Page 108 of A Troublesome Circumstance

As the carriage slowed, Jude glanced towards the line of elegant barouches and landaus queuing outside Gunter’s. Servers moved briskly from carriage to carriage, silver trays balanced expertly in hand, each bearing bowls of perfectly formed ices beginning to glisten in the afternoon sun.

Their own carriage rolled to a gentle halt. A dark-haired server approached, bowing politely. “Good afternoon. Welcome to Gunter’s. Do you know what you would like?”

“Two lemon ices,” Jude ordered.

“Very good, sir. I will return shortly.” With another bow, the server strode off towards the busy shop.

As soon as the man was out of earshot, Jude shifted his attention back to Josephine, who watched him with an expression still softened from their earlier conversation.

“Now,” he murmured, his lips tilting into a teasing grin, “where were we?”

Josephine tucked a stray curl behind her ear and leaned forward conspiratorially. “My mother and I are plotting to break Alexander’s engagement to Lady Gwendolyn.”

Jude raised a brow. “Are you certain that is wise?”

“I am,” she said, lifting her chin with more conviction than he’d expected. “Lady Gwendolyn is awful. Just… awful.”

He laughed under his breath. “You’ve made your opinions rather clear and I don’t disagree. But your brother believes himself in love with her.”

“And she claims to be in love with him. But her affections are as fickle as the weather.” Josephine pressed her lips together, frustration knitting her brows. “How do we make him see she wants his title, not his heart?”

“That is difficult,” Jude admitted. “Lady Gwendolyn could have a career on the stage if she wished. She had me believing all sorts of nonsense when I first met her.”

Josephine tapped her finger thoughtfully against her lower lip. “How could I get her to reveal her true nature?”

“Are you certain Alexander wishes you to meddle? He may be blissfully unaware.”

“Well,” she shot back, “if we were to go back in time… wouldn’t you have wanted to be warned?”

He didn’t even have to think. “Yes,” he said. “I would have.”

“So how do we go about it?”

Jude shrugged. “I could warn him, but he may not heed a single word I say.”

Before she could reply, an unwelcome shadow fell across the open carriage.

“Good afternoon.”

Jude stiffened instantly. He didn’t need to look to recognize that voice—the slick, oily tone that always made his blood run hot with anger.

Mr. Broderick.

“Go away,” Jude growled, turning to glare at him.

“I would,” Broderick said, “but I have business with Lady Josephine.”

“We have no business,” she snapped.

Broderick’s lips curved in a smug smile. “Ah, but we do, my dear.”

Josephine went rigid. “Do not call me that.”

Jude’s voice sharpened. “Refrain from being so familiar with Lady Josephine, especially in public.”

“But how else would I address my soon-to-be wife?”

Josephine leaned towards him, fury sparking. “I would never marry you.”