Page 19 of Married to the Duke By Midnight

“I put money into them myself after I came of age. It is not true what he said that I have been hoarding the money, although it is true that I have been investing it. My uncle taught me how to do it.” She swallowed again and waited for him to speak.

“You do not need to justify yourself, Jo. I don’t believe him,” Robert told her gently and reached for her hand.

Jo’s lip trembled with relief.

“I think we should leave,” Robert told his mother.

He offered them a quick goodbye. Jo barely looked at anyone before they were handed their belongings by Evans and then exited the house.

“I will hail a hackney cab. It will be at least ten minutes before the carriage is ready,” Robert told her as they walked down the steps. Her hand was once again resting on his arm, and she liked the sense of support it offered her. In more ways than one.

“Do you mind if we walk? Since it’s not far,” Jo asked hesitantly. Was she being too unladylike now? Did duchesses ever walk?

“I don’t mind at all. Are you certain that you feel well enough to walk?” Robert asked as he led her through the driveway and onto the pavement.

“Yes, I like to walk. I’m used to going on long walks in Hampshire, both at my uncle’s estate and later on the beach in Lymington,” Jo told him and already felt a little more at ease at the familiar movement.

“I am more of a rider myself. I usually go for a ride each morning, if the weather permits it. When I don’t, it is only out of consideration for the horse – not myself.” Jo could hear the smile in Robert’s voice as he spoke, but she did not dare look at him again. She appreciated that he tried to set her at ease though.

He had acted much kinder to her after what Ambrose had said than she would have believed.

“So that was where you went this morning? I thought I heard your steps in the hallway.” She had wondered what it meant that he was up so early, especially after going to bed late, but had tried to put it out of her mind.

“It was, yes. I usually ride in Rotten Row in the morning, when it is less crowded. I feared I would meet Xavier though, so I took a different route this morning. Do you ride?”

“Sufficiently, I suppose. But I am not a horse woman. My uncle injured his leg fifteen years ago and was unable to ride after. He would have to travel by carriage at hunting parties and outings, and I always accompanied him instead of going by horseback with the others,” Jo told him and remembered the many hours they had spent in the carriage, either talking animatedly or sharing a companionable quiet.

“You were very close with him?” Robert observed and led her smoothly around a corner.

“I was. He was like a second father to me,” Jo told him. “I came to live with him when I was thirteen.”

She gulped at the memory. She was already emotional and did not want to talk about her father’s death – nor her mother’s for that matter. Robert seemed to sense it since he steered the conversation in another direction.

“Do you want to be there tomorrow at the meeting with your cousin?” he asked as they reached his driveway.

Jo sighed heavily. She felt no desire to see Ambrose again but would also feel uneasy if she did not know what lies he spewed about her. She wanted a chance to explain herself to Robert later.

“I don’t know,” she answered honestly. “But I should like Mr. Oakley to be present.”

“Of course,” Robert assured her as they walked up the stairs to his house. Her house as well, Jo supposed. It was even more intimidating in the daylight when she was able to see it all. Three stories high – two for them and one for the servants at the top. It was larger than Uncle Horace’s country estate had been.

“I will have my solicitor present as well, and I assume Mr. Hawkins will bring his,” Robert continued. “Think on it. Otherwise, I will tell you afterwards what he said.”

“I would appreciate it,” Jo told him and turned her face so he could see her smile.

Their eyes met. Jo nodded. Robert nodded. And then they looked at each other for a long moment, as Jo raked her brain for a reason to stay in Robert’s company.

“Perhaps you could…” Jo began, but Robert cleared his throat and spoke over her:

“I have some estate matters I need to go over.” His voice was gruff and he hurried up the steps, leaving Jo at the bottom of them. She looked at Robinson who held the door open for her and looked just as confused as she felt.

9

Music was playing from the sitting room when Robert joined Jo after dinner. He had not lingered over port, since it was just the two of them, but had excused himself to answer the call of nature and allow her a chance to do the same.

He stopped at the doorway to the sitting room and watched as Jo sat on the bench in front of the piano by the window and played. She leaned forward for emphasis, when the melody demanded it, as if leaning into the music, and the melody flowed without her looking up at the notes in front of her. It took him a minute to realize that she was playing with her eyes closed.

It was a mesmerizing sight.