---
Lady Alice had been quite correct. The moonlight dancing on the water was very beautiful indeed. Lord Worthington stood a few paces back, allowing Josiah to stay by the pond alone. He licked his lips, his hands going behind his back as he waited.
"Rutland."
He turned, seeing nothing but shadows.
"Thank you for coming. I cannot step out for fear of being seen. My brother is in the gardens also but ---"
"Where are you?" He cared nothing for her brother, his desire to convey to her his change of heart taking a hold of him. "Oh, Clara, I was so very wrong to dismiss your hopes of finding the truth. I am sorry for being so foolish in my response to you. I want nothing more than to try to find out the truth. If there is any hope of our connection being restored, then I cannot help but pursue it. My heart demands it."
There came a short silence. Josiah, his heart pounding, waited in the darkness.
"Oh, Rutland!"
She was there beside him the next moment, her hand on his and the other on his shoulder. Josiah breathed her in, his arms wrapping tightly around her waist, pulling her close to him as his eyes closed. It felt as if, in that single moment, all the wounds from the last few months were instantly healed, his peace returning to him and filling him completely.
"I am sorry, Clara," he murmured, fully aware that they could not be long, that they only had a few moments. "I should not have turned back from you as I did. I should not have pushed you back. I love you still."
"And I love you."
Josiah made to lower his head and kiss her but a quiet cough from nearby had her pushing back from him. He caught her fingers and would not release them, despite the warning from either Lord Worthington or Lady Alice. "Clara. What can we do? What can I do that would help us find answers?"
"My brother wrote to me --- my younger brother, Thomas." Her fingers tightened on his. "My elder brother has been in contact with him, even though he told me that he did not know where Thomas was."
Josiah frowned. "Why would he hide that from you?"
"I do not know," Clara responded, her voice a little breathless. "Oh, Rutland, I had to spoil Thomas's letter before I could finish reading it --- Tyrone came into the room and wanted to know who had written to me --- but what I did read spoke of a deep shame that came to our family. That this was the reason for the ending of our connection." She paused, and when she spoke again there was an urgency in her voice that had not been there before. "Thomas also wrote of a lady --- someone he had begun to think well of. He said our brother's actions destroyed any hope before it could take root, and that she has suffered for it more than Thomas himself."
Josiah's frown deepened. "Thomas had an attachment? To whom?"
"He did not say. But he warned me to be careful of Tyrone. He wrote that David is afraid --- and that afraid men are dangerous." Her fingers trembled in his. "There was a name in the letter, Rutland. Most of it was ruined by the tea but Alice and I could make out one word. Jennings." She drew a breath. "And I have heard that name before. At the ball, only days ago --- someone mentioned the Jennings family in passing and my brother went white as chalk. He could barely speak. He wasterrified, Rutland."
"Jennings." The name landed with a weight Josiah had not expected. "My aunt's companion is a Miss Jennings."
Clara snatched in a breath. "Your aunt's companion?"
"She came to stay with us before Christmas --- my aunt, Lady Prentis, and my three cousins. Miss Jennings was part of their household." He paused, the pieces turning in his mind. "She took her leave before Christmas Day. I thought nothing of it at the time --- she was a companion, not family, and I did not question her departure. But if Thomas spoke of a lady who suffered, and if the name in his letter was Jennings ---"
"Clara? Where are you?"
She let out a yelp of surprise and pulled her hand back. "My brother!"
"I will write to you."
"No, no." Her voice was distant now, grass rustling as she moved away. "Write to Alice. She will share all with me. Write soon, I beg you."
She was gone then. Josiah stood in the darkness, his arms still warm where she had been, his chest aching with the loss of her. Pushing his hands through his hair, he let out a slow breath just as Lord Worthington's voice reached his ears.
"Hurry now. Lord Tyrone is nearby."
Josiah nodded and moved quickly, past the fountain and across to the far side of the garden. Lord Worthington followed close behind. He stumbled, not seeing where he was going in the darkness.
"Careful now." Lord Worthington muttered, as Josiah eventually found himself back on a path that led through the garden. "You must be careful not to be seen, I think. We cannot raise Lord Tyrone's suspicions."
Josiah nodded, then blew out a long breath, a smile quickly spreading across his face. "You cannot know the joy I feel."
Lord Worthington chuckled. "It seems that your decision to pursue the truth has brought you great happiness, yes?"
