Chapter Twenty-Seven

L inc knocked on Arthurs study door. Opening a passage between their homes had proven a brilliant choice. He certainly enjoyed being able to move freely between the houses when he wanted to find Arthur, and he knew Arthur felt much the same way.

Come in.

Linc walked in to Arthurs study and found the man in question sitting at his desk. Hello.

Well, hello there. Arthur smiled at him.

Linc cocked his head to the side. Have you heard from Jo?

Arthur shook his head. I have not, but the confrontation only happened yesterday. I really had wanted to be present for that. He frowned.

As did I, but she is rather headstrong. Lincs heart thudded in his chest as he thought of their Wood Sprite. He loved her rebellious ways. After all, that is what had brought her into their lives. Needless to say, Im worried we havent heard from her since then. As we agreed before, I dont see that man letting this go. I know you watched from the street the first night for quite a while. Its too bad we waited to call in reinforcements.

Yes, we should have called everyone when the bastard switched the staff on her. At least everyone will be here this afternoon so we can set up some kind of watch on her house. Lets pay her a visit. Just to make sure all is well. Arthur stood from his desk.

Thats what I was considering as well. Linc nodded.

A short while later, they were standing on Jos front stoop. The door was opened by Bell, her original butler. The man looked at them but darted a glance back over his shoulder.

Lincs gut tightened.

Good day, my lords.

Good day, Bell. We are here to see Lady Whitestone, Arthur announced, almost as formally as Bell had greeted them.

Linc stepped to the right a tad and tried to lean against the portico wall. As he did so, he could see a man dressed in dark, rough clothing lurking behind Bell.

I-Im afraid Lady Whitestone is not at home to visitors at the moment.

Arthur squinted, as though confused. Which made sense. Jo was never not at home to them now they had returned to their understanding.

Linc was sure Arthur couldnt see the man lurking. Yes, well, please let her know that we stopped by. He grabbed Arthur by the arm and dragged him away as he sputtered in confusion. Once in their carriage, he turned to him. There was a man who did not belong skulking in the shadows behind Bell. Once again, something is very wrong in that house.

Well, bloody hell! Why didnt we just storm in there then? Arthur growled as he reached for the door of the carriage.

Linc pulled him back into the seat. And if they are holding her at gunpoint? Her, and Matthew? Then what happens if we burst in there?

Arthur sighed. Youre right. We need to understand what is going on and have a bloody plan.

Exactly. At least everyone is coming by this afternoon. We can discuss our options then.

Jo sat in her bedchamber writing a note to send to Arthur and Linc. She needed their help now. This was, without a doubt, a situation she could not handle on her own. At the very least, she needed a place to hide.

She laid out all that had happened since dinner last night, down to Bernards threat to kill his wife and marry her, though he had been quite clear that was a last resort, as he found her so distasteful. Jo shuddered. After all, the feeling was mutual.

She folded it up and pressed the note into Olivias hands. Now, you must be careful. I do not, under any circumstances, want you hurt for helping me.

Those brutish bastards have taken over everywhere. We all want them gone and will help anyway we can. Her ladys maid cast a quick glance at the door then shoved the note down the front of her gown and into her corset.

Thank you, Olivia. Jo embraced her but stepped back just as Bernard walked in.

Get out, he snarled as he strode in. Get out and close the damned door behind you.

Jo shrank back in genuine fear as Olivia scampered out of the room with a worried glance her way.

Why do you insist on associating with such lowbrow trash as those Lustful Lords? Bernard grated out. Ive told you, Josephine , keeping company with the likes of those reprobates looks bad on the whole family.

I dont know who you mean. Jo straightened her spine, unwilling to cower before this man.

His arm raised up and then the sound of flesh meeting flesh cracked into the silence a moment before heat and pain bloomed on her left cheek.

You bloody bastard!

Thats the least of what Ill do to you and to that little bastard of yours. Is he even of my brothers loins? Bernard had a fearsome snarl on his face as he took a step closer to her. Then he reached out and spun her around toward her little writing desk. Those two bounders, Dunmere and Lincolnshire, have come to visit for the last time. I want you to write them a note explaining you have no desire to see them ever again. Cut ties with them, or you and your brat will regret it.

Face throbbing from where he had slapped her, Jo began drafting the required note. She wrote the words he dictated in the most awkward and formal manner she could manage.

They loved her. They would read it and understand. That, and her secret note would hopefully arrive not long after they received this one.

Arthur and Linc sat with Lords Stonemere, Brougham, Wolfington, Flintshire, and Portridge, although the latter still preferred to go by Lucifer.

Gentlemen, thank you for coming on such short notice. Arthur looked at each of them in turn before continuing. Linc and I cannot tell you how much your support means to us.

Stone nodded. Weve all been in your shoes at one time or another.

Still, our situation is unique because we have so little information, Linc picked up the conversation. Today, when we stopped by to check on Jo, we found a rather strange situation. Her butler wouldnt let us in, which is unusual. I noticed a suspicious sort lurked in the shadows behind him. I couldnt get a good look at the man, but he seemed to hover close to Bell as though to ensure he said nothing he shouldnt.

You didnt see or hear anything else? Wolf asked.

That was it. As I said, we dont have a lot to go on. Linc shrugged one shoulder.

A knock sounded and Harris entered the front salon. My lord, two letters have come for you from Lady Whitestone.

Two? Arthur was surprised, but waved Harris over. Thank you.

He opened the first letter, breaking the Whitestone seal.

Dear Lords Dunmere and Lincolnshire,

I find myself rather unfortunately indisposed for the long term. It will be best for all parties involved if we remove ourselves from each others orbits. I do hope you both will understand the need for this permanent parting of the ways.

With all sincerity,

Lady Josephine Marie Whitestone

Arthur snorted, finding the whole bit of correspondence contrived. He handed it to Linc. Someone made her write this. I dont believe a word of what she says.

Linc took it from him and read. At the end, he snorted in turn. Most definitely either forced to write it or someone has attempted to write it on her behalf. Though it appears to be her handwriting.

Agreed. It is her penmanship. I wonder what the second note says? Arthur opened the second piece of correspondence.

My dearest Arthur and Linc,

Last evening Bernard burst into my home with the assistance of four brutal men. They have been hired to safeguard me. They are of course, simply put, my jailers. Bernard has threatenedthough I am still not convinced of his veracityto dispose of his wife and marry me should I continue to prove difficultthough I believe that was merely a threat to gain my compliance.

I am confident I can escape out of my window with Matthew in tow, but once away from here, we shall need a place to hide. I trust one or both of you can assist me with this. I shall make my escape tonight while the household sleeps. I hope to see you soon.

All my love,

Jo

Bloody hell! Arthur passed the note to Linc. There are four men working for Lord Downs and acting as guards, and so Jo has determined she will escape out her window tonight. We shall need to be there to help her slip away. The bastard has threatened to get rid of his wife and force Jo to marry him!

Linc balled the letter up. That bloody blighter needs to be dealt with.

I could call on enough men to overpower her guards and rescue the both of them, if that is what you wish to do, Lucifer offered casually as he lounged in his chair. The mans calm coolness had a deadly air about it. There is, of course, some risk of her or the boy being injured with that approach. But you would have the power to determine how you would like things to be resolved with the men in question.

Do you believe she can effect an escape out her window as she suggests? Wolf asked carefully.

I have no doubt she will escape. The problem is, I do not know if she can make it happen on her own with Matthews arm still in a cast. We need to be there to help her. Arthur sighed. I suspect that if the men Lord Downs has hired are at all well trained, they will walk the grounds periodically. We should have someone watching to see if we can determine any schedule they may be keeping.

I can take the first shift. Brougham rose to his feet. Ill head over now, and you can send someone to relieve me in a few hours. By tonight, we should have a clear picture of their movements.

Thank you, Cooper. Linc nodded as their friend departed. I believe once we have Jo and Matthew ensconced here, we may need some additional support to protect her.

Ill have my men cover that, Lucifer offered. That will leave the rest of you free to move about as needed to handle Lord Downs.

Excellent, Arthur nodded. I think we have a plan.

It felt good to have his friends come to his and Lincs aid this way. He of course knew they would do so, but knowing a thing and seeing a thing is true is a very different experience. Particularly when it came to the unflinching loyalty of ones friends.

Hed been such a fool as a younger man, thinking the men hed caroused with were his friends. These men here in this room were his genuine friends.

Now they just needed to rescue his and Lincs woman.