Free Lord Grayson's Bride by Tarah Scott Page B

doubt Papa ever spanked you,” Josephine said.
    The marquess and marchioness exchanged a glance and Nicholas was sure he had, in fact, taken her over his knee.
    Josephine seemed to have interpreted the look to mean the same thing, and Nick wasn’t surprised when she changed the topic by saying, “How did you know where to find us?”
    “Castle Cruden is the closest residence to where you encountered the brigands. It stood to reason if there were any injuries, you would come here first.”
    “Arlington told us the highwayman shot a young man. How is he?” Montagu asked.
    “The bullet went clear through his chest,” the marchioness said. ”But nowhere near his heart, thankfully. His biggest danger is the loss of blood.”
    The marquess nodded. “And Deeds?”
    “A bullet grazed his temple. He will be unsteady for a few days, but nothing more serious, I suspect.”
    Montagu looked at Nicholas. “I haven’t heard of a robbery on the roads here in ten years.”
    “Perhaps five years,” Nick said. “At least, nothing fatal in that long. It is unusual.”
    “I will speak with the sheriff about patrolling the roads.”
    Nicholas caught movement in the corner of her eye and looked up to see Wylst and Henry Maxwell enter. Jo stiffened beside Nicholas. He looked sharply at her, but she leaned forward, picked up her teacup from the table and took a leisurely sip.
    “Wylst. Henry.” Montagu rose. “What are you gentlemen doing here?”
    The men came to where he stood beside the sofa.
    “We learned the party had encountered highwayman and came right away,” Henry said. “Is everyone all right?”
    “The man the brigands were trying to rob was shot,” Montagu said.
    “Good God. Killed?” Wylst asked.
    The marquess shook his head. “No, but it is serious. The doctor is with him now. Deeds sustained a flesh wound, and the driver of the carriage was wounded.”
    “I am relieved our services aren’t needed,” Wylst said.
    “It was good of you to come,” Montagu said.
    A young woman appeared in the doorway.
    The marchioness rose. “Lady Mary.” She crossed the room and took the young girl’s hand in hers and led her to the group.
    Nicholas stood and noted with disgust the flicker of Wylst’s eyes to the girl’s breasts. She couldn’t be a day over seventeen, barely out of the schoolroom and more than half his age. The man had no self-control. Except, Nick realized, he hadn’t looked at Jo like that. At least, there had been no trace of lust when he’d found them in Lady Allaway’s garden. Now that he thought of it, he couldn’t recall Wylst looking at Jo with a man’s lust at all.
    “This is Lady Mary,” the marchioness said to the group.
    She introduced the men and when she came to Wylst he took the young lady’s hand and bent over it. “A pleasure to meet you, Lady Mary.”
    “Lady Mary’s brother is the young man we spoke of,” Lady Montagu said. “How is he, my dear?”
    “He is resting. The doctor concurs with your prognosis, ma’am. He is young and strong.” The girl clasped her hands. “I cannot thank you enough. You saved his life—perhaps all of our lives.”
    The older woman chuckled. “I doubt that. Mr. Halloway was quite gallant, as was your Bartholomew.”
    “Indeed they were,” she agreed. “I thank God for all of you.”
    “Speaking of Halloway,” Henry said, “where is he?”
    “I believe he was seeing to the two highwayman we captured.”
    “Captured?” the marquess blurted. “You said nothing of this.”
    “Didn’t I?” she said.
    “Madam, after you have that talk with your daughter about obedience, you and I will have a talk of our own.”
    “Of course, my lord. But for now, I should like to return to Barthmont Keep.”
    “Aye,” he agreed.
    She looked at Lady Mary. “Your brother is in good hands and Lady Arlington is a most gracious host.”
    “She has been most kind, ma’am. She has offered to let my brother stay until the doctor gives him leave to