Travel to London? She’d been so set on her plan to confront Marcus that she’d failed to think of anything else. That was not like her. She always had a plan.
“Unless you don’t wish to go to Town this year. I would understand.” Joanna’s words gave her pause.
“I haven’t thought about it. I suppose I want to go. It’s what we always do.”
“Not me.” James spoke from the sideboard. “In fact, I’m perfectly happy to skip the season for the next ten years.”
She and her sister looked at the duke. “We know.” The burgeoning tension she felt in her stomach eased at their joint comment.
“Good. Then I will leave you two to decide my fate.” The duke strode toward the parlor, but stopped in the pillared opening. “I will be in the library finishing my most recent acquisition.” With that, he continued out of the room with a small plate in his hand, leaving them alone.
She had no doubt the newest acquisition was a book. When she turned back to the table, she found Joanna staring at her. “There is no need to look so concerned. I will continue to live.”
“I have no doubt of that. But if you could enlighten me a bit on what you must overcome, perhaps I can be of assistance.”
If Joanna had offered such aid a year ago, she would have demurred, but now that her intelligent sister had fallen in love, at least she felt the emotion as well as understood it. “He wishes nothing to do with me. In his opinion, I married before his body turned cold, which it never did, but his heart has.”
“Oh.” Joanna remained silent for a moment. “You did disabuse him of his obvious notion that you married for love.”
“I did. However, he is much changed.” Though she’d seen a glimpse of the man she knew, he’d been replaced with a stranger. “He is not someone I wish to have any further contact with.”
“And there’s no reason why you should.” Joanna smiled reassuringly, but her concern was clear in her gaze.
“Thank you. I just need to create a plan for this year, so that I have activities to look forward to.” Planning made her feel comfortable and safe.
“I was just thinking you would make a wonderful teacher here at Belinda’s School for Curious Ladies.”
“Oh, my, no.” She shook her head vigorously. “All that I know is what every other lady acquires in her journey to being a wife. That is hardly what you teach here.”
Joanna leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Now that you have learned that our neighbor is not who you thought, would you consider becoming a wife again?”
At Joanna’s carefully worded question, a cold chill ran through her. “Do I need to? I had thought you said I have enough to purchase a small manor.”
“You do, but we would all miss having you with us. What would we do without you?”
She cocked her head and raised her brows.
Joanna chuckled relaxing back into her chair. “Now what did I say to deservethe face.”
“You know very well that none of you need me as a chaperone anymore. Both you and Amelia are happy with your marriages. You have your school and Amelia has her painting. I am not so intelligent or talented as you both.”
Joanna frowned and opened her mouth to object.
She held up her hand. “No, do not flatter me with some hidden skill you think I have. I am not like you, or Amelia. I’m more like our dear Belinda.” At the mention of their late younger sister, Joanna closed her mouth. “The painting Amelia did of Belinda in the parlor is truly a masterpiece.”
Joanna, who could see the painting from where she sat, sighed. “It’s a comfort to me. I know it’s strange, but she seems so real that sometimes when I’m alone, I find myself talking to her.”
She understood completely. Though she’d not admit it, she too spoke to Belinda. “I can see why. She was always calm and happy. Whenever I feel at my wit’s end, I think of her and I immediately know I can make it through.”
Joanna’s keen gaze settled back on her. “You speak as if you’ve been in such a state many times.”
Drat. She hadn’t meant to reveal herself. She never wanted her family to know how much being married to George Walford of Beaumont had affected her. She shrugged, “Haven’t we all? I mean, even Zephyrus can cause me to wish I were anywhere but with him.”
Joanna’s eyes widened and a wide smile lit her face. “That is it.”
“That is what? He’s not a bad horse. He just becomes stubborn at times and can get quite, well, mulish.”
Joanna rose even as she waved away her comment. “No, not Zephyrus. I mean the horses. You have a way about horses that none of us has, not even old Mr. Haggett.”
