Page 70 of A Troublesome Circumstance

Josephine’s heart stilled.

Please, let it not be⁠—

“Is Lady Josephine available for callers?” a painfully familiar voice asked.

Her stomach plummeted. Mr. Broderick.

Panic flared through her. She darted behind the open parlor door and mouthed fiercely, I am not home.

The butler’s eyes flicked towards her, and he nodded his understanding before turning back to the caller.

“I’m sorry, sir, but Lady Josephine is not home. If you leave your calling card, I will be sure to inform her of your visit.”

Mr. Broderick huffed, then tried to soften it. “Thank you.”

When the door finally closed and his footsteps disappeared, Josephine slumped against the wall, exhaling shakily. “I do not ever want to see that man again.”

“You may have to,” her mother said. “He does business with your brother.”

Josephine scowled. “Then I shall need to start carrying my muff pistol everywhere.”

“You have a muff pistol?”

“Yes, Jude gave it to me.”

Her mother’s brow arched with queenly precision. “I believe you are referring to Lord Pendryn.”

“Yes, but⁠—”

“You must not be so familiar with him.”

Josephine knew that her mother wasn’t wrong. “You are right.” She straightened and walked over to the window to ensure that Mr. Broderick was nowhere to be seen.

Her mother clasped her hands, thoughtful. “Now, about this muff pistol… do you even know how to shoot one?”

“Yes,” Josephine replied. “Jud—er—Lord Pendryn taught me at Ashmoore Hall. It belonged to his mother.”

That certainly caught her mother’s attention. “He gave you his mother’s muff pistol?” she repeated, her eyes widening.

“He did.”

Her mother hummed. “Interesting.”

Josephine rolled her eyes. “There is nothing interesting about that.”

“So says you.”

“Can we please go get lemon ice and put an end to all this nonsense?” Josephine asked with a groan.

Her mother smiled, looping her arm through Josephine’s. “Yes, my dear. Lemon ice sounds perfect.”

But even as they stepped outside, she couldn’t quite stop thinking about the flowers.

Or the pistol.

Or him.

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