Page 478 of Wicked Highland Heroes

The marchioness stroked her hair. “Nonsense.”

Jo shook her head. “I believed the worst of you—and when you have always been the best of mothers.”

Her mother gave a shaky laugh. “I would not say always. Do you remember the time I wouldn’t let you play in the garden with Cecile because I believed a meteor was going to hit you?” She sent the marquess a glance. “Your father warned me that Gypsy was only trying to bilk me for money.”

Josephine lifted her head and met her mother’s gaze. “What I remember is that only yesterday you risked your life to save me.”

The marchioness leaned closer to Josephine and said in a mock whisper, “Your father has not yet learned all the details of our adventure. It is best we keep some things to ourselves. I do not wish to be punished.”

Josephine blinked, clearly uncertain how to react to her mother’s levity, then she clasped her mother’s face in her palms and said, “I will not let him.”

The marchioness’ mouth opened in a soft gasp, then she pulled her daughter to her and they both cried silently for several moments.

Nicholas stood motionless as a statue. He had never seen his mother cry once, yet today he had seen his fiancé crying for nearly half an hour. Now her mother—he realized silent tears were slipping down Annabel’s cheeks, as well. A sense of panic rose. What did a man do with three crying females?

He looked at Montagu, whose hand rested on his wife’s shoulder. The man was utterly calm. Is this what came of living with three women? Nicholas shifted his gaze onto Josephine. There were worse fates.

Cool fingers touched his and he was startled to find that Annabel had slipped her hand into his larger one. Her attention remained on her sister and mother as she swiped at her tears with her free hand. Nicholas’s chest constricted. Today, he had become a part of this family. He had known this family for most of his life, and had wanted Josephine for so long that he couldn’t remember what life was like before he realized he loved her. He’d planned on having a family with her. But it hadn’t occurred to him that he might become a true member of her family.

“Now,” the marquess at last broke the silence. “We have a very important mystery to solve.”

The two women separated and Annabel gave his hand a squeeze, then released him. The marchioness brushed the remaining tears from Josephine’s eyes, then they both looked at the marquess.

“How is it Lord Wylst knows the truth?” Montagu looked at Josephine. “He told you he was your father?”

She nodded. “Aye, Papa.”

“What proof did he offer?”

“Not enough,” she muttered.

“Never mind that,” Lady Montagu said. “Come, sit on the couch and tell us what he told you.”

Josephine took her seat, and said, “He showed me a miniature of his grandmother.” She looked at her mother. “We have long joked about my light hair. You and father are dark. So is Annabel. I am the only one with light hair. I am the spitting image of his grandmother. There was no doubt in my mind.” She looked at her father. “I do not understand. If he isn’t my father, how can she and I look so alike?”

“I know little of his family,” the marquess said. “He has been in France for many years.”

Josephine turned to Nicholas, “You said you knew him in France. Do you now his family?”

“I met his grandmother once. She was quite elderly, close to eighty. Her husband was long dead and she had returned to France where her family lived. I have the distinct impression she cared nothing for Lord Kanton’s family in England, which isn’t unusual for the French, as we know—”

“Kanton,” Lady Montagu cut in. “Lady Linette Kanton?”

“Why, yes,” Nicholas said.

The marchioness exchanged a startled look with her husband.

“What is it?” Josephine demanded.

“Linette Kanton is your father’s grandmother,” the marchioness said.

“But you said Lord Wylst isn’t my father.”

“He isn’t,” Lady Montagu said. “But if she was Lord Wylst’s grandmother, then that means he is—”

“My uncle,” Josephine finished.

They looked at each other and Nicholas knew they were all thinking what he was thinking: How did Lord Wylst know his brother was Josephine’s father?