Page 138 of A Troublesome Circumstance

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.”