8. A Lady Does Her Research

Meanwhile, back at the Castlewait townhouse

Sure Jack was sound asleep, Persephone slipped from beneath the covers and crept to the mistress suite by way of the dressing room. The initials ‘JW' had already brought to mind images of three aristocrats, but they were all far too old to be engaging young ladies in dark deeds in dark alcoves. Determined to learn who else might be ‘Lord JW,' she pulled the counterpane from her bed, wrapped it about her shoulders, and crept out of the mistress suite and down the stairs to the library.

Turning up the flame on a candle lamp, she immediately went to the shelf containing a copy of Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage. Although it wasn't the most recent edition of the book of aristocrats and their families, it would do. After all, ‘Lord JW' had to be of an age old enough to engage in salacious behavior, which meant he had to have been born before eighteen-hundred. More likely, he would have been born before seventeen-ninety-five.

Helping herself to a sheet of parchment, an ink pot, and a quill from her late husband's desk, she settled herself at the library table and began paging through the book. Since the initials JW could refer to a given name or to a first name and a title, she thought to start with the W's. Excitement gripped her when she discovered the first name was a candidate.

John Wainwright, Duke of Chichester.

She was about to write his name but remembered he had died in a fire. His son John had a reputation as a rake, but he, too, had died in the same fire. The younger son, Joshua, was now the duke, but he had suffered severe burns and had sequestered himself in the ducal estate in Sussex.

Persephone moved onto another page.

Wallingham, Weatherstone, Wentworth, Wessex, Whitney, Winthorpe, Wolverhampton...Not even halfway through the book, she was becoming discouraged when she noticed that the listing for the Whytes included a James.

Lord James, son of the Duke of Whyte. Too handsome for his own good, he already had a reputation as a flirt and a libertine from his days at university. From his date of birth, he would be two-and-twenty.

In the middle of writing his name on the parchment, Persephone gave a start when she heard the faint sounds of a coach pulling into the mews behind the townhouse. That will be Parker, she thought. She put the stopper onto the ink pot, pulled the counterpane more tightly around her shoulders, and was about to make her way to the stairs when she collided with a body larger than hers.

She nearly let out a scream until she realized it was Jack who had wrapped his arms around her.

"Apologies, my sweet," he whispered hoarsely. "I didn't mean to frighten you."

Persephone inhaled softly. "I didn't mean to wake you," she said, relieved he had found a velvet robe to wear.

"You didn't. I think your driver has returned."

"He has," she affirmed. "He's been gone long enough that he must have discovered something. Are you feeling better?" she asked, raising a hand to press it against his forehead.

"Much. I think I just had to sleep it off." He gaze darted to the library. "Whatever have you been doing?" he asked. The candle lamp was still burning, so the room was partially illuminated.

"Looking for ‘Lord JW's," she replied as she steered them to the stairs.

"And?"

"It's only a possibility, but Lord James?—"

"Whyte's whelp?" he interrupted, nearly stopping on the stairs.

"Indeed. What do you know of him?"

"Handsome, rich, and a rake. He was born the day you gifted your virtue to me."

Persephone gasped. "You remember that?"

"Twenty-two years has not dulled my memory of our week together, Sephie," he whispered hoarsely as they descended the last flight of stairs.

Touched by his words, she was about to respond when Parker appeared and stopped short at the table near the base of the stairs.

"Pardon, my lady. I... I didn't mean to wake you," he said, holding up the top hat he carried. "Your hat, my lord."

"You found it!" Jack's expression conveyed stunned surprise. "Apologies, but I don't seem to have any coins on me at the moment," he added as he patted the sides of the velvet robe.

"Oh, it was my pleasure, sir. It's been a most interesting evening."

Persephone and Jack exchanged quick glances. "Oh?" she prompted.

"We may have discovered the identity of ‘Lord JW'," Jack whispered. "Do you have news?"

"Indeed," Parker said. "And I have names."

About to encourage him to continue, Persephone was prevented from doing so when Jack glanced around and lifted a finger.

"Might we move this discussion to the study?" he suggested in a quiet voice. "It appears your servant has earned a drink. Could I pour a brandy for this young man?" He turned to Parker. "You must be chilled to the bone."

The servant's eyes widened. "I… I wouldn't turn it down, sir. That is, if her ladyship doesn't mind."

"I don't mind at all." Remembering she wore only a silk robe beneath the counterpane wrapped around her shoulders, Persephone encouraged the men to precede her as they made their way to the study. Other than Bentley, no man had been in the study since Castlewait's death. She had certainly spent time in the room, though, for she had been seeing to the earldom's business for the past year.

She turned up a candle lamp but stayed in the shadows when Jack moved to the credenza behind the desk. As he saw to pouring brandy from a crystal decanter into two tumblers, he said, "Tell us what you've discovered." He lifted a glass and gave it to Parker.

"Much obliged, sir," the driver said as he took the brandy. He sniffed it, his gaze darting to Persephone. "You're sure this is all right with you, my lady?" he asked as he indicated the brandy, obviously nervous.

"Only if I'm given one as well," she replied, her attention on Jack.

He chuckled as he brought her a glass. He leaned over and dropped a kiss on her head, which had Persephone gasping softly. "Jack," she scolded.

Parker pretended not to notice the earl's overt show of affection. "I spoke with one of Weatherstone's footmen. He was most apologetic about the hat, sir," Parker began. He relayed what had happened with the hatless gentleman. "While he was inside retrieving his hat, I spoke with his driver. He told me the gent's name was Turnbridge. A business associate of Lord Kravets who was sent by the baron to see to it a drunk man was put into the Kravets coach and taken to the baron's townhouse no later than half-past-ten o'clock."

Persephone straightened in her chair while Jack merely furrowed his brows. "Elias Turnbridge?" he asked after a moment.

"I couldn't say for sure, sir. He never mentioned a Christian name."

Persephone scoffed. "So why did Lord Wilmington end up in my coach?"

Parker winced. "The coat of arms on the door of your coach is similar to that of the Kravets crest," he replied. "And Mr. Turnbridge didn't actually put his lordship into the coach. Apparently the two commoners I noticed hanging about the bushes were lackeys of the baron. They were the ones who put you into her ladyship's coach," he explained as he turned to Jack.

The earl's attention was on Persephone, though. "You mentioned Kravets had a daughter who was caught kissing in an alcove at Worthington House," he prompted.

"Honoria," she said, remembering the young lady's name. "According to The Tattler," she added. She took a sip of the brandy and closed her eyes as the warm liquid slid down her throat. "I suppose Kravets expected to kidnap you as a means to force a marriage to her."

"Well, that wasn't going to happen," Jack groused. He turned his attention back on Parker. "Did Kravets' driver suspect anything?"

"No, sir. I pretended her ladyship was still inside the Weatherstone house, and I even waited until they were well on their way before I returned here. To keep up the ruse."

"Good thinking. What about Turnbridge?"

Parker shrugged. "He seemed most concerned about what Baron Kravets would do to him. He fears him, I think. Said the baron would be livid if he returned without you."

"Who is this Turnbridge?" Persephone asked, sure she hadn't heard the name mentioned before.

"He's an inventor," Jack stated. "Always looking for someone to back his latest venture." He cursed under his breath. "He was with me at the punchbowl. Speaking to me about some sort of steam-powered invention. He was looking for investors. I pretended interest if only because I've been away from England so long, I wished to learn what I'd missed," he added with a shake of his head.

"He must have put a sleeping powder in your punch, sir," Parker said. "Which is why he has to be wondering how ‘Lord JW' was able to ravish another young lady behind a hedgerow in the Weatherstone gardens later in the evening."

Jack and Persephone stared at the driver. "What's this?" Jack asked.

"When I was making conversation with the footman, he mentioned there had been an incident right before the midnight supper was announced. ‘Lord JW' was caught kissing a young lady behind a hedgerow," he repeated. "Said he was a rake and that he'd been caught with a number of young ladies since his return from his Grand Tour, which means that ‘Lord JW' has to be younger than you, sir." He paused a moment. "No offense, sir."

Throwing his head back, Jack guffawed. "I've a mind to take Lord James with me when I pay a call on Lord Kravets tomorrow," he said before he drained his brandy. "Maybe the duke, too."

"You're going to confront Kravets?" Persephone asked, stunned by his words.

"I am," he affirmed. "Might Mr. Parker be allowed to drive me in the afternoon? I rather imagine I'm going to be abed well past twelve," he said as his eyes darted to the clock on the fireplace mantel.

"I'm going with you," Persephone announced.

Jack blinked before he regarded her with an assessing glance. "If you're sure," he said.

"Oh, I'm sure," she replied. "Mr. Parker, I shall see to it there's something extra in your pay this month for all your trouble."

"Why, thank you, my lady. I didn't mind doing it at all."

"Well, don't be getting any ideas about becoming a Bow Street Runner," Jack remarked. "This household can already boast a former spy."

Parker's eyes rounded. "Sir?"

Persephone inhaled softly, but she didn't say anything as Jack raised his empty glass to the driver. "I am retired, and I am ready to resume my duties as an earl," he said before setting the glass on the salver behind the desk. "After I get a good night's sleep."

"Yes, sir," Parker said, doing the same with his glass. "My lady," he said. He bowed and took his leave of the study.

Persephone made no move to rise from her chair, deciding she should wait until Parker had made it down the corridor and up the servants' stairs to his quarters. "A good night's sleep?" she repeated softly.

Jack moved to stand before her and then bent to lift her from the chair. "Eventually," he whispered. He kissed her forehead and then wrapped his ams around her shoulders. "After I've done to you what I've been accused of doing to others these past few weeks."

Persephone glanced up at him, the heat at her core due to more than just the brandy. "I look forward to it," she whispered.

After several minutes of kissing, the two returned to the master suite.