Josephine shivered in pleasure and something strange rippled through her at the sound of Nick’s guttural groan of release. Her heart raced. She’d never seen such raw male power as she had when his muscles strained with every stroke of his member inside her, then the instant he went taut as his pleasure overtook him.

Nicholas lifted his head from her neck and kissed her so sweetly she wanted to weep. He slid off of her and pulled her back flush against his warm body, arm tight around her. She couldn’t hurt this man, couldn’t allow Lord Wylst to put him in a position where he could blackmail him, for Nick would do everything the baron asked to keep her secret. And Lord Wylst was right. Come what may, Nicholas would never kill him once he learned the truth.

In the morning, she had to end things. Josephine jammed shut her eyes in an effort to halt the tears. This would be the only time she felt Nick’s arms around her. Her stomach clenched. They still had the night. She prayed he would remember her like this...would forgive her. She would take this memory with her into the nothingness that lay beyond. But until then...

Jo turned is his arms and he pulled her closer. Even in sleep, he protected her. She listened to his even breathing for a long while before at last pressing a kiss against his bare chest. A tremor rippled through her when his arms tightened around her. She slid her mouth along the hard muscle to his nipple, then flicked her tongue against the hard peak as he had hers. Did he feel the same pleasure she did?

Jo became aware of his growing erection. Her heart thumped. Aye, he felt pleasure as she did. Nicholas groaned and she knew these last few hours would be theirs. He rolled on top of her and she was lost.

* * *

When Nicholas saw Josephine he was going to have a long talk with her. It was tea time and he had yet to come down from her room. He told himself she had slept in, too exhausted for a day of parties after their lovemaking last night, and was pleased with the idea. What he wasn’t pleased with was the story George Halloway was telling him about the ladies’ encounter with the highwayman.

The marchioness had omitted several key details when she recounted the tale to them yesterday. Nick knew Jo had disobeyed her mother in not returning with the other ladies to the castle, but she hadn’t told them how she had tried to engage the highwayman—or how the marchioness herself had saved her daughter by physically assaulting the highwayman who had targeted Jo.

“Forgive me for interrupting.” Annabel stepped up beside Nicholas.

“You are never interrupting, Miss Knightly,” Halloway said.

She smiled. “You are too kind. May I speak with Lord Grayson for a moment?”

Halloway bowed. “I will leave you two alone.”

Annabel canted her head. “Thank you, sir.”

Nicholas wondered at the worry lines around her eyes. His concern was confirmed when she waited until Halloway had joined another group several paces away before she said. “Have you seen Josephine today?”

“No. I assumed she was resting after yesterday’s events.”

“I assumed the same and went to her room. She isn’t there. I checked with the kitchen. She took breakfast at ten, but no one has seen her since.”

“That was four hours ago,” Nickolas said.

“My lord, Josephine has a small letterbox in which she keeps her most precious possessions.”

The sudden change of subject startled him.

“The box contains five items: the pearl necklace our father gave her, a silly handkerchief I made for her when I was ten, the fleur de lys diamond brooch you gave her upon your return, and the two letters you sent while away.”

“My letters?” he blurted. “She kept those all these years?”

“Not only did she keep them, but she often carries the letterbox with her, just as she did to this house party.”

“And the brooch I gave her.” His chest expanded with emotion. “I had no idea.”

“I suspect no one else knows, in fact,” Annabel said, then added without preamble, “My lord, I am something of a sneak.”

Nicholas blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

“I am certain Josephine does not know that I am aware of the letterbox’s existence. You see, I never quite broke the habit I had as child of, well, going through her things.”

Nicholas commanded the laughter that tugged at his mouth into submission. “I see.”

She gave a serene smile completely devoid of remorse. “I do have some sense—I am not as bad as I used to be. But the five years difference between Josephine and I was a great source of frustration to me in my younger years. I felt she was privileged to do all the things she wanted, while I was bound by rigid rules. The fancy was a little sister’s envy, of course, but in my youthful anger I struck back by prying into her private affairs at every opportunity—which was fairly often. I was quite good at it, so she never suspected.”

“Just as she doesn’t suspect now,” he said.

Her expression sobered. “In truth, my lord, the only reason I pried today was because of a sense of unease that I haven’t been able to shed.”

Nicholas was beginning to know how she felt.

“I fear I was correct, she said. “The letterbox is empty.”

“Empty? I did see her wearing the pearls.”

Annabel nodded. “Two days ago. If only the pearls were missing from the letterbox, I would not wonder. But for the mementos to be gone, as well, is strange.”

“Why?”

“She may carry the box with her, but she would not empty the contents and leave the box behind.”

Nicholas had to admit, it struck him oddly as well. He might think she had decided to dispose of the letters and brooch in a fit of anger at him, but she would never part with the necklace her father had given her, nor the handkerchief her sister had sewn.

“She never goes anywhere for any length of time without those items,” Annabel said.

“What are you saying?”

“I believe she is planning to run away.”

“Run away?”

Lady Allaway’s eyes cut to him and he realized he’d spoken the word louder than intended. Nicholas lightly grasped Annabel’s elbow and escorted her from the parlor into the hallway where he took several steps from the doorway before stopping.

“Where could she possibly go?” he asked.

“She could disappear in London or even Paris and live modestly. Our parents have given her trinkets over the years that could sustain her for some time.”

“Disappear? She may have her misgivings about our marriage, but surely not so much so that she would disappear from our lives?” Especially not after last night, he mentally added. “Not to mention, I can’t believe she would sell that necklace. It means too much to her.”

“It certainly wouldn’t be the first to go,” Annabel replied. “But Josephine is a practical woman and, you will forgive me for saying so, my lord, but she does seem determined not to marry you.”

“Aye,” he agreed with an increasing sense of disquiet. “Have you any idea why?” He had spent little time with Annabel and it hadn’t occurred to him she might have some insight into her sister’s behavior.

Annabel shook her head. “I am sorry to say, I do not. I know she loves you.”

“What?”

She gave him a gentle smile. “Even a child could see it.”

How could he doubt she loved after last night? And how could Jo possibly consider running away after last night? She couldn’t.

“Annabel, Jo is not a fool. I can’t believe she would be so imprudent as to leave. And,” he hesitated, “I believe she and I have come to an understanding.”

Her gaze sharpened and unexpected heat rose in his face. Surely, the girl couldn’t discern his meaning? But the girl, he realized, was a young woman of eighteeen, and no fool.

She placed a hand on his arm. “Sir, I do not know why Josephine is so unhappy, but I do know that she is.”

The forthright assessment—and its accuracy—sent a wave of alarm through him.

She withdrew her hand. “If you will tell me that whatever passed between you and my sister has healed her, I will take your word.”

She said no more, but Nicholas knew she was too genteel too say But what if you are wrong?