“I lost my coin,” he said softly, in such a manner that her heart went out to him.Hesounded so very lost.
“Where?”
“At home.”He sighed.“Hopefully, the footmen will be able to move the armoire and find it for me while we’re here.If not, I am taking an axe to the damn thing when we return home.”
Though he said it as a jest, there was a grimness to her voice that made Johanna think he would likely do just that.She squeezed the hand she was holding.
“Do you want to go home now?”she asked.
“I do not think we can.Can we?”Uncertainty flickered across his expression.“I do not want to scupper your first evening out in theton.”
Johanna considered that for a moment.He knew the vagaries of thetonmore than she did.Even if he did not like making decisions without his coin.
“How much longer do we need to stay to prevent that?”
Another hesitation, but then he shrugged.
“Likely we could leave now without drawing any ire.”He glanced around.“Well, other than Grandmama’s.”Johanna giggled, and he winked at her, seeming to relax.
“Then,” she said, feeling quite daring.“Perhaps we should do what we want?In lieu of having the coin to direct you.”
“That is what Sebastian said,” he admitted.“To do what I want and deal with the consequences after.Like most people do.”
The music drew to a close, and Matthew took Johanna’s hand on his arm and began to move them through the crowd.Out of the corner of her eye, Johanna saw Rose’s burgundy gown and knew that her cousin was directing her suitor to follow them.Good then.Perhaps they could all leave a little early.
Matthew took her over to where Lady Stark was seated with her friends, including the Duke of Clarence’s mother, whom Lady Johanna had already met.She beamed at Johanna in a very friendly manner, which helped relieve some of her nerves about approaching such a formidable group of ladies.The Dowager Duchess of Clarence was a breath of fresh air among the gimlet-eyed dragons of thetonand a much-needed tonic for courage.
“Grandmama, Johanna and I have had enough.We are going home,” Matthew said, very firmly.
Johanna’s eyes widened.When her husband decided to take charge, he decided to take charge.
Lady Stark tilted her head at him, considering.Her eyes glanced to the side as Rose came up, still on the arm of Lord Boyd, who was now grinning widely.Rose appeared as calmly collected as ever—what her emotions were, Johanna could not tell.On the other hand, she did not seem displeased, so maybe she’d enjoyed herself.
“Very well,” Lady Stark said with a wave of her hand, glancing at Lady Cowper, who was seated beside her.“I suppose one cannot expect newlyweds to stay for the entirety of their first event, after all.”The other women laughed lightly, and Lady Stark returned her attention to Matthew, Johanna, and Rose.“Rose will stay here with me, as my companion.”
“Oh…” Johanna started to say but wilted under Lady Stark’s raised eyebrow.She could not think of a good reason for Rose to come with them.
Rose sent her a reassuring glance.
“I am happy to stay with Lady Stark,” she told Johanna, stepping away from Lord Boyd’s arm, to his obvious disappointment.“It will be good to sit for a bit.”
“Oh, no,” Lady Stark said, getting to her feet and taking Rose’s arm, the one opposite Lord Boyd.“I want to take a walkabout.Come, Rose, there are some gentlemen I want to introduce you to.”
Lord Boyd’s face fell, as did Rose’s.
Sorry, Johanna mouthed at her as Lady Stark began to move away, taking a slightly panicked-looking Rose with her.
Matthew was already tugging on Johanna’s arm to take her in the opposite direction, clearly willing to sacrifice Rose to distract his grandmother.Johanna did not have much of a choice, either.She wondered if Rose would ever willingly accompany them to a ball again after this.
“Come,” Matthew whispered in Johanna’s ear.“Before Grandmama changes her mind.”
She would have to find a way to make it up to Rose later.
ChapterThirty-Four
Johanna
“I feel terrible,” Johanna confessed once they were safely tucked into the carriage, and she was staring at the empty bench across from her and Matthew.
