11. An Earl and His Lady Pay a Call

Early afternoon

Jack held a hand for Persephone as she stepped up and into the Castlewait coach. Despite the gloves they both wore, he felt a welcome warmth when their hands touched.

Parker closed the door behind him once he was seated next to her.

"What is it?" Persephone asked as she settled into the velvet squabs. Despite having spent only the past night with one another after so many years apart, she knew something was bothering the earl.

"Nothing. Everything." He sighed as he straightened in the squabs. "Thank you for insisting on coming with me," he added before he reached an arm behind her shoulders.

Since the hat she wore was pinned at a jaunty angle, she was able to rest her head on his shoulder. "I take it the light of day has you reconsidering what you were thinking to do in the middle of the night?"

Jack frowned. "What? If you mean that I'm not as inclined to throttle Kravets?—"

"Not that," she interrupted with a bemused expression.

His mind cycled through everything he had said whilst they had discovered the most likely ‘Lord JW' candidate. What they had talked about with Parker. What they had talked about in bed.

"Are you having second thoughts about marrying me?" Jack asked in alarm.

Persephone lifted her head from his shoulder and regarded him with surprise. "Aren't you?"

His eyes rounded. "No. I thought... well, that is, if you hadn't changed your mind, I thought that perhaps we might secure a marriage license after I'm finished with the baron."

Leaning away from Jack until her shoulder hit the coach wall, she tittered. "I haven't changed my mind," she said.

He grinned. "Good."

"Have you decided what you're going to say to the baron?"

Jack allowed a shrug. "Well, I thought I would start with admonishing him. Threaten him with bodily harm. And then, after he groveled enough, I would begrudgingly forgive him since his arrangements meant we were reunited, but in a less than optimal manner that would have happened if he hadn't been involved in his nefarious scheme in the first place." He paused as he regarded her with a questioning glance. "Does that sound reasonable?"

Persephone had a gloved hand covering her mouth as she laughed. "Poor Lord Kravets," she murmured. "His wife, Margaret, is never going to forgive him if The Tattler learns what he's done."

"Oh...," Jack breathed. "Is that possible?" he asked, his brows furrowed.

"I could mention the circumstances over afternoon tea in someone's parlor," she hinted. "One never knows who's a contributor to that rag."

He gave her a grin. "Remind me never to anger you."

"I will if I must," she teased.

After a few minutes of contemplation, Jack inhaled softly. "I'm still curious as to why Mr. Turnbridge was involved," he said absently.

"Well, you mentioned he was an inventor in need of investors," she reminded him. "Perhaps the baron saw an opportunity to make the poor man work for his money."

"Could be," Jack agreed. "Which means it's rather doubtful Turnbridge would ever speak to me again."

"He wouldn't dare, unless it's to apologize," she agreed.

The coach stuttered to a halt, and they both straightened in the squabs. When Parker opened the door, they stepped down and walked arm in arm to the front door of the Kravets townhouse.

When the butler opened the blue door, he gave a nod and stepped back.

Jack pulled a calling card from his waistcoat pocket. "Lord?—"

"Lady Castlewait," Persephone interrupted, her gloved hand held out. A white pasteboard calling card was clutched between her thumb and forefinger. "Could you let Lord Kravets know I wish to speak with him, please?"

His gaze darting between Jack and Persephone, the butler took another step back. "I'll see if he's in residence, my lady."

When the servant had disappeared through a door further into the hall, Jack whispered, "What are you doing?"

"Securing us an audience with the baron," she replied. "Although you are a very handsome man, I think Lord Kravets is more inclined to agree to see me than you."

Jack's head fell back on his neck as he guffawed. "God, she's clever, too," he whispered.

When Abraham Kravets emerged from his study, his pleasant expression faltered when he realized Persephone wasn't alone. "Lady Castlewait," he said by way of greeting, taking her gloved hand to his lips. When he straightened, he furrowed a brow when his attention went to Jack. "Lord Wilmington. Haven't seen you much of late," he said, his nervousness apparent.

"That's because I've been on the Continent, Kravets. Working for King and country and all that rot," he replied, his manner testy. "I've only been back in London for a fortnight." He arched a brow to emphasize the last word.

Kravets rocked back on his heels as his expression held a hint of fear. "A… a fortnight, you say?"

"Aye. It seems in my absence, Lord Whyte's whelp, James, has been doing dirty deeds in dark places and getting caught by whoever provides the on-dit to that damned Tattler rag," Jack stated. He turned his head in Persephone's direction and said, "Pardon the curse, my sweet."

"Oh, you're pardoned," she said brightly, her gaze darting beyond the baron to see that his baroness, Margaret, had come down the stairs. She was no doubt curious as to the identity of her husband's callers.

Jack continued his scold. "And you had the audacity to think that your daughter would have anything to do with a man old enough to be her father during a musicale at Lady Worthington's house?"

Kravets' mouth opened and shut a few times, making him appear much like a fish.

"You do realize that marrying your daughter off to a duke's son would be a far superior choice than to an earl who is old enough to be her father?" Jack went on, well aware Lady Kravets was in the hall beyond her husband, wringing her hands in front of her chest as if she feared for his life.

"Well, I hadn't because.... because everyone said you were ‘Lord JW'," Kravets finally blurted.

"Well, I am not," Jack countered, allowing his anger to show. "Do you know how upsetting this has been for my betrothed?"

"Betrothed?" the baron repeated, blinking.

"That would be me," Persephone said in a hoarse whisper. "Imagine my shock when my intended was drugged and forcibly removed from the Weatherstone ballroom last night. Why, if your henchmen hadn't mistaken my coach for yours, I would have had to hire a Bow Street Runner to find my ‘Lord JW', and then, when the banns were read for your daughter's wedding, I would have had to put voice to my objection," she claimed, her annoyance apparent. "Imagine the gossip. Imagine the scandal. There isn't a man in this town who would dare ask Honoria for her hand after that."

While Margaret let out a quiet cry of fright, Kravets audibly gulped. "I... I didn't know," he said with a shake of his head. "I swear. What must I do to make this right?"

Not expecting an offer of contrition, Persephone glanced up at Jack. He was apparently as surprised as she was.

"You... you can pay for our marriage license," Jack suggested.

Kravets looked momentarily stunned. "I'll see to it. A special license, if you'd like," he said, his eyes still round.

"You won't tell anyone, will you?" Margaret asked, rushing forward to stand next to her husband. "I had no idea what he did," she claimed, punching Kravets in the arm to punctuate her claim. "But my daughter shouldn't have to suffer for his wrongs."

Persephone reached out a gloved hand to take one of the baroness' hand. "Oh, Lady Kravets, I assure you, Honoria's honor will not suffer further from us," she said. "But I do think Lord Wilmington has the right idea with his suggestion that your daughter be betrothed to Lord James as soon as possible. That is, if you don't mind having a rake for a son-in-law."

Lady Kravets' face screwed up in a grimace before she sighed. "Well, he is a duke's son," she countered, as if his aristocratic relationship was enough to overcome the young man's reputation. "And the heir."

"Well, there is that. And he is rather handsome," Persephone added. She ignored Jack's jerk at hearing the comment, but turned to glance up at him, giving him a wink that she hoped would calm him.

When his brows furrowed, she asked, "What is it?"

"Was Honoria at the Weatherstone ball last night?" Jack asked of the baron.

"Why, yes," Kravets replied after a pause, his gaze darting to his wife. Margaret gave a quick nod of acknowledgement.

"Was she with Lord James behind a hedgerow in the gardens before the midnight supper was served?"

The baroness gasped as her eyes rounded. The baron seemed to pale. "Why... what do you know?"

Jack inhaled to answer, but it was Persephone who said, "Since the Weatherstone footmen knew of it, the editor of The Tattler is sure to know of it. The next issue comes out tomorrow, so I would suggest that if it was Honoria behind the hedgerow with Lord James?—"

"I know what to do," Kravets stated. He lifted his chin. "Let the archbishop's office know I'll pay for your license at the same time I'll be seeing to one for my daughter and Lord James," he stated. "Margaret," he turned to his wife, "Have our daughter dressed and down here in a half-hour."

The baroness curtsied and hurried up the stairs.

Persephone and Jack exchanged quick glances. "Very well," Jack murmured. "I'll see you in the next session of Parliament." He nodded as Persephone curtsied, and the two turned to take their leave. Before they were over the threshold, though, Jack paused and said, "Oh, and do be sure to fund Mr. Turnbridge's latest venture."

Kravets frowned. "I don't know what you mean," he responded.

Scowling, Jack said, "Oh, I think you do. Good day." He tipped his hat as he offered his arm to Persephone.