Chapter 19 #2
For the first time in days, his breath came easily. Nothing stood between him and Josie now. No scandal. No ruin. No forced marriage. He could choose her—and she could choose him.
He opened his eyes, heart pounding with new purpose, and began to rise—
The door flew open once more.
Lord Redden strode inside, his expression taut with alarm. “We have a problem,” he announced.
The fragile peace Jude had found shattered instantly.
Jude shot to his feet so quickly the chair scraped harshly across the floor. His heart hammered against his ribs, the echo of Lord Redden’s words drowning out everything else.
“Is Josie all right?” he demanded, his voice tight.
Redden hesitated—hesitated—and Jude’s blood ran cold.
“Yes… and no,” Redden answered.
“What the blazes does that mean?” Jude’s voice rose, panic sharpening every syllable.
Redden stepped farther into the room, lifting his chin. “Josephine departed for our country home nearly an hour ago.”
Jude stared, disbelieving. “You let her go?”
Redden looked upward as though appealing to the heavens. “It wasn’t as if I could stop her. She was adamant about being far away when the scandal broke.”
Jude began pacing the length of the study, his fingers curling into fists. “I need to go after her.”
“And say what?” Redden countered. “You botched your proposal rather thoroughly, if you ask me. Josephine is determined not to marry you.”
Jude stopped mid-stride, turning sharply. “Yes, but things have changed. The Morning Post will no longer be printing the story.”
“What?” Redden asked. “How did you manage that?”
Jude gestured towards Rupert, who still lounged in the armchair. “It wasn’t me. Rupert achieved the impossible.”
Redden rubbed a hand across his face. “Thank you.”
“I didn’t do it for you,” Rupert said.
“I don’t care why you did it. I’m simply grateful you did,” Redden replied.
Jude moved towards the door. “I’m going after Josie. You should never have let her go alone.”
Redden puffed up, as if insulted by the mere accusation. “She isn’t alone. My uncle went with her.”
A new voice came from the threshold, low and unmistakably grim. “And therein lies the problem.”
Luca strode into the room with long, purposeful steps. “I don’t trust Lord Leroy,” he continued without preamble.
Redden frowned deeply. “And what precisely do you base that on? He is my uncle, a man I trust with my life.”
“You shouldn’t,” Luca replied, crossing his arms. “He is unscrupulous. Many of the buildings he owns in the rookeries are in abhorrent condition, yet he still collects his rents. He preys on the vulnerable.”
Redden straightened defensively. “My uncle wouldn’t do that.”
“But you would?” Luca shot back.
Redden’s eyes narrowed. “What are you implying?”
Luca reached into the satchel slung over his shoulder and withdrew several folded documents. “I took the liberty of reviewing some of your financial partnerships. You are no better than your uncle.”
Redden’s face went scarlet with fury. “How dare you! You had no right to scrutinize my affairs.”
Completely unruffled, Luca continued. “The business you share with Mr. Broderick is filled with destitute housing and properties that should be condemned.”
Redden sputtered. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. My uncle handles most of my accounts. He assures me Mr. Broderick’s investments are lucrative.”
Jude lifted a brow. “Do you not handle your own accounts?”
Bristling, Redden replied, “I try. But I’ve always struggled with numbers. My uncle has helped since my father’s death.”
“Or perhaps,” Luca said evenly, “you spend too much time at gambling hells.”
Redden stiffened. “There is nothing wrong with gambling.”
“Says the man drowning in debt,” Luca replied.
With a tilt of his chin, Redden responded, “That is a lie. It is simply a streak of bad luck, and my estate can bear the cost.”
Jude studied him carefully. “And what of Josie?”
Redden’s eyes snapped to him. “What about her?”
“She believes you might have offered her to Mr. Broderick,” Jude said.
Redden’s mouth fell open. “How could you accuse me of such a thing? I would never do something so dishonorable.”
“She overheard you speaking with him,” Jude said. “She heard him say you promised her to him.”
Redden deflated, his shoulders drooping. “This is all a misunderstanding.”
“Is it?” Jude asked with skepticism in his voice.
“Yes.” Redden pushed a hand through his hair.
“Broderick approached me, requesting Josephine’s hand.
I declined since I wanted better for her than a second son of an earl.
” He drew in a tense breath. “He grew angry and insisted he was in love with Josephine. I merely replied that if she felt the same, I wouldn’t stand in their way.
Then I learned they had eloped. What else was I supposed to think? ”
Jude’s jaw clenched. “Josie was abducted.”
Redden lifted both hands helplessly. “Yes, but it was his word against hers. I’ve known Broderick since Eton.”
“You should have believed your sister,” Jude snapped.
“I did… eventually.”
“A little late,” Jude muttered under his breath.
Redden rounded on him. “Broderick is my friend and my business partner. I couldn’t think so ill of him.”
“And now?” Jude demanded.
Redden released a long, weary sigh and rubbed the back of his neck. “I… I don’t know.”
Those four words did nothing to ease the knot forming in Jude’s chest. He turned to Rupert. “I’m going after Josie. Will you come with me?”
Rupert was already rising to his feet. “Of course. I’ll ride with you.”
Redden shook his head quickly. “There is no need to rush. My sister is perfectly safe with my uncle. He would never allow harm to come to her.”
“Are you quite sure about that?” Luca asked. “The man has clearly been lying to you about the state of your estate.”
Silence fell like a stone.
Redden swallowed. “There are… a few matters I have questions about,” he admitted. “But my uncle is a good man.”
“Are you trying to convince us—or yourself?” Luca asked.
Redden’s bravado faltered. “Perhaps I should accompany you.”
“No,” Jude said sharply. “You’ll only slow us down. Rupert and I will go after her and bring her home.”
Redden leveled him with a calculating look. “And what if she refuses to return to Town?”
Jude held his gaze. “I won’t force her, if that is what you’re implying. But I intend to convince her to marry me.”
“Good,” Redden said.
“You have no objections?”
Redden huffed, as though Jude were being absurd. “Why would I? Josephine won’t receive a better offer than you. You are heir to a dukedom. It would be a boon for our family.”
“Do you not care for your sister’s happiness?”
“I do care,” Redden shot back. “And I know she loves you. Is that not enough?”
Jude went still. His breath caught mid-inhalation. “How do you know that?”
“She told me over breakfast,” Redden said simply. “Did you not know?”
“No,” Jude responded, his heart pounding. “She said nothing. I… hoped she felt that way. But I did not wish to presume.”
“Well, it’s true,” Redden said. “Which is precisely why she’s convinced marrying you would ruin your life. She loves you too much to chain you to scandal.”
“But I want that marriage,” Jude insisted, fierce and unflinching.
Redden gestured broadly. “Then go tell her, not me.”
Jude didn’t need further prompting. He spun towards the door, and Rupert fell into step behind him. The moment they reached the entry hall, Jude barked orders at the footman.
“Bring two horses around. Immediately.”
“Yes, my lord,” the footman said, sprinting off.
Rupert glanced towards the darkened windowpanes, where the night pressed heavily against the glass. “Are you certain you want to ride after Lady Josephine at this hour?”
“I am,” Jude answered. There was no wavering in him now. “I can’t waste another moment.”
“Then we ride.”
Bootsteps echoed across the marble as Redden entered the hall behind them. “We always follow the same road to the country house,” he said. “We’re familiar with the coaching inns along the route. Most likely, they’ve stopped at The Nag’s Head for the evening.”
“I know that inn,” Rupert said. “It’s not far from London. If we ride hard, we can reach it in a few hours.”
Jude cinched his gloves tighter. “Then that is precisely what we will do.”
Josephine was out there.
And Jude would not rest until she was safely in his arms.