Page 452 of Wicked Highland Heroes

Chapter Four

“The dog already fled?” Nicholas asked Henry, when they finally broke away from the last guests offering their congratulations on his and Josephine’s wedding.

“Lord Beaumond was seen getting into his carriage, his bags atop the vehicle,” Henry said.

Nicholas snorted. “He’s an even bigger coward than I thought—not to mention a fool, if he thinks I will let this pass.”

“Is forcing the issue worth the possibility of leaving Lady Josephine without a husband-to-be?” Henry asked.

“Yes, but I have no fear of that happening. Beaumond is a terrible shot.” Nick saw the question in Henry’s eyes what about Josephine’s part in the matter? But didn’t answer. He glanced at her to see she was still well engaged with Lady Allaway and her sister. That would keep her out of trouble long enough for him to speak with her father. “Henry, I have some business to discuss with Montagu. Would you escort Jo to her room if I do not return?”

“Of course,” Henry, said, and Nicholas went in search of the marquess.

Fifteen minutes later, Nicholas found Jo’s father reading in a corner chair of the library and took a seat beside him.

Montagu’s gaze met his and he closed his book. “What has she done now?”

“She is a foolish girl,” Nicholas said more to himself than the marquess.

“Foolish enough to have finally convinced you to call off the wedding?”

“Nay,” he replied, and wondered what she could do that could force him to end the contract. Even seeing her sitting astride Beaumond half-naked, the possibility of ending things hadn’t crossed his mind—despite knowing that was exactly what she was trying to goad him into.

“Are ye certain you want to go through with the marriage?” Montagu asked. “I would not blame you one bit if you didn’t, and would not hold you to a single pound of the recompense.”

Marrying Jo had been all he’d been able to think about when he discovered she hadn’t married. He refused to consider life without her. Accepting that fate the first time had left a gaping hole in his heart that couldn’t be filled by any other woman.

Nicholas shook his head. “Nay. I stand by my word.”

“Come what may?” Montagu asked softly.

“Come what may.”

“She isn’t the girl you left behind, Grayson.”

Nick laughed mentally. And here, only minutes ago, he’d told Josephine she was the same girl. He remembered the look in her eyes when she’d first seen him after his return. A child’s wonder had given way to a woman’s hurt—then scorn. From that scorn was born a passion that he’d only glimpsed in the girl six years past. Tonight, he’d finally tasted of that hunger and knew it was but a hint of what she was capable of...of what she felt for him.

“She is grown,” Nicholas said.

Montagu gave a slow nod. “Grayson, I have never said it, but I deeply regret being against your marrying Josephine when you were young. Her betrothal to Helmsley was only a handshake between his father and me when they were young. Helmsley was older than you, more...settled. When I think of all the pain that would have been avoided...” His voice dropped off.

“I cannot blame you. I wasn’t the sort of man I would have wanted my daughter marrying either.” Nick couldn’t help a sad smile. “My father warned me my whoring ways wouldn’t serve me well. It seems he was right.”

“Our youthful ways seldom do any of us credit,” Montagu said. “But you are a man who will protect Josephine.” He regarded Nicholas with intense eyes. “You meant it then when you told me you loved her all those years ago.”

Nick slipped back to the moment he realized he loved Josephine. Their two families were gathered at her father’s home for her sixteenth birthday. Montagu presented her with the same pearls she wore tonight and something happened when he clasped them around her neck. Seeing the pearls against her alabaster skin started a tightening in Nick’s groin that turned ferocious when the smile she had given her father shifted onto him.

Her face beamed when she ran her fingertips over the pearls and Nicholas couldn’t halt the vision of those fingers skimming across his body. Then he realized with shock that the attraction was more than lust, more than passion. It was a need beyond any he had felt for a woman, any he had conceived of. He left that night frightened of his feelings, aware that her family intended her to wed another man. Aware he couldn’t allow that to happen.

“I did,” he replied.

A corner of Montagu’s mouth ticked upward. “I suppose if any man is going to suffer at her hand it should be you.”

Nicholas laughed. “Only a man who knows her should suffer?”

“Only a man who loves her might save her. Now, tell me, what has she done?”

“Beaumond has her in his sites.” Anger lashing through him—not at Jo, but at Beaumond, who knew better than to dally with her. “She allowed him to be alone with her in a small sitting room a little while ago.”