Kenneth touched her hand reassuringly. “It’s a matter that requires my attention, but I promise, I’ll be back shortly. We’ll talk about it then.”
Joanna looked at him with earnest eyes. “Please, Kenneth, don’t leave me in the dark. Let me stay with you, share the burden with me.”
He sighed, torn between his sense of duty and his wish to please her. Although, why was she so determined to go with him? Didn’t she trust him to confront her father alone?
“Joanna, I need to handle this alone, for now. I wanted to tell you all about what I’ve uncovered, and I wanted to tell you about it now, but I… I must go before I can’t. I promise that we’ll talk about everything. Just give me a little time.”
With a final reassuring smile, Kenneth excused himself and made his way toward Lord Carlisle, leaving Joanna standing in the midst of the grand ballroom, feeling a mix of concern and anticipation for the conversation that awaited them.
CHAPTER 26
Joanna stepped aside, letting Kenneth pass. He hurried down the hall after her father while she looked on.
What was it he wanted to talk to her about? It appeared urgent, but now he’d left her standing there alone, again. Was he still keeping secrets, or did he have to discuss serious orphanage business with her father? Her stomach tightened. She suspected her father was somehow behind the orphanage’s difficult situation, and if Kenneth was confronting him about it, then she ought to be glad. She only wished she knew what was going on.
“Jo!” Sally called, and she turned toward her sister.
Sally was standing with Rosy and Judith, though as Joanna joined them, Rosy was whisked away by a tall gentleman to the dancefloor.
“Oh, Rosy, always the belle of the ball,” Sally murmured.
Joanna noted a hint of sadness in her sister’s voice. While Sally was beautiful, she did sometimes end up overlooked when Rosy was around. Rosy had always had the most outgoing personality and the brightest smile, which had always attracted the gentlemen’s attention.
“She is, but she is young and fickle, you know this,” Joanna said with a smile.
Sally nodded. “I do. She will want to dance with a baron one moment, with an officer the next, and then her attention would be on some duke or other.”
“She has years before she will marry, I dare say,” Judith commented. “She is the youngest, after all. Speaking of marriage, pray, where is His Grace?”
Joanna’s eyes drifted in the direction Kenneth had gone. “Kenneth is here, but he just left. Went the same way as my father. I assume they’re off to have a conversation,” she replied, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
Sally put a comforting hand on Joanna’s shoulder. “I’m sure whatever it is, His Grace will handle it. He’s a capable man. He’ll want to update Father on the latest happenings at the orphanage.”
To distract herself, Joanna decided to change the topic. “This manor is magnificent, Judith. I’ve never been here before. It’s so grand.”
Judith nodded, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “Oh, yes. My aunt and uncle are collectors of all sorts of things—paintings, sculptures, and, of course, books.”
Joanna’s interest was piqued. “Books? I’ve always loved reading. What kind of books do they have?”
Judith’s face lit up as she began to paint a vivid picture. “Oh, you’ll be amazed! They have a grand selection of old and first-edition books. The library here is a treasure trove for any bibliophile. I’ve spent countless hours exploring the shelves, discovering rare volumes and forgotten classics. It’s a book lover’s paradise.”
Joanna’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “I would love to see it sometime. Perhaps you could show me around?”
Judith grinned. “Absolutely! I’d be delighted to share the wonders of the library with you. I would take you tonight, but my aunt does not want to allow the guests access to the library, as they have a few rather valuable books in there. But I will arrange something with her. Maybe later tonight? I’ll ask her once the dance is in full swing and she does not have to chaperone my cousin constantly.”
The idea of seeing the grand library served as a welcome distraction for Joanna. She’d always loved nothing more than to dive into a novel and forget the world around her. Hearing that Judith’s aunt and uncle had such a grand library within these very halls was enticing.
As they continued to talk about the enchanting world of literature, Joanna found herself momentarily distracted from the concerns that lingered in the back of her mind. The grand ballroom echoed with laughter and music, but the promise of a private tour through a magnificent library added a touch of excitement to the evening. With a smile, she recalled her first conversation with Kenneth in her garden. He’d been shocked by her choice of reading material, and it had forged the initial strings of their bond. She wondered if he, too, might wish to see the library.
Sally nudged Joanna playfully, her voice drawing her out of her thoughts.“Maybe you can ask Judith’s uncle about those Regina Maria Roche novels you’ve been wanting. You know, the ones the circulating library is always out of and our father won’t let you buy.”
Joanna’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. “Oh, that’s a great idea, Sally!”
“Which books are those?” Judith asked.
“Regina Maria Roche. She writes gothic novels. I adore her books so much!” Joanna gushed. “I just finishedClermont. I enjoy her novels, but my father finds them unsuitable.”
“My uncle has some of her novels. I remember because he and my father once had a conversation about them. My father does not care for gothic novels, but my aunt and uncle both do. Which novels do you wish to read?”
