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Harry's flush was back. He grimaced. "Nothing edifying, I'm afraid. But I took great care to keep my identity a secret. I worry though. I never expected they'd be so popular. Still, the money goes to an account in my solicitor's name. No one will ever connect William Wicket to the York family, I swear. I'd rather die than bring dishonor on my cousins."
"William Wicket," Jude murmured. "Why does that sound familiar?"
"If I'd known they'd be so widely read ..."
And then Jude realized. "The book," he said. "The book I read with Marissa!"
"Oh, God," Harry groaned. "Please don't tell the family. After everything they've done for me ..."
The dark worry burning in Jude's stomach disappeared in an instant. His scowl turned to a laugh. "You write love stories?"
"Shh!" Harry shot a terrified look toward the door.
"That's not so awful. I quite enjoyed the story. What are you worried about?"
"The gossip. The tittering. The scandalized measuring of every line of every book ... It would awful."
Jude considered it a moment. "I suppose you're right. It would create a sensation."
"That's putting it mildly. Listen, I just sent off the last manuscript. I won't write any more, I promise. I feel disloyal asking you to lie to my family, but would you see lit If I keep this to yourself?"
Jude shrugged. "I don't see why not. You're not hurting anyone. Aside from the tender minds of young Englishwomen, I suppose."
Harry swiped a shaking hand over his forehead. "I can't thank you enough."
"It's nothing. I apologize for my suspicions."
Harry shook off the apology and drained the glass of brandy Jude had handed him earlier. "Consider it forgotten," he rasped.
Jude was happy to oblige him. There'd be other worries to face in the morning, and the trip to the Lemont estate seemed the least of them.
Chapter 21
Jude rode through the early morning fog, ignoring the looks of the men traveling on either side of him. The mist bit into the exposed skin of his face, turning his cheeks to ice, but Jude didn't mind the cold. It matched his mood and helpfully froze his scowl into permanent place.
Aidan cleared his throat, but Jude continued to ignore him. They were nearly to the LeMont estate, if he could only keep their curiosity at bay for a short while longer.
"I say, Jude," Edward ventured, "are you in love with our sister?"
Jude, disturbed by the directness of the question, lowered his chin and urged his horse to a quicker pace.
The York brothers kept up, and Aidan pulled slightly ahead so he could look back and catch Jude's gaze. "Jude, are you in love with her?"
"Christ, what business is it of yours?"
"She's our sister."
"She's my fiancée! You've already given your approval for our marriage, and that is where your involvement should end."
Aidan glared as if Jude had done something wrong. "Falling in love with a woman is a far cry from simply marrying her. We both know full well that there are plenty of couples who live separate lives. But a husband in love ... that can be the start of endless troubles."
"This is a ridiculous conversation," Jude answered. "You've no idea what you're talking about."
"Yet you haven't denied anything."
"And," Edward added, "You've been decidedly foul-tempered for days. Scowling and snapping, yet when Marissa appears you become cool and silent."
Jude chose to remain cool and silent at that point, but Aidan wouldn't allow it.
