts of her body when he'd held her in the waltz.

"Honestly, I am starting to reconsider this marriage," Jo said, tiptoeing as close to revealing the truth as she dared.

"Did Sheff do something?" Min asked.

"Actually, no. It's your mother. I'm afraid she is…domineering."

Min exhaled, her eyes closing briefly. "I assume she said something awful before the ball when you assembled in the drawing room?"

"She insisted I stop working at the Siren's Call." Jo made a sound of disgust in her throat. "Sheff is going to manage her. He's promised I won't have to engage with her very much after tonight."

"Well, except for the part where you're married to her son for eternity," Tamsin said with a grimace.

Thank goodness that wasn't actually happening.

Min looked at Jo with sympathy. "I hope that's the case. She will not be happy that you continue to work at the club. And really, how can you continue to work there and be married?"

Jo wanted to answer that it was her livelihood, that her mother would have to replace her, that she was beholden to the Siren's Call and her mother's plans for the future. But she couldn't say any of that. "Since we aren't marrying immediately, I have time to decide what I will do. In the near term, however, I must continue with my work. My mother is traveling to Weston in July and will be gone at least a couple of months. There is no time to train anyone new."

There probably was, but Jo wasn't going to leave the Siren's Call to marry Sheff. If she did leave, it would be to follow her own dreams.

"Your mother will be in Weston in August?" Tamsin asked excitedly. "That's when we'll be there. You must come too!"

"That won't be possible," Jo said, ignoring the disappointment sweeping through her like an icy wind. "I'll need to be here overseeing the Siren's Call."

Not just in August, but forever. Her mother would be relinquishing more and more of her responsibility, which meant Jo would take on more and more. There would be no trips to the seaside with friends.

The reality of being tied to the club settled into Jo's brain and crept down her spine. It sent tendrils of anxiety and even dread through her belly and into her extremities until she felt as though she needed to sit down. She really wished she had that ale.

"Are you all right, Jo?" Ellis asked. "You look pale."

"I think I just need to visit the retiring room."

Ellis moved toward her. "Come with me."

Jo followed Ellis to the nearest doorway and into another room. "Thank you for showing me. I'm not sure I would be able to find the retiring room."

"I'm not taking you there," Ellis said. "Wouldn't you prefer to be alone?"

"Yes, thank you." Relief rushed through Jo, and she considered hugging Ellis. She recalled what Sheff had told her about Ellis's parentage and wished she didn't know. Not that she planned to say anything. She only hoped that Ellis wasn't unhappy about her place in this household. Perhaps she would be interested in coming to work at the Siren's Call.

Jo finished her lemonade and deposited the glass on a footman's tray as she left the ballroom with Ellis.

"There's a quiet sitting room downstairs," Ellis said. "I like to read there in the mornings. The light is lovely." She led Jo down to the ground floor.

"How did you know I wanted to be alone?" Jo asked as they descended the stairs.

"You just seemed to fade, like a flower closing at sunset," Ellis said, taking her into a small chamber at the back of the house. There was a bay window with a cozy seat.

"That does look like the perfect place to read," Jo said. "Thank you for bringing me here."

"Take all the time you need." Ellis gave her a warm look but didn't smile.

"I shouldn't be gone long. People will be looking for me." Jo would have liked to just leave. She'd done the receiving line, and she'd waltzed with her fake betrothed. What more could be expected of her?

One of Ellis's shoulders rose. "Probably. Take your time anyway. It's not as if you have to put up with this for very long. I do hope Sheff is paying you enough for your effort."

Jo narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"I may be wrong, but I don't believe for a moment that you plan to marry Sheff—for the sake of convenience or any other reason. Unless you need to marry him, which I don't think you do. Sheff needs to wed. It's his duty. You can enjoy your independence for as long as you like. Forever." There was a wistful quality to her voice.

"Is that what you want?" Jo asked softly.

"Yes, but I don't have reliable employment like you do. I've no idea how much revenue the Siren's Call earns, but your mother seems to do well. Your future appears secure. Is that not the case?" She blinked at Jo. "Do you need to marry Sheff?"

"No, I do not. And you're right—I am not going to." Goodness, but it felt wonderful to be completely honest. "I'm so glad you guessed the truth. I've hated lying to all of you, but Sheff said it was necessary to keep his mother from learning the truth."

Ellis gave her a knowing nod. "I completely understand. I am curious why you agreed to that when, as I pointed out, your future is secure."

"Because I'm not sure I want that future." Jo whispered the answer, her limbs quivering as she finally gave voice to her thoughts and hesitation.

Ellis touched her forearm, and a gentle smile lifted her mouth. "What is it you want?"

"I'm not entirely sure. I just don't enjoy running the club the way my mother does. She works so much and so hard. She's only recently begun to take time for herself. I was quite shocked when she told me she was going to Weston." Jo cocked her head, curious about Ellis since she seemed to be so aware of Jo's disquiet. "What do you want?"

"Security," Ellis said almost before Jo finished asking the question.

"I don't suppose you're interested in running the Siren's Call?" Jo asked with a laugh.

Ellis studied her a moment, and Jo thought she was perhaps actually considering it. "I don't know that my talents lie in running a business of that nature, but I could probably do the accounting and management. I'd like to be a secretary. However, there are precious few positions of that nature available to women."

"I know you sometimes dress as a man to walk about town on your own," Jo said. "Have you considered doing that to work as a secretary?" Although, it might be difficult to convince an employer that she was a man, for Ellis was rather pretty.

"I have, actually." Ellis chuckled. "But I daresay it wouldn't work for long. The prospect of binding my breasts every day is fairly distasteful. Still, I may not have a choice. When Min marries, and, like her brother, she must, I must find my own way. The duchess will not allow me to stay in her household without Min as my excuse for being here."

"How is Min your excuse? Because you're her companion?"

Ellis nodded. "That is how the duke convinced the duchess to let me join the household. Once Min is gone, I will be too. I can't expect Min to take me with her." Her lips curled into a wry smile.

"That's so unfair. Surely the duke won't allow you to be on your own without support, not after he took you in. Sheff told me how he welcomed you after your parents died." Jo hoped she hadn't said too much in case Ellis didn't know the truth of her parentage. Though they were exchanging confidences, Jo wouldn't be the one to reveal a secret that wasn't known—not one of that magnitude.

"Henlow might try to help me, but I'm not sure he'd set me up in a household or anything. That would generate gossip that would upset his wife, and he won't do that. Furthermore, I don't want that. Because of his reputation, people would assume I am his illegitimate daughter, and I am not ."

She wasn't? Or she didn't believe herself to be? Jo didn't ask because she didn't want to reveal what Sheff had told her. But now she was perplexed. Not that any of it was her business. "Well, I am here to support and help you if I can. Do think about working at the Siren's Call. I will be taking over its management at some point, and I appreciate competent, intelligent employees."

"I will keep that in mind," Ellis said warmly. "I confess I wouldn't want to join Min's household after she wed. I'd much prefer to find my own way."

Jo felt a strong affinity for Ellis in that moment. "I deeply understand that."

Ellis gave Jo a quick survey. "You look as though you're feeling better. Do you want to come back to the ball with me?"

"I think I'll take just a few minutes alone," Jo replied. "Thank you again."

"Take your time," she repeated before turning and leaving the sitting room, closing the door behind her so that Jo was truly alone.

How long could she linger before she would be missed?