Page 38 of Introducing Miss Joanna (Once a Wallflower 2)

“Mr. Verdin took Charlotte for a ride in his carriage to the park. A delightful gentleman. He called Charlotte yesterday in answer to my letter and expressed his surprise and dismay to learn she hadn’t returned. He’d left Charlotte at the gate after she’d asked him not to accompany her to the door.” Her eyes filled with tears. “But why would she do such a thing and not come inside? Have I been unfair to her? Has she returned to the country? I have heard nothing! What if she has eloped with a gentleman?” She reached for her smelling salts with a trembling hand. “I declare, I am close to hysterics! Her grandfather must be informed. I shall write today. I have delayed writing in the hope she would return.”

“Shouldn’t you call a constable?” Aunt Mary asked.

Mrs. Lincoln’s face paled. “But that would cause a dreadful scandal. It would end any chance Charlotte might have for a good marriage. Her grandfather would blame me. He would say I have been lax in my duties.” She looked up at them imploringly. “Have I been too careless? I believed it was proper for her to ride in the park in an open carriage with a gentleman. It was a curricle, so I could not have gone with them.”

“It was perfectly acceptable,” Jo said. “Might someone have seen her? Your neighbors?”

Mrs. Lincoln sagged in her seat. “I asked our neighbor, an elderly gentleman, but he never puts a toe out the door. The house on the other side is empty. I didn’t consider it wise to knock on doors. Gossip spreads so quickly in London.”

Jo leaned over and patted the lady’s trembling hand. “I shall make discreet inquiries, Mrs. Lincoln. We will find Charlotte, never fear.” But how very odd it was. Charlotte had not mentioned a gentleman apart from Mr. Virden. This didn’t seem like her at all. She must ask Reade for help. She would send him a feather in the hope he would meet her in the park. Jo stood. “I must go, Mrs. Lincoln. Please send a note if you hear from Charlotte.”

“You don’t wish for tea?”

“No, thank you. I have something urgent I must do.”

“That poor woman,” Aunt Mary said in the hackney on the way home. “Do you think Charlotte has run away with some man?”

Jo frowned. “I find it hard to believe. It seems most unlike her.”

“What are you going to do, Jo?”

“I will ask Lord Reade to help us. He has invited me to ride in the park with him,” Jo said.

“But what about Mr. Ollerton?”

Jo took Aunt Mary’s hand. “Aunt, I need you to do something for me you will not like. I don’t have Mr. Ollerton’s address, so when he comes to take me out, you must make my apologies. Will you tell him something urgent has come up? Say I had to rush away to help a friend.”

“Oh, dear. I’m not good at this, Jo. I always thought, hoped, that you and he…”

Jo thought of Sally’s experience and couldn’t help fearing the worst. “Charlotte’s life might depend upon us acting quickly.”

“But what can you do to help? Your father won’t approve of you riding with Lord Reade. You know he doesn’t like him. And Mr. Ollerton will be quite put out. I shake at the thought of telling him. I am not good at deception.”

“It isn’t a lie, Aunt Mary. I am trying to help a friend.” The hackney pulled up, and she helped her aunt down, then opened her coin purse to pay the jarvey.

She passed her aunt on the steps. “I shall have to hurry. I’m sorry, but I fear for poor Charlotte. London is a dangerous place. Remember what happened to Sally.”

“My goodness,” Aunt Mary murmured as she followed her inside.

Jo sent for Sally and ran upstairs to her bedchamber. When the maid came in, Jo was struggling with the buttons on her rifle-green habit. She went to the mirror and put on her wide-brimmed black hat. “Have you something suitable to wear horse riding, Sally?”

Sally gasped. “No, Miss Jo.”

“You have ridden a horse?”

“Yes, old Peter, the farmer’s horse.”

“Then we must find you a good-natured mount,” Jo

said. “I brought my old riding habit with me, the gray wool, I think it will fit you.” Jo plucked a feather from a bonnet. “Put it on while I go down to give this feather to Jed.”

“Why would the footman need an ostrich feather, Miss Jo?”

“I haven’t time to explain, Sally. Hurry and dress, please.”

In the library, Jo tucked the feather within the folds of a letter, added Reade’s address, and marked it urgent. She went in search of Jed and found him with the butler in the cellar. Aware of the sharp eye of Mr. Spears, she gave Jed careful instructions.

“Go now, please.”

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