Page 44 of Introducing Miss Joanna (Once a Wallflower 2)

He nodded. “Spears confirmed my view of absinthe. Some men prefer it to whisky or brandy. It’s expensive. Sally thought the man was a gentleman, did she not?”

“She said so. Lord Reade should be told.”

He frowned. “Absinth is not uncommon. And what might the baron have to do with this?”

“I think he works for the government, Papa.”

Her father raised his eyebrows. “What area of government?”

“An investigative agent.”

“An agent for the Crown? Has he admitted as much?”

“No. I don’t expect he would admit it. I’ve asked for his help to find Charlotte because Mrs. Lincoln refuses to contact Bow Street. She fears a scandal.”

“Forget the baron. Agents are a disreputable lot. They kill people. And I’ve heard unsavory things about Reade.”

Reade was a good man. If he weren’t, she would know it in her heart. “Lord Reade would not have done what Mrs. Millet accused him of, Papa.”

“Mary told you, did she? I can’t imagine what reason Mrs. Millet would have to lie to me, can you?”

Jo shook her head miserably.

“You are susceptible. These men hold a certain fascination for many women. I’ve seen how they watch him at balls. I insist you avoid him.”

“But, Papa…”

He stood. “If he finds your friend, Miss Graham, well and good, but he does not need your help.”

He walked out the door.

Jo stared despondently after him. This was most unlike her father. He was usually good-tempered. But once he made up his mind about something, he seldom changed it. He would never accept Reade as a son-in-law. Not that a proposal was forthcoming.

A half-hour passed while she sat deep in thought, plucking at the fringe on a cushion. It worried Reade when she told him about Charlotte. He considered her friend’s disappearance a serious matter worthy of investigation. But there was no reason she couldn’t do something herself. Neither Reade nor her father need know about it. While she wouldn’t discover her whereabouts, she might unearth some clue, and she must at least try. Jo rose and went in search of Sally.

“I plan to do some shopping tomorrow, Sally. I’ll ask my aunt to join us.”

Sally looked up from folding some of Jo’s clothes. “Very good, Miss Jo.”

“I thought we might go first to Soho Square.”

Sally turned to stare at her. “Soho Square, Miss Jo?”

“Yes. You mentioned passing it in the hackney on your way home after that terrifying ordeal. Returning there might jog your memory.”

“I’ve been going over it again and again, and nothing comes, but I’ll try.”

“Good girl. Think carefully, is there anything, apart from the smell of licorice, that might point to the gentleman you saw in the hall earlier, Mr. Ollerton, as the man who abducted you?” While Jo didn’t suspect him, she felt she should at least inquire.

“Oh!” The scarf dropped from Sally’s fingers. She put her hands to her cheeks. “Perhaps if I heard his voice again…”

“It was merely conjecture, Sally. I am being unfair to the gentleman. Before we do our shopping, we’ll have the jarvey drive around the streets. Perhaps we’ll discover where the woman helped you and can continue our search from there.”

Sally bent her head over a spencer. “Very well, Miss Jo.”

“There is no need to be frightened, Sally, I shan’t let anything happen to you, I promise.”

Sally shrugged. “They didn’t want me. But they might want you, Miss Jo.” She glanced up, her expression grave. “I’ve been talking to the maids belowstairs. They’ve heard horrible stories.”

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