Page 455 of Wicked Highland Heroes

Chapter Five

Nicholas stood with Montagu near the hearth in the great hall as the guests assembled for dinner. Lady Montagu stepped from the stairs into the hall followed by Annabel and Josephine. Jo had changed into a dress of soft gold silk, but she still wore the pearls her father had given her. He didn’t like the drawn look on her face and was tempted to ask Montagu if he had spoken with her and made any threats.

“The ladies have arrived,” he told Montagu.

The marquess turned as the ladies approached and when they reached the hearth, he said first to his wife, “You are looking particularly well, my dear.” She smiled and allowed him to kiss her hand. He looked at his daughters. “Annabel, you are beautiful as always.”

She smiled and gave a quick curtsey. “Thank you, papa. Mamma picked out the dress. You may thank her for the bill when it arrives.”

“As you never curtsey to me, I imagine I should be sitting down when I open the bill,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “It’s a shame there is no ball tonight as there was last night. You will no’ be able to show yourself off as you should.”

“Do not worry on that account,” she replied. “Mamma has assured me that we shall have a ball when we return home and I will wear the dress then. It is quite all right do wear the gown twice, as we are only an intimate party tonight.”

“She is quite right,” Montagu agreed, then looked at Josephine. “Did your mother pick out your gown as well, Josephine?”

Nicholas had the feeling there was more to the question than met the eye, but Josephine answered with aplomb. “Nay, papa. This one is my choice, so you may blame me when you receive the bill.”

His mouth twitched in amusement. “I shall bear that in mind.”

Nick greeted Lady Montagu and Annabel as well, then said to Josephine, “Would you walk with me to the balcony, Lady Josephine?”

Her eyes lit with perverse satisfaction, and she said, “My lord, what will people say if I disappear onto the balcony unchaperoned with a man?”

“They will say it is broad daylight and you are within sight of everyone while on your fiancé’s arm,” Montagu said.

Her eyes cut to her father and she sent him a murderous look before giving a curt nod to Nicholas. “It seems I am in your hands, my lord.”

Not quite yet, he thought. But she would be, and he had no intentions of letting her go. Nicholas offered his arm and she accepted—though he had the impression she was picturing separating his arm from his shoulder as one might a turkey wing. He started them at a stroll across the room to the balcony. Lady Allaway boasted one of the finest gardens in all of Scotland and hated that guests had to navigate a labyrinth of hallways to access the gardens from the great hall. So she had a balcony added to the hall two years ago. Nicholas and Josephine stepped from the warmth of the room to the cool of the early afternoon air.

They took only two steps when Josephine yanked her hand from his arm and whirled on him. “There is a word for a person like you.”

He quirked a brow. “Where would you have heard such a word?”

“Talebearer,” she spat, and he wanted to laugh. “When you told my father you found me in a comprising position with Lord Beaumond, did you also tell him that you compromised me far more than the marquess did?”

Nicholas grasped her arm and pulled her to the left, just out of view of the great hall. Montagu might want them in plain sight, but would prefer that everyone not see his daughter throw a tantrum.

“Do you think your father would object to my making love to you, Jo?”

“The two of you are ones for propriety—except when it suits you,” she retorted.

“It is not uncommon once a contract is signed for the couple to consummate the union,” he said. “And, by the way, I didn’t tell your father that Beaumond compromised you. If I had, he would be on his horse riding after the marquess this moment.”

Her brows dove down in a frown and Nick realized her father had guessed exactly what Josephine had been up to with Beaumond, and had addressed the matter with her. Montagu was no fool.

“Why can you not leave me alone?” she said.

The desperation in her voice startled him. “Tell me what’s wrong,” he demanded.

“What’s wrong is that you are forcing me to marry you when I do not want you.”

A heartbeat of silence passed before he said, “If I truly believed that, I would let you go.”

Hope flared to life in her eyes and for one bleak instant he believed she meant it.

“Then believe it, Nick. It is true. You were right earlier. I am not a vindictive woman. Yes, I was hurt when you first left, and my pride was piqued when you returned and acted as if you could have me for the asking. But I would not make you pay for any of that silliness. In truth, I understand why you left and that you thought you would return.” She gave a little laugh. “We were both so young. Perhaps our parents were right in not allowing us to marry.”

“Do you think so?” he asked.