Page 476 of Wicked Highland Heroes

“Good God,” a male voice boomed. “What happened?”

“The baron attacked Lady Josephine,” Nicholas said.

A chorus of loud voices broke out and Jo buried her face in his neck.

“Henry, see to Wylst.” Nick whirled.

Josephine fisted his lapel in one hand and cried in heavy sobs.

They reached her bedchambers minutes later, and she felt herself being lowered. Josephine held onto him for dear life.

“Shh,” he soothed.

Nicholas sat on the bed, settling her across his thighs. He hugged her tight while murmuring something she couldn’t understand. Jo heard another male voice—her father—but couldn’t discern his words, either. Nicholas stroked her hair until, at last, her tears abated. She opened her eyes to find her family standing beside them with her mother sitting on the bed with them. Her heart began to race again.

Nicholas gently leaned away from her and said, “You have nothing to fear, love. But you must tell us what happened.”

Panic twisted her stomach and she couldn’t tear her eyes from her mother, who watched her, brows furrowed in anxiety.

“Josephine,” Nick said in a firmer tone, forcing her attention back to him. “You said Lord Wylst was your father.”

Jo heard her mother’s soft gasp and she began to cry again. How could she hurt her father by telling him that the woman he loved had lied to him all these years? How could she tell him that the little girl he’d raised, the girl who adored him, wasn’t really his daughter? Why, oh, why had she blurted out those words when Nicholas killed Lord Wylst?

“Jo.”

She jumped at the harsh note in Nick’s voice.

“You must tell us what happened,” he said.

“What does it matter?” she said in a whisper. “He’s dead.”

“Do not be certain of that. He was still breathing when we left him.”

Josephine snapped her head up. Her heart wrenched at sight of the fear in Nicholas’ eyes.

“Make no mistake,” he said, “I will kill him. But if you do not tell us what happened, I will wrest the truth from him before ending his miserable life.”

“Josephine,” her mother said.

Jo flinched when her mother placed a hand on her arm.

“What did you mean by ‘He is my father’?” Nick demanded.

Josephine sat up straight and swiped at a tear that escaped her eyes. “Ask my mother.”

Her mother glanced at Jo’s father, but shook her head. “I do not know the man.”

Jo shoved from Nicholas’ lap and stood on unsteady legs. Fury tightened her insides and her words shook. “My God, even now with the truth exposed to everyone here, you will lie?” She swung to face her father. “I am sorry. I—no daughter could love a father any more than I do you, but—” a sob choked the words “—I am not your daughter.”

Anguish filled his eyes and tears once again began to roll down her cheeks.

“Josephine,” he said in a hoarse voice, “my daughter.” He opened his arms and she fell into his embrace.

She didn’t know how long they stayed like that, but when her tears slowed and she realized he was speaking. “...should have told you the truth long ago. But I thought—”

Jo drew back and looked up at him. “Told me what?”

Nicholas rose. “Perhaps I should leave.”