Page 41 of Much Ado about a Widow

Elizabeth’s voice faltered, her gaze straying from the startling words to Jemmy’s face.

How could Rob do such a thing and then calmly write to Jemmy about it? He must be mad.

“Shall I read more?” Her face pale, Elizabeth nevertheless spoke calmly.

“Please. I could get no further.” Jemmy slumped in his chair and covered his face, expecting he knew not what.

I am taking this drastic course of action because the lady claims she was kidnapped on the road and brought to Portsmouth against her will.

“What?” Bolting upright again, Jemmy snatched the paper from his wife’s hands. Elizabeth sat back in her chair, her mouth open, though no sound came out.

If this abduction was part of your own plan to thwart the lady’s upcoming nuptials, I do beg your pardon.

“He thinks I had my sister kidnapped?” Jemmy jerked up in his chair. Good God, his friend had indeed run mad.

“Hush, Jemmy. Let me finish.” Elizabeth’s hands shook as she continued.

But as I have no way to ascertain your involvement in these actions, I believe I must intervene to assure myself of the lady’s continued good health and welfare.

Therefore, I am sailing back to St. Just this instant with Lady Georgina, her maid, and her dog. They will be safe at my estate with my mother, where we will await your arrival to fetch the lady to your home.

Yr obdt servant and friend,

St. Just

Post Scriptum

You might consider hiring a ship from Portsmouth to bring you to Cornwall. The sea journey is much shorter, if somewhat more treacherous this time of year. The overland trip is safer but cannot be accomplished in comfort in under eight days.

The astonishing words left Jemmy bereft of speech. The whole situation was fantastical to the point that he wondered if he’d seen something similar in a Drury Lane drama.

The door to the breakfast room opened, and Matthew and Fanny, now Lord and Lady Lathbury, sauntered in, their arms around each other’s waists, their gazes locked on each other’s.

“Oh, Jemmy, Elizabeth.” Fanny had to drag herself away from her new husband’s regard. “We didn’t think anyone else would still be breakfasting.” She glanced from one to the other. “Is there something the matter?”

“That’s an understatement,” Jemmy grumbled.

Fanny sat in the chair next to her friend. “My dear, what is it?”

Elizabeth looked inquiringly at her husband, and he shrugged.

“You must tell them. I fear I need to concentrate on controlling my temper, lest I kill the man when next we meet.”

His wife’s eyebrows shot into a high arch. “Jemmy! You can’t mean that. Why would you kill your best friend? He’s an honorable man, isn’t he?”

“He may be an honorable man, but if word of this scrape gets out in the ton, Georgie’s reputation will be dashed. She’ll be given the cut direct, pure and simple. Do you not recall what happened to Lady Sarah Leacock?”

Lady Sarah had fallen from her horse while out riding in the country with her cousin when a thunderstorm had blown up unexpectedly. The two had taken shelter and spent the night together in an abandoned barn. When they were discovered the next day, despite Sarah’s tearful explanations, the ton’s tongues had wagged until Sarah’s reputation lay in tatters. The puns on her name alone had been enough to send the rest of the family into seclusion. The cousin had not wanted to marry her, which had made it even worse, although he’d eventually been coerced into the marriage for the sake of Sarah’s younger sisters.

The deep red that arose in Elizabeth’s cheeks said she remembered. “Oh, well, yes. I suppose I see what you mean.”

“I remember Lady Sarah’s scandal, but pray do tell me about Georgie.” Fanny took Elizabeth’s hand in hers. “You cannot leave us in such suspense.”

“It is all too strange for me to tell it right.” She nodded toward the crumpled letter on the table. “Jemmy just received this letter from Lord St. Just . . .” Elizabeth managed to relate the contents of the letter with her usual calm efficiency, although Jemmy became more and more incensed with every word she uttered. When she finally finished the tale, he jumped up, running his hand around the back of his neck where the muscles had tightened abominably during the retelling. Damn it, he must do something and now.

“Do you think Georgie has simply eloped again? With St. Just this time?” Fanny looked hopefully from Elizabeth to Jemmy.

“My father suggested that very thing.” Unable to remain still, Jemmy paced around the long, polished mahogany table. “He didn’t name St. Just, of course, but his first thought was that she had disobeyed him once again.”