Christian closed his eyes and swallowed hard.“I…” His voice trailed off, as if he could not bring himself to actually say anything.Which was quite normal for Christian.Apologies, arguments in general, were not something he usually engaged in.
“We are square,” Zachary muttered, waving his hand at Christian to dismiss the need for any apology, then running it over his face before reaching up to let Sinclair climb onto it.He brought the monkey to his chest, which now seemed quite sunken in, as he hunched over it, leaning against the wide back of his chair.
“We need to work together,” Drake said firmly, his jaw working with emotion.“Of course, Matthew cannot tarnish his honor by allowing any of his household to come under suspicion.Nor would it be right or fair to punish anyone for ignorance.We should be grateful we have a new clue.A new name to pursue.”
“That is something at least,” Gregory said, nodding.“I will ask my current steward about this Aaron Heywood.Since he assisted Montblanc in procuring the potions, Montblanc must have known him somehow.”
“Now?”Zachary asked, lifting his head.
“Well… I do not see any reason to wait.Perhaps we could all return to Clarence House,” Gregory suggested.“That way you can hear whatever it is my steward has to say, and if there is any information on Heywood, we can take immediate action.”
Which would be good if there; Zachary was clearly chafing at the bit to find something to do—and someone to blame.Matthew wished he had his coin.Wished he had some sort of guidance in what to do or what to say that would help.
If Zachary persisted in his tack against Johanna, it would not only break apart their friendship, if the others took sides it might very well be the end of their entire cadre.
Johanna
The ladies had just sat down in the drawing room of Clarence House when the front door opened again, and masculine voices filled the front hall, making all of them look up.The door between the two areas was open, so they could see the entire group of dukes that had just walked through the door.
“Blast,” Lady Astrid murmured from where she was seated beside Johanna.“So much for privacy.”
As if aware of so many eyes on them, the Duke of Ormonde turned and looked through the door, causing Lady Astrid to bristle in her seat as their gazes clashed before he turned away to let the other dukes know they were not alone.Now all the dukes turned to look into the drawing room.
Johanna immediately sought out Matthew’s face and relaxed when she saw him.It took her a moment, as he came hurrying into the room to come stand behind the couch where she was sitting, putting his hand on her shoulder, to realize his expression was more strained than joyful.A frisson of alarm went through her; she had hoped he would be more cheerful.
The other dukes followed him in.
Like Matthew, Nathanial and Gregory immediately made for where their wives were seated.Sebastian followed Gregory, moving to stand near his friend and sister.Drake stalked to lean against the fireplace, in a position where he could easily glare at Lady Astrid and she at him.Christian moved to stand beside Nathanial, between the chairs where Kalina and Rose were seated.
Only the Duke of Grafton hung back, his face like a storm cloud when his dark eyes met hers from across the room.He hovered by the door, stony-faced and emanating menace despite the tiny monkey seated on his shoulder, clinging to his hair.Johanna shrank back from his gaze, her heart beginning to pound wildly in her chest at the anger she saw there.
She could see Delilah, sitting poker-straight in the chair to the right of the couch, frowning at the duke in the doorway.
“Cut it out, Zachary,” Matthew snapped, his fingers tightening on Johanna’s shoulders.
“What are you all doing here?”Kalina asked, her voice cool and calm.“Not that we are unhappy to see you.And why is Zachary glaring at Johanna?”
Lady Astrid leaned forward on the couch, so Johanna could only see the back of her red hair, putting herself bodily between the Duke of Grafton and Johanna.
“Well…” Gregory started to say, then coughed, looking over at Matthew and Johanna.“We were meeting to discuss the matter of our fathers?—”
“And leaving us out of it again,” Lady Astrid snapped.Her head whipped around to pin Drake with a glare, though she kept her body where it was, so the Duke of Grafton’s gaze was still obscured if he was trying to look at Johanna.“I can only imagine whose idea that was.But Johanna has already told us everything.”
Mei patted Johanna’s hand reassuringly as Johanna let out a long, slow breath.
She knew why the Duke of Grafton was glaring at her.Matthew had toldthemeverything as well.And, unlike Matthew, Grafton obviously blamed her and her mother.Tears sparked in her eyes as her throat clogged.She had not meant to cause a division among the group of friends.
Yet what else could she have done?
She’d had to confess.
“Of course she has.”Drake sounded more resigned than anything else.He shook his head.“Well, do not worry, we are handling it.”
“How?”Lady Astrid asked, smiling sweetly.“Where are you beginning your search for Aaron Heywood?”
Something in her voice made all the men look at her, and Drake straightened, his brow furrowing.
“What do you know?”he asked, though it was really more of a demand.
