Their Brazen Countess by Mowbray Sorcha

Author:Mowbray, Sorcha
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Amour Press
Published: 2024-08-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

Later That Day

Jo sat in Arthur’s carriage with Matthew at her side, thinking back on her unexpectedly pleasurable afternoon. Still sleepy from his nap, her son sat snuggled into her side. The carriage pulled to a stop, and the footman opened the door and helped her down. With Matthew’s hand in her own, she entered the townhouse to find a strange man in the foyer.

“Welcome home, my lady.”

“Who are you and where is Bell?” Jo stopped and stared at the man.

Where the bloody hell was her staff? Why was this strange man answering her door? Determined to find out what was going on, she turned on her heel and walked past the unknown man.

The stranger trailed behind her. “My understanding is that Mr. Bell is no longer employed here. I am Mr. Jasper, my lady.”

Jo burst into the kitchen and spotted the cook bent over the fireplace. “Mrs. Adams, what is going on around here?”

A woman stood up and spun around to face her but she was not, in fact, Mrs. Adams.

“Who the bloody hell are you?” Jo winced as she glanced down at Matthew, but pressed on. Her concern for what had happened to the staff she and her late husband had put in place far outpaced her concern for her son hearing the profanity.

“I-I…I’m Mrs. Paulson, my lady.” She curtsied and looked past her to the man from the foyer—Jasper, was it?

Fury rising inside her as suspicion bloomed, Jo turned around to face Jasper. “Who precisely hired you?”

The man cleared his throat as color rose in his cheeks. “I believe Lord Downs oversaw the changeover of staff.”

Jo choked, “The changeover of staff?”

“Yes, my lady.” Jasper had the good grace to look uncomfortable as he affirmed the information.

“Where is Lord Downs at the moment?” Jo asked, anger making her voice shake.

“I believe he is in the study, my lady.”

With a growl of fury, Jo stormed out of the kitchen and up the back stairs to the nursery. There she found yet another servant she did not recognize.

“Matthew, I want you to stay here with this,” she looked up at the unsmiling woman, “this nice lady. I’ll be back shortly to check on you.” Jo motioned for the other woman to follow her into the hallway. After shutting the door to the nursery, she looked at the woman. “I do not know who you are, but I am leaving my son here for now. I expect you to ensure he stays safe until I return.”

“Yes, my lady.” The woman nodded somberly.

As assured as she could be that her son was safe, Jo went in search of her brother-in-law finding him, as promised, in the study.

She stormed in without knocking, letting the door bang loudly against the wall. “Where the bloody hell are my servants?”

Lord Downs looked up with derision on his face. “I told you, Lady Whitestone, I control the finances now. I have replaced your overpaid staff with individuals who come at more reasonable rates and who understand who is in charge around here.

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