But unlike Matthew and his mother, she truly enjoyed his presence.Apparently, her siblings did, too.Even Charlotte was hanging on to every word being spoken, absorbing all of it without commentary.
“Our father attended every supper with us, even if he was not there for the other meals,” Bridget announced.“That’s the kind of husband I want.”
Johanna started at Bridget’s pronouncement because she had not thought Bridget would remember that.Although their father was not a forbidden topic in their household, they did not often speak of him.Perhaps Johanna or Micah had said something about it once, and Bridget rememberedthat.
“The desire for your husband’s company will very likely depend on whether you enjoy his company,” Lady Stark said.
“Why would I marry a man whose company I do not enjoy?”Bridget appeared taken aback at the very notion.
“Many reasons.”Lady Stark waved her hand.“While some couples at our rank marry for affection, there are all sorts of other reasons, too.Connections, money, alliances… and a man during courtship is often quite different from a man during marriage, unfortunately.”
“You mean they are dishonest?”
“Yes,” Lady Stark stated bluntly.“Which is something to keep in mind after you debut and men begin to court you.”
Johanna found the back-and-forth between Bridget and Lady Stark fascinating.Her mother had not spoken so baldly about marriage with Johanna.Their parents had been a love match, and that was what she and her siblings had grown up hearing about.
Stymied by Lady Stark’s truthfulness, Bridget subsided, appearing to be deep in thought.Johanna smiled inwardly and turned to Micah.
“How was your reading today?”she asked him.Though he did not have a tutor—yet—she knew that he’d set himself the task of reading the entirety ofThe Iliad, which had been their father’s favorite book.He’d found a copy of it in Matthew’s library yesterday and asked to borrow it.
That neatly turned the conversation away from Matthew’s absence and the topic of marriages for the rest of the meal, to Johanna’s relief.Even though they had only come together a few days ago, she was already used to his presence, and it made her sad to look at his empty seat.Despite the fact she had not married for love—she had married for a multitude of the reasons Lady Stark had listed—the truth was that she did rather like her husband.
She liked being around him.She liked speaking with him.She liked touching him.
And after last night and this morning, she would have very much liked to have his company.
Perhaps he did not feel the same way, though.Or perhaps the business he was attending to was very important.She was curious what he might have to do with the other dukes, but she was uncertain if it was her place to ask.
Once supper finished, they retired to the drawing room.Lady Stark allowed herself to be drawn into a game of spilikins with Bridget and Charlotte, much to Rose and Johanna’s amusement.Micah tucked himself into an armchair with his book.
She and Rose sat by the window seat—not because she was watching for Matthew’s return, it was just the most convenient spot—to work on their needlework by lamplight.
Matthew
The usual luck Matthew lived by was not aiding their search.Cornwall was in neither of the two establishments they visited.Matthew mentally shrugged and flipped his coin again.Perhaps they should be looking elsewhere, but he and Drake were the only ones among their coterie who could search at this level.Any of the others walking into these rooms would cause comment and curiosity.
Even now, they were getting occasional sidelong looks, although perhaps that was because it was so early in the day.
“Perhaps he is not awake yet,” Matthew murmured to Drake as they left The Fiddling Magpie, the second location they’d tried.“Has anyone checked his house?”
Drake shot him a sharp look.
“Of course I did.And his mistress’ house.And his mother’s.”
Well, trust Drake to be thorough.Matthew shrugged and sighed, pulling out his coin to see what direction they should head in next.
“Maybe we should try using something other than your luck for the moment,” Drake said dryly.“Let’s go to the Pearl and Buck next since it is on the next street over.”
Nodding, Matthew flipped his coin anyway, then grinned at Drake.
“I agree.”
Pressing his lips together, Drake looked like he was trying not to smile.Truth be told, Matthew was enjoying this excursion with him more than he’d thought he would.As serious as he was, Drake also seemed unbothered and amused by Matthew’s coin.
He also did not do some of the things that Matthew would have expected.Though the doxies had recognized him at the Magpie, he had not leered at them or made any coarse remarks, though Matthew was fairly certain he’d seen Drake slipping one of them a pouch.He would be willing to bet his lucky coin that the pouch had been full of money.
What Drake was up to with the seedy venues he frequented, Matthew was not sure, but he was becoming more and more certain that it had nothing to do with bedding as many ladybirds as he could before his wedding night.No matter what Drake said.He was up to something.
