“Help me you fool!” Josephine screeched in Duncan’s direction, just as Julia slammed the hateful woman’s hand against the wall. The gun fell to the floor and slid out of reach.
Julia reared back and punched the woman with every ounce of strength she had. Satisfaction coursed through her body, her blood pumping furiously through her veins. Josephine cried out, then slapped Julia across the face.
Julia did not let the hit delay her, she had to get to the gun. Flinging Josephine down, Julia frantically began looking for the weapon. A gleam in the corner, caught her eye. She leapt toward it, but before she could reach it, strong hands lifted her off the ground.
Defeat and sadness coursed through her, but she continued to fight. Her kicks didn’t seem to make a difference. Duncan only gripped her tighter.
Josephine picked up the gun and pointed it at Julia. “I should kill you and the bastard you’re carrying.”
For a split second, confusion clouded Julia’s mind, before realization sank in.
“Yes, it’s all your maid can speak of whenever she thinks she’s alone with Dayton.Lady Julia’s courses are late.” Josephine did an extremely good impression of the older maid. “They have no idea that I hide in their secret rendezvous spot, knowing they will reveal something about one of you.”
Julia struggled against Duncan’s vice-like grip, realization washing over her. She was with child.
Henry’s child.
Henry walked rapidly through the townhome. His entire body vibrated with excitement. His strides quickened with the thought of being inside her once again. He bounced with each step he took through the maze that was Warren House.
“Uncle Heart, help!” Emily came running down the hall in only her nightdress.
“Emily! What happened?” His blood ran cold. Picking her up, he checked her over. When he found no injury, he breathed a sigh of relief.
“The bad man and lady has Aunt Julia!” Her eyes were wild, and her lips trembled.
Fear gripped Henry. He suddenly felt sick to his stomach. “Emily, go get Uncle Karrington.”
Henry ran down the hall from where Emily had come. In the entrance hall, a man held a kicking and screaming Julia. A maid pointed a revolver at his fiancée, but it wasn’t a maid.
“Josephine? What do you think you’re doing?” Henry roared. He couldn’t believe the bitch was back.
“Heartford, you look well,” she drawled, giving his body a perusal that made him feel dirty in his own skin. “Come to have another shag in the library with Lady Julia? Really, if I knew you had such talents, I would’ve taken you as a lover.”
“Let her go, Josephine.” Henry took a tentative step toward her, his arms spread wide in submission. He didn’t want to spook her. The gun was too close to his beloved to risk any sudden movements.
Josephine shook her head, a sinister sneer on her once pretty face. “I think not. I believe I will take her and the bastard she’s carrying.”
Henry jolted back. Julia’s watery eyes and small nod confirmed the truth.
She was carrying his child? A spark of jubilation filled him. He was going to be a father.
“I don’t know what Josephine has told you, but whatever it is, she’s lying.” He pleaded with the tall man who just looked from him to Josephine unable to make a decision.
“Don’t listen to him! Let’s go. We’re taking Lady Julia!”
“The hell you are!” His only thought was on freeing Julia. Henry rushed toward the man holding Julia, tackling him to the ground. He wanted to check on her to make sure that she was well, but he had to handle the big man who held her captive.
Henry was surprised that the man barely put up a fight as he pummeled him repeatedly. Once the man was incapacitated beneath him, Henry released him and rose. He needed to get to Julia. Nothing could happen to her.
His heart plummeted to his stomach when he caught sight of her being held at gun point. He had foolishly reacted, forgetting about an armed Josephine. Everything stopped. His mind was completely blank as he looked into those wide blue eyes. He had never seen them filled with so much fear.
“I’m getting out of here.” Josephine’s cruel voice refocused his attention.
“Not with her.” He flexed his fingers, anxious to do something, but not sure how to disarm the woman without harming his beloved.
Julia’s hand rested protectively on her belly. The sight nearly bought him to his knees. He would do anything to keep them safe.
“Please,” he begged, not caring if he sounded weak. All he wanted was to get Julia free from Josephine.
