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“Oh, Josephine! You absolutely should come!” Lady Vane turned toward her.

“Absolutely!” the duchess chimed in. “And perform one of your plays. But one with a happy ending, Mary doesn’t like tragedies.”

“I would love to, but I don’t think I was invited,” Jo said on a chuckle.

Lady Ashbury waved a dismissive hand. “They don’t invite many people. Only a select few. But I can assure you, you shall be more than welcome.”

“Yes, I shall pen a letter to Julie after tea. She is my cousin. The Countess of Clydesdale,” the duchess explained. “And she would love to have you there. Except, perhaps be selective of the people from your theater company that you take with you. Selena must come, of course. Where is she, by the way?”

Selena and a few other ladies had left horse riding a few hours ago. Jo thought that fresh air would do Selena good after being cooped up in the house the past two days.

Jo had intended to comfort her friend and indulge in fun activities, but her courses had started two days ago, and as a result, she’d been dull company. Perhaps, quiet days inside the house were what Selena had needed as she mended her broken heart. But on the third day, she grew restless and decided to venture out horse riding.

Jo would have joined her gladly. And even though the courses didn’t pain her anymore, it wasn’t a good idea to go riding. So she stayed behind.

Jo opened her mouth to answer the question without too much detail but was interrupted as the butler appeared on the doorstep and knocked discreetly. “Pardon the interruption.” He bowed. “There’s an urgent missive for Your Grace.”

The duchess stood. “Oh, that might be from Julie. I don’t know who else would send me urgent missives!”

She took the letter and turned toward her friends. “Do you mind if I open it here? I don’t want to wait until I get to my room and—”

“Oh, of course.” Lady Vane waved the question away.

The duchess stepped toward the side table and opened the envelope. Her eyes ran over a few lines of text and just as the conversation resumed, she gasped, tears appearing in her eyes.

Lady Ashbury immediately shot up and approached her friend. “Evie, what’s wrong?”

Jo and Lady Vane stood also.

“Mary,” was the only word that escaped the duchess’s lips before a terrible sob tore through her lips.

Lady Ashbury enveloped her in a hug and handed the letter to Lady Vane. She read it; her face turning pale. It was obvious she was shocked and could not move. Then she raised her pleading eyes toward Jo. “Can you ask…?” She cleared her throat, her voice getting hoarse. “St. Clare, please ask someone to find St. Clare.”

Jo nodded and dashed from the room, her heart racing. She could have called for a maid, but she didn’t want to delay it. The duchess seemed very distressed and in her condition, Jo didn’t want to risk anything. But she also felt that whatever tragedy had befallen the duchess was a very private affair, so she left the women alone.

She ran past one of the footmen and inquired where she could find Viscount St. Clare. He directed her toward the billiard room and she hurried that way.

Jo entered the room full of smoke, banter, and laughter. Her eyes burned, whether from smoke or tears, she didn’t know. She didn’t know what would be the reason for her crying, but she felt extremely upset.

“My lord,” she called from the door. Every man in the room turned toward her.

Richard reached her in two strides. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head. “St. Clare. I need to speak to Viscount St. Clare.”

“St. Clare,” Richard bellowed, still standing by her side.

The viscount appeared by her side, his usual good-natured smile hidden behind his worried mien.

“The duchess,” Jo said, then faltered.

“Where is she?” The viscount was already on the way out of the room.

“She’s in the marchioness’s chambers.” Jo hurried after him.

“What happened?” he hurled over his shoulder.

“She received some distressing news, I don’t know…” She didn’t finish her sentence. The viscount was moving toward the second floor, taking the stairs three steps at a time, and she wouldn’t be able to keep up even if her petticoats weren’t slowing her down.