She’s back and she’s deadly!
Julia patted her forehead and cheeks. She was so blissfully happy. Everything was coming together for her and Henry. She giggled like a schoolgirl, twirling as she walked expertly through the townhouse. She was marrying Henry in a matter of days, and this time, nothing would come between them.
She still hadn’t found the words to tell him that she loved him, but she would tonight. After she left the children, she would confess that she had never stopped loving him.
Reaching the family quarters, she took the next flight of stairs to the nursery. Cries and whispered shouts alerted her that something was wrong. Without thinking, she lifted her heavy skirts and ran.
“Lucy, is everything well?” Julia asked as she opened the nursery door, worry clenching in her belly.
“Grab her, you fool!” a woman’s harsh voice sneered, sending a chill of familiarity down Julia’s spine.
Before she could react, she was grabbed around the middle and lifted off the ground. A thin hand clamped over her mouth. She kicked her legs and swung her arms wildly. Her hands stung as she made impact with her attacker.
“Aunt Julia!” Teddy cried from the corner. She immediately stopped her struggle.
Teddy and Emily huddled in the corner with their arms around each other while Frederick lay asleep in the crib. Julia sighed in relief, happy that the children weren’t harmed in any way.
Lucy lay unconscious in the middle of the room, blood pouring from a head wound. The relief she felt moments ago turned into cold dread. Her eyes frantically searched Lucy’s body for any sign of life. Julia released a shaky breath when she saw the small rise and fall of her chest.
“Hello, Lady Julia. It is a pleasure to see you again.” Julia’s eyes widened as the maid in front of her gave her a cat-like smile.
Josephine Middleton, the former Countess of Windchester, stood in the center of the nursery with a gun pointed at Julia.
“If you scream, I will kill Karrington’s heir. Do you understand?” Josephine sneered.
Julia nodded her head in confirmation, her voice stuck in her throat. She looked around the room, searching for anything to use to defend her and the children. Whatever Josephine wanted wasn’t good.
The strong arms suddenly released Julia and shoved her toward the children.
“Over there, Lady Julia,” Duncan, one of the Karrington grooms, said.
Julia had only encountered the tall, lanky groom a handful of times when she had visited the stables. Duncan was childlike for a man of five and twenty, but she never would have thought him dangerous to the family. He always had a kind word to say and was good at his job.
She rushed over to the children, knelt between them, and took them in her arms. They clung to her as she tried to give them some semblance of comfort.
“It’s okay, everything will be okay,” she murmured, trying to sound sure of herself, but inside she was petrified.
“What do you want? “Julia asked, hoping to delay their plan. “Why are you doing this?” She tried to stay calm in hopes that someone would come check on them. Then she remembered that Henry was going to meet her. Hope soared through her. She must try to keep them here a little longer.
“I’m here for the girl, but I was just informing Duncan that I would like to now take the boys as well.” Josephine’s smile showed a row of rotten teeth. Her time in Newgate Prison had not done her well. She no longer looked like a formidable countess.
But it was her cold eyes that scared Julia. They were lifeless.
“No, Josie. I won’t take the duke’s sons. He’s been good to me, he has.” Duncan shook his head and rubbed his hands together. “We’re only taking your daughter. She’s yours by right.”
“She’s not her daughter! We both know her mother is Lady Evers, who you murdered.” Julia disentangled herself from the children and stood. Fear crawled over her. She pushed the children further behind her skirts. “Karrington knows I’ve come to check on the children. Someone will follow me any moment. You should leave now.”
“You think anyone is coming for you with the way you behave, like a common whore? Not even your precious Heartford would want you.” Josephine waved the gun toward them, causing Julia to flinch.
Spreading her hands out wide, she tried to shield the children. The back of her neck was sweating profusely. She wanted nothing more than to take all three of the children and flee. But there was no way she could pick up Freddy and run with Teddy and Emily. That despicable woman would catch one if not both, and Julia could never allow that to happen.
She wouldn’t allow them to take any of them out of the house. A quick scan of the room told her there was nothing to use as a weapon.
“Get the heir and my daughter. We’ll leave the baby,” Josephine instructed harshly.
“No!” both Duncan and Julia yelled together. His loud voice caused Julia to jump slightly.
She was both shocked and grateful that the man was so adamant about not taking the boys. But she needed them to leave Emily as well. Julia would not allow Josephine to leave with any of the children.
