The Education Of Joanne Part 24

Throwing a beseeching look at Wiltham, she asked, "You saw his face? It is Kenton?"

He nodded confidently. "I pa.s.sed quite near-but this distresses you. Let us join Lady Sarah."

Joanne did not resist when he drew her forward.

"But I thought you said Lady Sarah was just on the steps," Joanne questioned, suddenly realizing

Wiltham had led her quite a distance from the Rotunda and that the light had grown much dimmer.

"I believe she is just ahead-see her there. We shall just have a few steps to go. If it is not she, we will return to the Rotunda and look for Comtesse de Clarte," he a.s.sured her.

The figure he pointed to faded away as they neared it.

Fear leaped to the fore of Joanne's dishevelled emotions. "We must turn back."

"We must go-but not back to the Rotunda," Wiltham said with bald confidence.

"What do you mean?" Joanne demanded. Realization dawned. "You knew Lady Sarah was not here.

How dare you?" Anger sparked her words. "I will go nowhere with you." Turning from him, she found her arm held fast.

"These gentlemen are here to help us depart, quite unnoticed, I a.s.sure you," Wiltham bragged.

Four men appeared from the shadows.

Panicking, Joanne opened her mouth to scream and a hand closed cruelly upon it. She clawed at it with her free hand.

Cursing, the man grabbed her arm and wrenched it behind her back.

"Now, my haughty beauty," Wiltham sneered as he watched her futile struggle, "we will be off to callupon your father." Kicking out violently, Joanne fought to twist free. Jason! Jason! She silently screamed. The anger that had strengthened her slowly dissolved. Her efforts gained only tightened grips, more painful restraints. Oh, Lord, she prayed, let Jason rescue me. They forced a gag into her mouth; her hands were bound. She was roughly pulled along the path andpushed hurriedly into a waiting coach.

Wiltham settled in beside her. He cupped her chin. "How unfortunate you are not willing in this. It could be so enjoyable for us both." His hand dropped to her breast.

Shuddering, Joanne flung herself away from his touch. With a derisive laugh Wiltham leaned back in his corner of the coach.

Terror wriggled into Joanne's mind. She remembered all too clearly the drunken encounter at Furness House. Then she had escaped. Would she now?

Chapter Twenty-two.

Concern gnawed at the comtesse. Kenton should have returned Joanne to her side by now. Men areunpredictable when in love, she thought, but- "Ah, Dr. Ames. Have you seen Lord Jason or Lady Joanne?" "I believe I saw them come in some time ago. Ah, here is Jason now. "Good eve, once again, my lord," Ames greeted him, striving to control his smile. "Is Joanne not with you?" Kenton asked, glancing at those standing nearby. "We thought she was with you," the comtesse returned. "But I have not seen her for over an hour." "Perhaps she is with Lady Sarah," Ames offered. "Which one is she?" Kenton asked, looking at the gossiping women. "How can you tell one fromanother?" "It is quite easy, my lord," the Comtesse de Clarte said archly. "I see Sarah now." She hurried to theslightly larger figure. "Lady Sarah, may I speak with you?" "Of course, comtesse. Is this not the grandest masque? I think it is very bad mannered of Humbolt toinsist we leave. He is ill-tempered as a baited bear this eve." "But why?" "Oh, he has danced only once with Lady Joanne and has not been able even to speak with her but for a few seconds. It would not surprise me," Sarah leaned forward and lowered her voice, "if he meant to offer for Joanne. It would have been nice to have had her for a cousin," she reflected.

"But why are you certain she would not agree to the match?" the comtesse asked, instinct causing her to

probe.

"Because, well, Lord Wiltham said-" She guiltily stopped speaking.

"Then the flowers you pinned to Joanne's domino were from Wiltham." The comtesse took lady Sarah's hand. "Come with me," she ordered. "We go outdoors," she clipped to Kenton and Ames as she brushed past. The two followed, their curiosity raised at this turn.

Outside the Rotunda, the comtesse led Lady Sarah to a bench away from most of the crowd and directed her to sit.

"Now you will tell me about this business with Lord Wiltham," she commanded.

Sarah looked nervously from the pet.i.te figure with hands on her hips to Kenton, then down to her folded hands. "But I promised-"

"There is no need to fear breaking a promise. Wiltham had you pin the flowers on Joanne's domino sohe would be certain it was she-n'est-ce pas?" A nod affirmed it. "But there was nothing wrong in doing that," Sarah defended her action.

"No one has said you have done wrong," Kenton a.s.sured. "Simply tell us what you know."

"Well-" she looked at the three searchingly. "I suppose it is all right. Lord Wiltham promised-he said he would do me a favour, if I could convince Joanne to come to the masque.

Tonight he gave me the flowers. I thought it odd he wished me to do it, especially when he said they were to be married."

"Married!" Jason snapped.

Frightened by Kenton's tone, Lady Sarah broke into tears. "I meant no harm, truly I did not," she cried.

"We believe you, child," the comtesse consoled her. "Benjamin, fetch Lord Humbolt. Tell him his cousin is not feeling well and must be taken home."

Ames hurried to do as bid. Sitting beside Sarah, Kenton asked gently, "Did Wiltham say anything else?

Did Joanne give any indication she was agreeable or even knowledgeable of his intentions? Think carefully."

"I don't recall anything else Lord Wiltham said," Sarah sobbed, "and Joanne didn't speak of marrying anyone." Taking the kerchief the comtesse offered she blew her nose forcefully. Subsiding into sniffles, she added, "Why, Joanne did not act as if she cared for Humbolt to ask for her hand-so it had to be Wiltham she cares for. I thought I was helping her."

"Humbolt plans to ask for her hand-" began Kenton.

"That is of no matter now," the comtesse cut him off. "If she is with Wiltham, there is every reason to

fear for her."

"Comtesse de Clarte. Lord Jason," Humbolt greeted them. "Dr. Ames says my cousin is ill.

"Sarah, what is wrong?"

"She has only the headache-too much excitement," the comtesse told him lightly. "Just take her home and she will be fine." "But I wish to speak with Lady Joanne," Humbolt objected.

"It seems many have the same desire this eve," she twittered with false airiness. "She is dancing now. I will tell her you shall call upon us on the morrow," she a.s.sured him.

After a slight hesitation Humbolt bowed. "Thank you, my lady. Come, Sarah." He held out his hand to help her rise.

"Everything will be all right, won't it?" Sarah asked.

"Yes, child, never fear. We shall be seeing you soon. Good eve."

When the two were beyond hearing range, Kenton exploded. "What has been happening? What is this

about Joanne and Wiltham?"

"Please calm yourself, Lord Jason. Do you wish everyone to hear? First, I do not believe she favours

him. I have learned a little about the man and it all points to a scheme from Furness," the comtesse explained impatiently.

"A scheme? What do you know?"

"Lord Perton told me that until two months ago Lord Wiltham owed money to every merchant in

London. There were rumours his estates were to be confiscated for payment. Then suddenly all debts were cleared and ever since Wiltham has paid for everything at the time of purchase.

"This is odd enough, but Lord Perton also said that Wiltham has been in Furness' pocket for some time."

"You believe Furness has set Wiltham to woo Joanne?" Ames asked. "Why would he?"

"It makes sense," Kenton threw in, thinking of Furness and what he knew of the relationship between father and daughter.

"I am glad you agree," the comtesse said with an arched eyebrow. She swiftly led them toward the exits.

"But where are you going?" Ames called out.

"You cannot believe Joanne would agree to marrying him without telling me," flared the comtesse. She

snapped her fingers in Kenton's face. "That is how much you care for her to let her be tied to a dog selected by her father. I for one do not believe she left willingly. And I intend doing something about it.

"Benjamin," she said expectantly.

"She may be right," Ames said.

"And what would you have us do?" Kenton asked. Fear, anger, and confusion mingled. His heart told him Joanne loved him. His ears had heard her words but his eyes had also seen her flirt outrageously with Wiltham and Humbolt. Had she spoken of love to them also?

"We should go to Furness' lodgings at once," the comtesse insisted. "He will know the direction Wiltham has taken. Then we pursue them."

"I will come, but even if Furness allows us entry, I doubt we will learn anything from him."

Kenton looked so woebegone, she yearned to comfort him.

"Have you not thought we both have been played for fools?" Lord Jason's doubts prompted.

"No," she flashed and started once again for the exits, glancing back only to see that Ames and Kenton

followed.