Deceived (5 page)

Josie stifled a laugh. “Oh, please don’t try to tell me that fairytale that my prince is just waiting for me and I haven’t met him yet.”

“Perhaps you have met him,” Audrey suggested. “You just don’t realize he’s right there.”

Josie suddenly had the oddest image of Evan standing across the ballroom, watching her from the receiving line at the beginning of the night, but she shoved it aside and tried desperately to find a way to change the subject.

“I suppose it makes sense that everyone is pressuring you to immediately have a child or eight. We are brood mares, after all. Some of them see our only value as providing more people for the Empire.”

Audrey’s smile went soft. “Luckily that is not what the man I married thinks.”

“No, he stares at you like you are a diamond that he must protect,” Josie agreed, and heard the unintentionally wistful sound to her voice.

Why did she sound like that? She certainly didn’t expect a man like Audrey had found. At twenty-six, the best she could hope for was a man with a bunch of motherless children who was willing to offer her a name or a title in exchange for her help. At the rate she was going, she couldn’t even truly expect
that
.

“Yes,” Audrey said. “And I do love him, Josie. I know people have talked about our marriage and wondered why everything went so swiftly. The truth is, I love him so completely.”

Josie couldn’t help but smile at her friend’s joy and wrapped her arms around her. “Well, you deserve that, Audrey. You deserve it and a lifetime of happiness producing those eight beautiful children Society demands.”

Audrey giggled at her quip and then both women let out a simultaneous sigh.

“I wish Claire were here,” Audrey whispered.

Josie nodded. “I was just thinking the same thing.”

She almost said more. She almost admitted that she knew Audrey had seen her sister just before her engagement was announced. But that would mean admitting she sometimes heard from Claire. And her friend had made her promise not to do that. Josie kept her promises.

So instead she merely stood there with Audrey, staring up at the moon above, their arms around each other. When a few moments had passed, Audrey stepped away and her sad smile brightened.

“You were my sister’s best friend.”

Josie shook her head. “No, she had two.”

Audrey’s face lit up at the words and she swiped at a sudden tear. “Goodness, this will not do.”

“Then talk of something else,” Josie encouraged as she blinked away her own unexpected tears. “What are your plans now that you are wed?”

Audrey nodded. “London, actually, is next on my list. Jude and I will return to the city with Mary and Edward in the next few days. My brother’s gift to us was time off for my husband and a cottage by the sea in the north. So London first and then a glorious, romantic honeymoon that I can hardly wait to start.”

Josie blushed at how animated Audrey’s face had become. As an avid reader with a father who had hidden some very naughty books before his death, she had some vague understanding of what went on between a woman and a man. Audrey seemed to have a much more detailed one.

“So,” she said, grasping on to the less scandalous points of Audrey’s statement. “You will all return to London, then?”

In truth, she was relieved. She and her mother intended to spend at least another month rusticating at their small estate on the other side of the village. The fact that Evan wouldn’t be there as a distraction was a blessing.

“Oh no!” Audrey said. “Not all of us. Mama is better, thank God, but Miss Gray has made it very clear that she is not to be moved yet. So Evan and Gabriel will stay behind with her.”

“Your brother will be here?” Josie said, perhaps a little louder than she had intended to do.

Audrey wrinkled her brow. “Yes, both brothers. Oh, I’m so glad you’ll be here. I love Evan and Gabriel, but my mother will be so happy to spend time with you and your mother. And now Jude’s mother Hilda has agreed to stay with her as well. She may even take on a permanent place as my mother’s companion. Knowing she has so many people visiting and staying with her will make leaving her easier.”

“Yes, well, if we’re all here in such close proximity we’ll come all the time,” Josie said, working it out more for herself than anyone else. “All the time. And we’ll all see each other. All of us.”

Audrey’s smile fell. “Are you…are you all right?”

“Of course, why wouldn’t I be all right?” Josie asked. “I’m perfect. And I’m so happy for you. You seem so happy.”

She was repeating words now, she could hear it. But Audrey was so in love, it didn’t seem to fully register. “Thank you, we
are
so happy.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” came a male voice from the door.

Audrey’s smile broadened even before she turned and so when Josie moved to see Jude Samson standing at the terrace entrance, she was not surprised. He was a very handsome man, that was undeniable. He was tall with a rugged face and soulful dark blue eyes. Eyes that seemed to only see Audrey for he never took them off of her. It appeared he loved her as deeply as she loved him.

And that made Josie even happier for her friend, once she pushed past the irrational flare of jealousy that made her blush.

“Mr. Samson,” she said, holding out a hand as she moved toward him. “I know we’ve met a few times before and I already said it tonight, but so many felicitations to you on your…”

She trailed off for as she neared the window that looked into the ballroom she saw Evan in the crowd. Watching them.

“On my?” Samson pressed.

She jolted. “On your marriage, of course. Audrey seems deliriously happy, and we all know she deserves that.”

Samson smiled and caught his new wife’s hand, drawing her to his side. He looked down on her and Josie blinked at the intimacy of the look they exchanged.

“She deserves that and everything else in the world.”

Audrey’s lips parted slightly. “All I have ever wanted is right here, I assure you.”

Josie turned her face. This was intruding, though to be fair they weren’t exactly hiding their passion, their love for each other. And once again that little niggle of jealousy stirred in her belly.

“Did you come out to fetch me?” Audrey asked, blushing as she shot a side glance at Josie.

He nodded. “Lady Kitterage’s daughter is to be married at Christmas and she is demanding to know who designed your gown. Your mother is quite engrossed with a few of her guests, and I didn’t want to disturb her.”

Audrey’s eyes went wide at his statement, but then she nodded. “Of course.” She turned to Josie with a grin. “Won’t she be surprised that it was made by our little country seamstress rather than some fancy London one? I shall enjoy the look on her arrogant face. Will you join me to see it?”

Josie laughed, but shook her head. Lady Kitterage was one of her least favorite people and her nasty daughter had made Josie’s life quite miserable over the years. She did not want to see them, even if it meant watching the haughty woman be shocked.

“I am enjoying the air,” she said. “But you go. Describe it all to me later.”

Audrey hesitated, but then nodded as she took her husband’s arm and allowed herself to be led inside. As they left, Josie watched them and let her gaze slip through the window again. Evan was still there. And despite the fact that his sister had come in to join her party, he still watched. Watched her?

No, that couldn’t be. Likely he couldn’t even see her. He was probably staring off into nothing or planning which biddable widow he would sneak away with for the night.

That thought made her turn away with a huff of breath that was far too telling. It was best she stay outside until she cleared her head. Though at this rate, she could be here all night, perhaps even all week.

Evan folded his arms as he watched through the window. Josie stood at the terrace wall, looking out over the garden. Just as she had been for the half an hour since Audrey and Jude had left her there to return to the party. Now the guests were beginning to slowly make their way out, singing the praises of the new couple and shouting good wishes as they went.

They were down to just a few stragglers when Evan felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to find Josie’s mother, Mrs. Westfall, at his elbow. She stared up at him with a slightly tipsy smile.

“Have you seen my daughter, my lord?” she asked. Evan sighed and slowly motioned outside. Her mother’s smile fell. “Oh, that girl!” she ground out.

Evan arched a brow. “I believe she is just getting some air.”

Mrs. Westfall shook her head. “Getting some air, my right slipper. She is hiding from the party, just as she always does. How does she ever think she’s going to get a husband by mooning about on terraces? I declare, she is trying to send me to Bedlam.”

Evan pursed his lips at the barrage and then shrugged. “Well, there she is, whatever her reasons. And I should—”

“Oh, your mama and Mrs. Samson are motioning to me,” Mrs. Westfall said. “Would you be a dear boy and go out to tell her we are preparing to depart?” She didn’t wait for his response, but patted his arm. “Thank you so much.”

Then she spun away and left him still staring at Josie. Irritation built in him, though he didn’t exactly know why. After all, Mrs. Westfall had only asked him to do exactly what he’d been pondering for the past thirty minutes: joining Josie in the moonlight.

Now he had a reason.

“As if I need a reason to go out on my own terrace,” he muttered as he moved toward the door. “If anyone needs a reason to trespass, it’s
her
.”

He pushed the doors open and stepped outside. For a moment, he considered closing them, but decided against it. An open door would discourage…

He wasn’t exactly sure what he thought it would discourage. It wasn’t as if he intended to sweep
Jocelyn Westfall
into his arms, kiss her until she opened for him, press her against the wall while she begged for him, take her until she trembled.

No. That thought had never crossed his mind. Not even once.

“Josie?” he asked as he neared her.

She jumped at the sound of his voice and spun to face him.

“You scared the devil out of me,” she said as she lifted a hand to her breast, all but forcing his gaze to follow. “Why did you sneak up on me?”

He pressed his lips together and forced himself to look at her face and not her gorgeous curves. “I didn’t sneak up on anyone,” he snapped, his tone as peevish as hers was, though he rather thought for a very different reason.

He
had his stupid brother’s equally ridiculous words ringing in his head. Words that said that Josie
liked
him. Liked
him
. Which was ridiculous. Josie didn’t like him. She hated him.

Even now, she could barely look at him. And when she did with those wide, clear green eyes all he saw was…was…

He blinked as he stared down at her. No, that wasn’t hatred in her gaze. Well, perhaps a hint of it, but there was something else there too. Something heated. Something alluring.

Desire. He looked into her eyes and he saw desire there. She was watching his lips, her breath was short, she shifted uncomfortably, but all that was born of the hot and powerful desire that flickered in her stare.

Worse, it inspired an equally heated response in himself. All those fantasies he had been forcing himself not to visualize came rushing to the surface, and for a moment all he could see was a dozen ways to make her his. A dozen ways to make her quake beneath him, on top of him, around him.

What the hell?

“Your mother is leaving,” he snapped, his tone sharp out of confusion and need that would very much go unfulfilled. “She wanted me to fetch you.”

His words seemed to break the spell between them and she turned her face. “Good,” she muttered, almost more to herself than to him. “It’s high time I left.”

“W-well,” he stammered, holding out his arm awkwardly. “Let me escort you inside.”

She shook her head and backed away from his touch. “No, that is entirely unnecessary, my lord. I can very easily find my way myself. Good evening.”

She scurried past him without another glance or word and disappeared into the house. Evan forced himself to pivot toward the wall where she had been standing just a moment before. He would not watch her anymore.

Not only because it was pathetic, but because now that he had seen that flicker of wanting in her eyes, he realized that he had to decide what to do about it. And if he wanted to use it to determine what she knew about Claire.