Then again most of his family here would likely be a big disaster unless the Earl was here to reign them in or he himself kept tabs.

"Hmm, you've mentioned some things that give me some idea what you might have joined for." He had mentioned the word 'research' more than twice he's talked to him. Joker also filled him in on the word 'experiments'. "I could cheat and say it has something to do with magic but that would be the easy answer. I can't see you looking for that greater power but perhaps you are looking for something that you can't find yourself and she's helping you?" One wouldn't research and experiment if they weren't looking for something.