As they walked back to the manor, Joanna felt it. That pang in the pit of her stomach, the pang that went along with the jolt she’d felt earlier. Something had changed within her. She felt certain at once that this could actually work. They might manage to convince the world, and she’d have what she wanted—freedom. And he was giving it to her.
She glanced up at Kenneth, who was busy listing plays he’d seen recently and enjoyed. Who was this man, really? And why was he doing this? Surely, his life as a bachelor could not be so bad as to engage in such a venture.
Alas, Joanna knew that right now, all she could do was focus on their plan—and hope that time would reveal Kenneth’s true motives.
CHAPTER 10
“Joanna, you simply must wear this gown tonight. It will be the talk of the opera!” Rosy exclaimed two evenings later as she and her sisters got prepared for their outing. She held up a breathtaking creation of deep sapphire silk with intricate lace detailing.
It was the sort of gown made for the opera, yet Joanna didn’t feel excited as she looked at it. Indeed, she dreaded the evening. It wasn’t so much because she’d be with Kenneth. After all, he had as much to lose if their ruse was ever discovered. It was because of the pressure of being out in public with him. They had to convince the world that they were courting. Yet, it had occurred to her as of late that her plans might be flawed, for if everyone believed them to be courting, how was she to find another man to marry?
Marry…
The word alone made her feel ill. She truly didn’t even want to find another man. What she needed was a way out. But how?
“… layer of crushed pearl powder.” Rosy’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
“Of course,” Joanna said, but from the corner of her eye, she saw Sally looking at her with what could only be called suspicion.
Over the past two days, Joanna had done her best to avoid Sally, which in itself was an unfortunate byproduct of her current situation. Usually, she and Sally were two peas in a pod, but Sally knew Joanna so well that Joanna thought it best not to give her a chance to interrogate her—hence the distance. However, she could not avoid her eldest sister tonight because the three of them always prepared for outings together, and it would have been even more suspicious to excuse her.
Rosy continued to sift through a myriad of accessories, chattering excitedly, making it clear that she believed Joanna’s story.
“What about the pearl earrings and necklace, Jo? You wore them at Almack’s last month, and they were dazzling!” Rosy exclaimed.
Before Joanna could answer, Sally cleared her throat. “Rosy, before we finalize everything, would you mind checking with the cook about dinner tonight? I’m starting to feel quite hungry,” she suggested, her voice betraying a hint of weariness.
Rosy turned to her, her eyes narrowed. “Why don’t you go yourself, Sally? I am very busy. Joanna needs reliable advice, and heaven knows you do not care about fashion,” she shot back.
“Rosy!” Joanna gasped, although she knew it wasn’t a lie. Sally didn’t care too much about jewelry and dresses.
But then, Joanna realized what Sally was doing—getting Rosy out of the way. Her jaw clenched as she understood that the interview she’d done her best to avoid was about to take place.
“I’m feeling a bit tired, and my ankle hurts. You want me to be well enough to go out with you, don’t you? So, do this for me,” Sally replied, ignoring Rosy’s unkind remark.
“Fine, I will. But don’t talk about anything interesting without me!” Rosy declared and then bolted out of the room.
The moment the heavy chamber door slammed shut behind her, Sally leaned in closer to Joanna, her expression stern. “Joanna, I know something’s wrong. What is it? What are you hiding?”
“I’m not hiding anything,” Joanna claimed and swiftly picked up a pair of ruby earrings, holding them up to her ears in front of the mirror, pretending as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
“Do not lie to me. I have been able to see through your schemes since you were three years old, trying to sneak away sweetmeats during Christmastide. What are you hiding from me? You’ve been avoiding me for days, and I suspect it has something to do with the Duke of Wells.”
Joanna hesitated, her instinct telling her to deflect, but the genuine concern in Sally’s eyes made her reconsider. Sheglanced around the room. “Sally, you have to promise not to tell anyone, especially Father.”
Sally nodded, her brow furrowed with worry. “Of course, Joanna. You can trust me. What’s going on?”
“You are right, the courtship with Kenneth is not what it seems. In fact, it is entirely fake.”
“Fake?” Sally exclaimed. “How—what do you mean?”
Joanna took a deep breath and told her sister the truth about the arrangement. She shrugged when she finished. “So, you see? Kenneth wants his freedom, and I want a way out of being forced into marriage—we each benefit from this.”
“Joanna, do you realize the danger in this? What if you get caught, especially by Father? This could lead to more trouble than it’s worth. You both could be cast out of Society for this.”
Joanna lowered her voice even further before replying, “I know, Sally. That’s why we have rules in place, and we’re being cautious. Nobody will find out. Kenneth has as much to lose as I do, thus it is a perfect match.”
Sally’s worry deepened, her gaze locking on Joanna’s. “This is a dangerous game you’re playing. You do not even know the Duke. What if he is not as honorable as you think? And what do you hope to gain from this? I know marrying Lord Worcester is adreadful prospect, but you will only be married off to someone else.”