“Vee, did you hear what I said?”
Javenia jerked her gaze up from the floor. “Forgive me.”
Her mother tenderly touched her cheek. “Are you well? You look pale.”
She forced a smile, like the thousands she’d forced before. “I am only thinking of the Newhursts. They will be here to retrieve me soon. We are off to the Tower of London today.”
“But the musicale?”
Javenia groaned. She’d forgotten that Cindy was to display her musical talents this evening. While she liked music, she didn’t like being passed over for her younger and more agreeable sister, which is exactly what Mrs. Cline had done.
“I will be home in plenty of time to dress and dine before we need to leave.”
Her mother smiled, laugh lines appearing on her otherwise flawless face. “Thank you, Vee. This means a lot to Cindy.”
Javenia placed a hand on her mother’s arm and leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek. “I know. I remember how nervous I was for my first season.”
Nervous and naïve. Too naïve.
Javenia’s mind swirled with questions as the carriage rattled along the streets. John and Susannah were discussing the merits of a night in after a day out, but she could not bring herself to join them.
What had kept Algenon from joining them this morning? Who all would be with them for their outing? What would be the best place to pull him aside to speak? Why had her mother thought that Lord Roberts was corrupting his son?
Her thoughts snagged on the last question. It was no secret that her mother had been friends with Algenon’s mother, as well as Nate and John’s. Having grown up in Maidstone, her mother had befriended Miss Angela Stone in her girlhood before the Stones had moved to Essex.
However, she rarely spoke of her. Javenia had always suspected Lord Roberts’s ill treatment of them after her father purchased Hazelwood was the cause, but now she wondered if her mother’s anger ran deeper. Did Mama think Lord Roberts as dissolute as Lord Falcross and Lord Rupert?
Probably. While she’d maintained civility with him, Javenia realized that she hardly ever saw them speak. Mama only showed true kindness to his wives.
“John,” she said, before realizing she was interrupting his conversation with Susannah.
They both paused to look at her so she continued. “What do you know of Lord Rupert?”
John leaned back against the squabs, his gaze unfocused as he looked up. “I am not well acquainted with him, but I know he carries a rather tarnished reputation, even if his family is deep in the coffers.”
“And is Lord Roberts close with him?”
John’s gaze snapped to hers. “No. If anything, he’s been rather critical of the man. W-why?”
Javenia took a deep breath. “Mama said he was seen entering Lord Roberts’s house today, as was Lord Falcross.”
Susannah nodded. “That makes sense. They are related.”
“Yes, but I have never known Lord Roberts to acquaint himself with the likes of Rupert.” John rubbed the back of his neck. “Falcross too, for that matter. I can’t quite understand it. He’s always hated men of their ilk, choosing instead to align himself with men of higher moral standard and greater discipline.”
No wonder her mother was so distressed. Lord Roberts’s associations had never been of much import to Javenia, so she’d never pondered on the difference of his current company. However, with both her mother and John’s concern, she now wondered what had occurred to change Lord Roberts’s behavior.
Javenia crossed her hands in her lap. “You know that Lord Roberts is trying to force Algenon into an arranged marriage with Miss Weston, don’t you?”
John pressed his lips together. “I do, but not from Al. Nate wrote me before either of you even came to town.”
“And you are doing nothing about it?”
He blinked at her, his face devoid of any feeling. Javenia wanted to shake him. How could he sit there so calmly knowing that his friend might be forced to wed a woman as awful as Miss Weston?
“He is a grown man, Javenia. If he needs help, he will ask.”
Would he? She doubted it. He was too proud. She narrowed her eyes at John, wondering if he actually knew Algenon at all.
