Chapter 21
The morning sun hung low on the horizon, soft and pale, casting a gentle glow across the street as the coach jerked to a stop in front of her townhouse.
Josephine released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
Home. The familiar facade soothed her frayed nerves—yet the sharp weight of everything that had happened only hours earlier pressed heavily upon her chest.
The coach door swung open, and Jude appeared. He extended his hand. Without hesitation—without even thinking—she placed her hand in his. His touch grounded her, warmed her, steadied her.
Once her boots touched the pavement, he slipped her hand into the crook of his arm with quiet protectiveness.
“How are you faring?” he asked.
She offered the simplest answer. “I am well.”
He arched a brow, the look far too perceptive for her liking. “The truth, please.”
A sigh escaped her. “I still cannot quite believe Uncle Leroy would betray me. It feels… unreal. As if I’m recounting someone else’s nightmare.”
His arm tightened around hers. “I won’t let him hurt you again. Not ever.”
The conviction in his voice made her throat tighten. “I believe you,” she whispered.
His gaze drifted across her features until it stopped, predictably, painfully, at her cheek—the cheek Mr. Broderick had struck. Guilt flickered across his expression.
“I am sorry,” he murmured, his voice rough. “I should have protected you better.”
She shook her head. “You saved me.”
“But you—”
“You saved me,” she repeated firmly. “And that is the truth.”
His smile returned. “I daresay you saved yourself.”
A laugh slipped from her. “We saved one another.”
They lingered, caught in a moment that seemed suspended in time—his dark eyes holding hers, saying everything he had not yet spoken. Then his smile faltered, dimmed with some unspoken emotion.
“Josie… I—”
The front door opened, interrupting him, and the butler stepped out.
Jude stiffened. “Shall we get you off the street?”
Her heart dipped with disappointment. What had he been about to say? Did he feel anything close to what she felt for him?
Inside the entry hall, Jude turned to the butler. “Please send for Lady Redden—”
“Mother!” Josephine called loudly towards the stairs.
Jude blinked at her as though she were a wild creature suddenly let loose.
She shrugged with no remorse. “It is simpler to call for her myself. Far more efficient. I know it is not ladylike, but it gets the job done.”
His lips twitched. “It is brazen—much like you.”
She gave him a smug little grin. “And it saves an extraordinary amount of time.”
“Josephine?!” her mother’s voice sounded from above. “You are home!”
Lady Redden flew down the stairs and wrapped her arms around Josephine with desperate relief.
“I was so worried,” she declared into Josephine’s hair. “When Alexander told me about your uncle… I hardly knew what to think. Where is he?”
Josephine drew back. “In jail. Along with Mr. Broderick.”
“Jail?” Her mother gasped. “Good heavens—what did he do?”
Josephine’s voice trembled. “He offered me to Mr. Broderick to cover his gambling debts. Uncle Leroy let him… take me.”
Her mother’s hand shot to her mouth. “Oh, my darling girl. I am so sorry.” Her gaze landed on Josephine’s cheek and darkened. “Did… did he strike you?”
“No,” Josephine said. “That was Mr. Broderick. But he received his comeuppance. I hit him with a branch. Knocked him unconscious.”
Her mother blinked. “You… hit him?”
Jude stepped forward, pride warming his tone. “You would be very proud of your daughter, Lady Redden. She saved me from being shot.”
“Shot?” her mother repeated, her eyes widening. “My heavens, it sounds as though you two have lived an entire lifetime of danger in one evening. Come, let’s get you some tea—”
“Josephine.”
She turned. Alexander stood in the corridor, his expression tight with worry.
“You are home,” he said.
“Yes,” she replied. “I just returned home. It has been a long night.”
He approached her, stopping only when he stood directly before her. “I was dreadfully worried. When I learned Uncle—” His voice cracked. “I wanted to go after you, but Pendryn insisted I stay behind.”
“It all worked out,” she assured him.
He swallowed hard. “Pendryn told me you believed I had a hand in your abduction. Josephine, I swear—I would never do such a thing. You are my sister. I love you.”
Her eyes stung instantly. “And I love you, Alexander.”
For once, her ever-composed brother stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. She clung to him, all tension melting.
When he stepped back, he sent Jude a firm nod. “Thank you for bringing my sister home.”
“It was my pleasure,” Jude replied.
Alexander cleared his throat awkwardly. “I’m needed in Parliament. If you will excuse me…” He slipped out the door.
The moment it closed, her mother exhaled shakily. “Now, about that tea.”
But Jude had other plans.
“I was hoping for a moment to speak with Josie privately,” he said.
Lady Redden studied him, then Josephine. “I believe you have earned that right. Take a turn in the gardens. I will see to the tea.”
Jude offered his arm. “Shall we?”
A flutter of excitement raced through her. She placed her hand on his arm, allowing him to lead her towards the back of the townhouse. A footman opened the back door leading to the veranda.
They stepped outside, descending onto the stone terrace. A path wound ahead, lined with rose bushes heavy with blooms. The air held the crisp freshness of morning, mixed with the faint perfume of petals.
Josephine’s pulse thrummed so loudly she was certain Jude must hear it. She wanted—achingly, desperately—to tell him she loved him. That she could not imagine a life that did not include him.
But when she opened her mouth, no words emerged.
How could she strike Mr. Broderick with a branch without hesitation, yet be rendered speechless by three simple words?
Jude’s voice broke the silence. “I keep thinking about something your brother said to me.”
Her head snapped up. “What exactly did Alexander say?”
Jude kept his gaze fixed ahead, as though choosing his words with care. “He told me you were in love with me.”
Heat flooded her face. “He… he said that?”
Jude nodded slowly. “He did. And I have been wondering ever since… if it is true.”
Josephine halted, closing her eyes for a moment. It would be so simple to tell him yes. So easy. But fear tangled around her throat.
What if he didn’t feel the same? What if she ruined everything?
When she opened her eyes, Jude had turned fully towards her. There was no hesitation in him—not now. His expression was open, earnest, intense.
“I have been in half-agony, half-hope,” he began, “that your brother’s words were true. Because the truth of the matter is that… I love you, Josie. Desperately. Madly.”
Her breath caught. “You… do?”
A soft chuckle escaped him. “I do not know why you sound so surprised.” He stepped closer, his voice turning hoarse. “I love you with everything I am and everything I will be. That is why I wish to marry you.”
Her heart felt too full. “But before… you only spoke of duty.”
“Yes.” He dragged a hand through his hair, looking achingly vulnerable. “Because I was scared. Scared of frightening you off if you realized just how much I loved you.”
He loved her! And now there was only one thing left to say.
In a steady voice, she responded, “I love you, too.”
His lips curved into a smirk that was equal parts relief and wonder. “We did not make this easy on ourselves, did we?”
She shook her head, a breathless laugh escaping. “No, we did not. I was scared, as well.” She swallowed. “Truth be told… I lost my heart to you before we even left the cottage.”
A teasing glint lit his eyes. “Was it the rabbit stew?”
She burst out laughing. “Absolutely not. It was most definitely not the rabbit stew.”
“Then what was it?”
“It was the man who saved me.” She held his gaze. “It was you.”
Jude stepped closer, so close she could feel the heat of his body against the morning chill. His eyes were filled with emotion so deep it nearly unraveled her.
“Marry me, Josie,” he said softly, fervently. “And I promise I will love you as you deserve.”
She wanted to say yes.
Oh, how she wanted to say yes.
But a flicker of worry clutched her. “What about the article?”
He exhaled. “In all the excitement, I forgot to tell you. The article will never see the light of day.”
Her brows shot up. “How is that possible?”
“You may thank Lord Rupert for that,” Jude replied. “He has been… persuasive.”
She let out a breath of disbelief—and relief. “And what if people learn about Mr. Broderick abducting me?”
Jude reached up and cupped her cheek—her uninjured one—with such tenderness her eyes stung.
“When will you learn that we can weather any storm, so long as we face it together? I don’t care if Society turns its back on me.
All I care about is you.” His thumb brushed her skin, slow and reverent.
“I love you, Josie. With all my heart. With all that I am.”
“Are you quite sure?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Never have I been more sure of anything in my life.”
Her heart soared. “Then yes,” she breathed. “I will marry you.”
A dazzling smile broke across his face. “You have made me the happiest of men. Shall I acquire a special license? We could be married by this evening.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you certain that is wise?”
“Not in the slightest.” He leaned nearer, his breath warm against her lips. “But I find myself thinking about you constantly. In the morning, at night, in the middle of my day. It is you. It is always you.” His voice dipped. “Please help me end this agony.”
Her lips twitched in amusement. “I suppose a special license wouldn’t be so awful.”
Jude moved even closer, until only inches separated their mouths. The air around them tingled, alive with anticipation.
Josephine couldn’t bear to wait another second. Her heart was pounding far too wildly—her chest far too full—for restraint. Before doubt could steal her courage, she lifted onto her tiptoes and captured Jude’s mouth with her own.