"Devon."
Josiah's stomach threw itself upwards and then landed back in his frame again.
"I do not know where exactly," Lord Prentis sighed, looking over his shoulder, craning his neck so he might spy the footman with the whisky. "Nor do I know the specifics of why she quit my mother's employment so quickly."
"Employment?" Josiah frowned. "She was in a paid position, then, as opposed to being some poor relation?"
"Whisky!" Lord Prentis bellowed, ignoring Josiah. "Where did it go, man? Bring it here at once."
The poor footman, red in the face, scurried off at once to fetch Lord Prentis his whisky and Josiah felt his time growing short.
"Was Miss Jennings paid, then?" he asked again, as Lord Prentis turned back to face him. "Or was she merely a poor relation?"
Lord Prentis sighed heavily, closed his eyes and then rubbed one hand over his forehead. "I do not think that she was our poor relation, no. My mother employed her shortly after my father's death and they did do very well together. My mother thought very highly of her, I know that well enough."
"Which would make it very strange indeed that she disappeared so quickly, would it not?" Josiah pressed. "Unless itwas that she had someone else to go to on Christmas Day? From what I recall, I did state that she was very welcome to remain."
"I do not know, I do not know!" Lord Prentis sighed and rolled his eyes before throwing his head back and resting it against the head of the chair. "I do not like such questions."
"You were angry before, when I mentioned the lady," Josiah said, prodding his cousin gently with his questions. "Why was that?" He was quietly convinced that Lord Prentis did know more about Miss Jennings than he was willing to admit, even in this inebriated state. "What was it she did?"
There came a long, pronounced silence that stretched on for such a long time, Josiah wanted to break it on more than one occasion. Every time he thought to open his mouth, however, he would catch Lord Worthington's eye and his friend would shake his head, demanding yet more silence. At one point, Josiah was quite sure that Lord Prentis had fallen asleep given the state of him!
"Whisky, my lord?"
Lord Prentis's eyes flew open but Josiah stood first, reaching out for it. "I will take it, I thank you."
"That... that is mine!" Lord Prentis tried to stand but his strength was not sufficient, meaning that he could only flail wildly. "That is the second time --- nay, the third! --- that I have called for whisky and had it taken from me."
Josiah did not correct his cousin. "Tell me, Prentis. What was it that Miss Jennings did that angered you so?" He held up the whisky. "You can have this once I hear from you."
A groan ripped from Lord Prentis's lips, his expression growing dark. "I do not know exactly."
"I do not believe you."
Letting out a cry of frustration, Lord Prentis rolled his eyes. "I do not know! I can assure you that I have no knowledge of what it was specifically. All I know is that she betrayed ourfamily in one way or another and deeply upset my mother. I was glad to see her gone, truth be told."
Letting his cousin's words settle, Josiah considered this for a few moments but did not hand over the whisky. "You know this because you overheard the conversation?"
"It is all my mother would tell me." Lord Prentis half pushed himself out of his chair and made to grab the whisky which, with a snort of laughter, Josiah gave to him. "She was not herself for some time thereafter, however. Yes, she put on a very fine face for Christmas Day but I know that her spirits were very heavy. She has not taken on another companion since then!"
"Mayhap she feels she does not need one," Lord Worthington suggested, but Lord Prentis immediately shook his head.
"No, I do not think so. It is more than that. There is a pain there," he said, his tone low and his eyes now holding fast to something on the wall straight in front of him. "It is more than disappointment, it is heartbreak. I wish my mother would tell me what it was that she did but she refuses to speak of it. Even now, she will not. Her spirits are still very low indeed and I am troubled for her because of it." Slowly, his gaze travelled across the room to return to Josiah. "So now that I have answered your questions, might we all drink in peace?"
"Of course." Josiah did not dare to ask anything more. Seeing the heaviness in Lord Prentis's shoulders and hearing it in his voice, Josiah sat back in his chair and coupled his hands in his lap. What could Miss Jennings have done? And how was Lord Tyrone involved?
"Cousin, I ---"
Josiah, pulling his gaze back towards Lord Prentis, stopped short at the sight of him. Lord Prentis's head was thrown back, the glass of whisky now empty in his hand but the glass cradled there all the same. His eyes were closed tightly and his chest was rising and falling steadily.
Lord Worthington prodded him.
"I am afraid you will have nothing more from him tonight," he said, as Josiah rolled his eyes. "He is already asleep."
A wry smile touched Josiah's lips. He could not be ungrateful, not after what he had learned.
"There is something to it all, then," Lord Worthington said, his eyebrow lifting. "Miss Jennings's betrayal and the shame held by one of Lady Clara's brothers --- might they be connected?"
