At dinner, Josephine was seated between Nicholas and Miss Lydia Roberts. Lydia prattled on about inane gossip and Jo nodded as she covertly watched Lord Wylst at the far end of the table near Lord Allaway. Josephine’s mother hadn’t interact with the baron and gave no indication she was discomfited. Josephine picked at her food while she seethed. How could her mother laugh with her husband while her lover sat only a few seats down the table from them?

“Are you ill, Lady Josephine?”

She jumped at the sound of Nick’s voice. “I am fine. Why do you ask?

“You’re picking at your food, instead of eating it.”

“Oh,” she said. “I was lost in thought.” She took a bite and realized it was fish, which she detested. But she smiled and chewed as if it was delicious.

His brows rose. “I thought you didn’t care for fish.”

“If you knew I didn’t care for fish, why were you surprised I wasn’t eating it?” she demanded under her breath.

He nodded toward the plate. “You do love pheasant.”

She looked at her plate and saw that she had pushed the meat nearly off her plate. Her heart fell. How would she get through the remaining ten days of the party without giving away her feelings toward her mother or Lord Wylst? 

 

Dinner ended and Lord Allaway suggested the ladies retire to the grand parlor while the men had brandy and wine. The men stood as the ladies rose and left the table. Since learning the truth about her mother’s infidelity, Josephine had often wondered if her mother had lied about other things as well. But seeing her stroll past her lover as if he were a total stranger, Josephine wondered not if her mother had lied, but what she had lied about over the years?

The desire to run away and hide in one of her father’s smaller estates in the northern Highlands rose as it had a hundred times since this nightmare began. Josephine released a quiet breath and fell back farther in the rear of the ladies’ procession, which was filing through the door in the far corner near the balcony. Running away would only leave her family at the mercy of Lord Wylst. That she would not do. Josephine gazed out the balcony doors into the gardens beyond as she neared. However, she could run away for an hour or so.

She glanced back over her shoulder and saw Nick engrossed in conversation with Lord Allaway. The ladies ahead of her chatted with one another, oblivious to her. She seized the opportunity and ducked through the balcony doors, then hurried down the steps. After a few paces, rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias, embrothriums and camellias enveloped her in a sea of color that brought the first smile she’d experienced since learning she was to attend the party.

Jo slowed her walk along the stone path and passed beneath a small arched bridge to the center of the gardens where a bench was located beside a round stone pond. She sat down and took a deep breath of the early evening air. The sun hung low in the horizon. Daylight would last another forty-five minutes. Forty-five minutes of peace...of freedom. It was more than she had enjoyed since Lord Wylst entered her life a month ago—more than she had hoped for since Nicholas returned. Josephine closed her eyes at the pang that squeezed her heart. Six years he’d been gone. But it seemed like yesterday that he’d taken her hand in his and told her he was leaving.

Her heart broke twice that day, for she knew her father had refused his offer of marriage. She must have cursed Nicholas a thousand times for offering for her. Though his kiss had haunted her, she could have convinced herself the emotions were a girl’s fantasies—if not for that damned marriage proposal. His asking for hand in marriage had given life to her feelings. Then he’d allowed his father to send him away, leaving behind promises she knew he would never keep.

Josephine bowed her head and finally gave in to the tears that had fought to be freed the moment she’d laid eyes on him a month ago.

Why did you return, Nick?

“Lovely evening, is it not?”

Josephine jerked her head up at hearing the familiar voice.

Lord Wylst stood on the path beyond the hedges that lined the manicured lawn around the circular pond.

Jo swiped at her cheeks and resisted the urge to jump to her feet. “What are you doing here?”

“I was invited, like you.”

“That is a fine coincidence,” she snapped. “It is more likely you are here to harass me.”

He rounded the pool, then stopped in front of her. “You are not happy to see me, my dear?”

Perhaps rising was a good idea after all—leaving was even a better idea. She rose and started past him. He stepped in her way.

Josephine lifted her gaze to his face. Only the rim of the sun remained over the horizon, but she could still discern his smirk. “Step aside, sir.”

“We need to talk.”

“So that you can extract more money from me? Have a care, sir. If you push me too far, you will get nothing.”

“If I get nothing, I expose you.”

“I imagine you will not want to lose your newly found place in society.” Or the newly found place in my mother’s bed, she silently added.

Jo’s heart began to beat faster. Dare she say a word about knowing what was going on between him and her mother? If she threatened to expose them, would he fear losing her mother as a lover?

“Men are allowed indiscretions,” he said as if reading her mind. “Women are not. I will survive quite well. You, however...”

“You will do yourself no good if you bleed me dry and expose us. What reason will I have to pay you anything if I believe you will do that?”

“I agree, it’s a delicate situation,” he said. “But don’t get too high and mighty. I have financial obligations and I will not be put off.”

“Financial obligations?” she repeated. “Like losing money to Lord Grayson?”

A nasty glint appeared in his eyes. “Sticking your nose in business that does not concern you is dangerous. But speaking of your future husband, it is time you cease trying to wiggle out of the marriage—and that includes dallying with men like Lord Beaumond.”

Josephine drew a sharp breath.

He nodded. “That’s right. I know about the marquess. No more of such shenanigans, at least not until after you have given Grayson an heir.”

“How dare you?” she shot back. “Not everyone eschews fidelity as do you.”

Lord Wylst laughed. “Most, in fact, are exactly like me.” He narrowed his eyes. “But that aside, you will behave and marry Nicholas.”

“My marriage is none of your concern.”

“Oh, but it is my concern.”

“I will not marry Nicholas just so that you can bleed him dry,” she said.

“Do not worry about Grayson.”

Josephine shook inside. “If you are here to demand more money, I did not bring any with me.”

“That is a pretty necklace you’re wearing.” He nodded to the pearls she wore.

Her hand flew to her throat. “These were a gift from my father.”

He gave a condescending laugh and extended his hand. “Give them to me.”

She took a step back. “No.”

His hand dropped back to his side. “Then you leave me no choice. I must speak with Montagu. He is here at the party, is he not?”

“Will you also tell him who procured your invitation to Lady Allaway’s party?”

Malice gleamed in his eyes. “Do you think it would interest him?”

A fresh wave of fear brought a chill, but she forced a calm voice, “Aye, he will be mightily interested.”

“Shall we tell him together, then?”

He took a step closer and she flinched.

He laughed.

The murmur of distant voices cut off his laughter. “Be quick about it,” he said.

Josephine glanced in the direction the voices had come.

“Girl,” he growled. She hesitated and he grasped her arms and spun her around. She twisted in an effort to break free, but his fingers tightened on her flesh as he hissed in her ear, “Do you want them to hear and ask you what is wrong?”

She froze when he grasped the clasp, his fingers brushing the hairs that stood on end at the back of her neck. With painful clarity, memory rose of her squeal of delight when her father produced the jewelry box on her sixteenth birthday. The pearls were the first jewelry she had been given and was the only jewelry her father had ever given her. He had clasped them about her neck, then turned her to face him and called her his grownup girl.

Josephine closed her eyes and willed back the tears.

Forgive me, Father.

Lord Wylst lifted the pearls from around her neck and she whirled to face him.

“There now,” he said. “That wasn’t so terrible, was it?”

“You may consider that next month’s payment,” she said in a low voice.

His brows rose. “Is that so?”

The crunch of boots on rocky ground cut off her reply as Nicholas appeared with her sister, Lady Deeds, and Henry Maxwell from within the tall bushes on the far side of the fountain. Josephine glimpsed Lord Wylst slipping her pearls into his jacket pocket and she wanted to melt into the ground. Of all the people to come upon her and the baron it would have to be Nicholas. Yes, she realized, it was all too coincidental, which meant it was no coincidence at all. He had come in search of her. She wanted to cry and scream at the same time.

“Smile,” Lord Wylst hissed under his breath. “You look as though you have just come from a funeral.”

She felt as if she had just come from a funeral, but forced aside the pain, and said, “Lady Allaway’s garden is hailed as one of the most beautiful gardens in all the Highlands.” Her voice was too bright and she feared neither Nicholas nor her sister would be fooled.

“So I have heard,” Lord Wylst said. “They are, indeed, the most beautiful I have seen.”

She repressed the desire to slap the satisfied smile off his face, and smiled at the approaching group. “Good evening, my lords, Lady Deeds.”

Josephine didn’t miss the thin-lipped disapproval on her face. The old biddy wasn’t a gossip, but she was a busybody. By night’s end she would make certain Josephine’s father knew she’d been in the gardens alone with Lord Wylst. Jo recalled her father’s threat to marry her off to the man she seduced and suppressed a shiver at the thought of him thinking she was cavorting with the baron.

The group stopped beside them, and she said, “I see you were able to get Lord Grayson out for a walk, Annabel.”

“He was quite willing,” she replied. “In fact, we hoped to run into you.”

Jo wagered they did. She prayed her shock at having given up her pearl necklace didn’t show.

When Nicholas said, “Wylst,” in a voice dripping with condemnation over the fact that the baron was alone with the future Countess of Grayson, another wave of shame rolled over Josephine. 

* * *

Nicholas didn’t wait for a response from Wylst, but turned his eyes onto his betrothed. She smiled and spoke enthusiastically with her sister and Lady Deeds, but the animation didn’t reach her eyes. She didn’t look as if she had been caught in another man’s embrace—she was fully dressed and not a hair was out of place on her head. In fact, he was sure she didn’t like the baron. So what was she doing with him in the gardens? Had Wylst followed her?

Nick shot a glance at him. The man appeared to listen intently to the women, but Nick detected no signs of lust. He hadn’t forgotten the young woman Wylst was rumored to have ruined during Nick’s stay in Paris. He never learned the details, but he hadn’t doubted for a moment the man was capable of the despicable act. He and Beaumond were of the same cut.

“It is growing late,” Nicholas said. “Perhaps we should return to the castle.”

Wylst made a move as if to offer his arm to Jo, but she slipped her hand into the crook of Nick’s arm. It seemed she hadn’t seen Wylst, but Nicholas was certain she had.

Wylst’s eyes narrowed in resentment, but Nicholas pretended not to notice, and said, “Shall we?”

“Indeed,” Lady Deeds said. “It would not do for someone to catch a chill.” She gave Josephine a meaningful look, which Jo blithely ignored.

Nick pressed a hand to Annabel’s back to start her forward ahead of them. She fell into place alongside Lady Deeds and Henry, with Wylst beside Josephine as they began walking.

“I understand you are investing in Easton’s shipping company,” Wylst said to Nicholas.

He jerked his gaze onto Wylst. “Where did you hear that?”

The baron smirked. “You are not the only gentleman Easton does business with.”

Jo’s fingers flexed on Nick’s arm. He looked down at her in inquiry, but she stared straight ahead.

“Cumberland, I believe is the name of the company,” Wylst said. “He plans a year’s trip to the orient. Should be quite lucrative.”

Nicholas made a mental note to decline investing in the company. If Easton was fool enough to involve Wylst, he wanted nothing to do with the venture.

“It looks as though you and I will be partners,” the baron went on.

“I cannot see how.”

Wylst looked surprised. “As investors in Cumberland, we will be partners.”

“If you are looking for a company where you can take an active role, you have made a mistake with Cumberland. Easton is looking for silent partners.”

“So he is telling most of the investors he approaches,” Wylst replied. “But he is looking for two equal partners as well. He tells me you are one.”

Nick lifted a brow. “I do not intend to go into the shipping business.”

Wylst frowned. “Easton is under the impression you are committed.”

Nick gave Wylst a cold smile. “Then he is as mistaken as you.”