Page 480 of Wicked Highland Heroes

“Such as?” Nicholas asked.

“He swears you attacked him while he was speaking with Lady Josephine.”

“I caught him attacking her,” Nicholas replied. “I was defending her.”

Sheriff Boyd shifted his attention to her. “Is that true?”

She nodded. “Yes, and Lord Wylst drew a sword on Lord Grayson first. Nicholas was fighting only with his fists, but he was forced to defend himself with a sword in order to keep Lord Wylst from killing him.”

“Lord Wylst swears you asked to meet him,” the sheriff said.

“Meet him? That is untrue. I happened upon him in the hallway.”

“He would not be the first man you have met in private.”

Josephine gasped. Nicholas took a step toward the sheriff, but her father said, “Hold, Nicholas.” Then said to the sheriff, “What do you mean by this accusation?”

“According to Wylst, two days ago, Lady Josephine was seen slipping away with Lord Beaumond, and Wylst says she met him in the chapel only last night.”

Her father didn’t so much as flick a glance in her direction, but Josephine knew he realized the accusation was true. “Surely it must be clear that Wylst is trying to tarnish my daughter’s reputation in order to stay out of prison.”

“I seriously doubt he will live long enough to go to prison,” Sheriff Boyd said.

“He may not agree.”

The sheriff took two steps to the nightstand and picked up the brooch and rings, then looked at Josephine. “He claims you agreed to run away with him and intended to sell these items.”

Nicholas cast her an odd look. Her heart picked up speed, but she casually nodded to the letters, and said, “Did he account for why I had the letters from Lord Grayson?”

“That is why he said you quarreled.”

“He is obviously lying,” Nicholas said.

“I am sorry, my lord, but you are the last person who would accept that your fiancé would run away with another man.”

“I tell you, I was not planning to run away with him,” Jo insisted.

“Can you explain why you had those personal items with you?” he asked.

“She does not have to explain,” Nick cut in. “It is his word against hers. That is not enough to convict her of lying.”

“You are correct,” Sheriff Boyd said. “But if you believed she was running away with Lord Wylst that would be a good reason for you to attack him.”

“You are free to try and prove that in a court of law.”

The sheriff nodded. “I will be speaking with the magistrate about doing just that.”

Josephine looked from Nick to her father in panic. This couldn’t be happening. “Sir—”

“Josephine?”

Jo jumped at hearing Lord Wylst call her name.

Nicholas was at her side in an instant. “Josephine, you should not be here.”

She shook him off and hurried to the bedside. The baron looked up at her.

“You are dying,” she said.