Page 451 of Wicked Highland Heroes

Josephine wondered if she didn’t detect a hint of sarcasm in her tone, but if Eric thought so, he gave no indication.

He laughed. “Alas, the two loveliest ladies are spoken for.”

Lady Allaway giggled. “Shame on you, Lord Eric.”

He swept her a bow, forcing Josephine to release him. “I am an unmarried gentleman, untamed and undisciplined.”

“Some lady shall put you to rights one of these days,” she said.

“Just as Lady Josephine has put Lord Grayson to rights?” Eric’s gaze shifted onto her. “Or is it Lord Grayson who put you to rights, my lady?”

Josephine was reminded of Nicholas saying he had to save her from herself sometimes, and ire flared. “I do not need anyone to put me to rights. I can take care of myself.”

“Of that I have no doubt,” he replied. “Just as you did the time Grayson pulled you from that stallion—what was his name, ah, yes, Devil, I believe. You wore trousers and a shirt.” His eyes gleamed.

“I was fourteen,” she said with a lift of her chin. “And I had Devil under control until Nicholas appeared and shouted. He spooked the horse and the beast naturally bolted. If I didn’t know better, I would say Nicholas did it on purpose to teach me a lesson.”

“Did he?” Percy asked.

“Did he what?”

“Teach you a lesson?”

“He taught me not to ride his horse when he was home from university on holiday.”

Percy laughed and even Lady Allaway joined in. “A right and proper lesson,” he said.

And not the only one he’s taught you, she could almost hear Lord Eric say.

Jo’s younger sister Annabel entered the room with their mother. Nicholas nodded to them, and Annabel’s eyes shifted to Josephine. Five years Jo’s junior, Annabel was still an innocent. Jo had no fear that her younger sister could deduce what Nick had done to her a few minutes ago. Annabel said something to their mother, who looked in Jo’s direction. Lady Montagu, however, was another story. She knew all too well about illicit encounters.

Jo cut off the thought. Her anger toward her mother was becoming increasingly difficult to hide, and she couldn’t afford for her family to guess her true feelings. Lady Montagu said something to Annabel, who smiled and left her side to cross the room to them.

“Miss Knightly, how lovely to see you this afternoon,” Lady Allaway said when she neared.

Annabel stopped beside Jo. “Thank you, my lady. You are looking lovely, as always.”

“We were just noticing how well you sister is looking these days,” Lord Eric said to Annabel.

Annabel looked at her. “Really? She’s been so busy with wedding preparations this last month that she seems hardly to have smiled.”

“That is to be expected,” Jo said with a warning narrowing of her eyes.

“That spell is broken,” Lord Eric continued doggedly, and Josephine wanted to throttle him. “And Lady Allaway is certain Lord Grayson is responsible.”

Josephine opened her mouth to reply, but Lady Allaway said, “As is proper, Lord Eric. Now no more teasing poor Lady Josephine. She is a young lady in love, and ladies in love are allowed to glow. My dears,” she addressed Josephine and Annabel, “tell me about the wedding preparations.”

“I shall take my leave,” Lord Eric said on a laugh, and Lady Allaway gave him permission to go, then led them to the settee where she’d been sitting earlier. As she chatted, Jo’s mind wandered back to minutes ago when she’d been in Nicholas’ arms, and she wanted to cry, for her plans didn’t include another such erotic interlude.

Nicholas shifted and his eyes settled on her as if reading her mind. Josephine yanked her gaze from his and focused on Lady Allaway. She hated it when he seemed to know just what she was thinking. And, damn him, he did it all too often.