by Jenna Brandt
Josephine couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Duncan wasn’t just a self-centered, egotistical idiot, he was a monster who didn’t seem to have any remorse over the fact he killed someone. He thought what he did to Isadora was justifiable.
“You need to let me go, right now, Duncan. My father will be searching for me, and if you do anything to me, he’ll have your head.”
“We’re engaged. No one’s going to think twice about the fact we snuck off to have some time alone. If you give the document back, and promise not to say a word to anyone, we can get married like we planned, putting all of this behind us.”
The more she listened to him, the more Josephine realized that Duncan wasn’t sane. He was delusional, and dangerous. She wasn’t sure how she didn’t see it before. How could she have been so blind?
“I don’t have the document.”
“Don’t deny it. I saw you come out of my father’s study. He never uses it, so I thought it would be a safe place to keep it. I checked after you left, and I know you took it.”
“I’m telling you, I don’t have it.”
Duncan jumped to his feet and rushed towards her. He lifted his fist towards her. “Stop lying, Josephine. I don’t know why you had to get involved. I had everything meticulously planned out. I was careful never to do anything myself—always using a third person to deliver my messages and letters. I used my left hand to write my letters and notes so no one would recognize my handwriting. Everything was going smoothly until you decided to stick your nose where it didn’t belong. I don’t want to hurt you, but if you keep lying to me, I’ll be forced to do something drastic.”
“You can threaten me all you want, but it doesn’t change the fact I don’t have what you want.”
Duncan growled in anger as he pulled back his arm. Josephine prepared herself for the punch she knew was coming. Before it could land across her cheek though, there was a loud thud downstairs that distracted him.
“I need to go check and see what that was all about,” Duncan said, moving away from her. “We’ll continue this when I get back. I’d advise you to change your mind about telling me where the document is. Your life might very well depend on it.”
Sixteen
It was too quiet. Charles didn’t like it when things were too quiet, especially at a place like The Old Bull Tavern. Places like that were always full of loud, obnoxious drunks, and wanton women slinging beers. The only time that changed was when there was trouble brewing.
It didn’t matter what was going on inside the bar. It was time to find Josephine and rescue her. He’d do whatever it took to make that happen.
“Let’s go, gentlemen.” He pulled out his pistol and marched across the street, the constables and the detectives following behind him.
When they entered the establishment, they found only a barkeep behind the wooden counter. He looked frightened, as if he didn’t want to be there but didn’t have an alternative choice.
“Where are they?” Charles asked, knowing the barkeep would know who he was talking about.
The other man gestured up with his head, pointing to the stairs at the side of the room. They starting climbing the stairs, trying to remain quiet to keep the element of surprise. Just as they reached the top, he found two men standing at the end of the hall. The thugs looked startled to see them, but quickly regained their composure and rushed towards them.
“You need to get out of here,” one of the men shouted at them.
“Before we make you get out,” the second one chimed in.
The constables started toward the men, but the burly thugs were a force to be reckoned with. The detectives had to join in on the melee to actually get a handle on the hired henchmen.
Charles used the distraction to unlock the door and slip into the room. He found Josephine sitting on a chair next to a window. She jumped up, her eyes wide with surprise. “What are you doing here? How did you find me?”
“After the robbery, I had one of my men follow you to keep you safe. He couldn’t stop the men, but he followed to find out where they were taking you. He brought the information to a dead drop we had set up.”
“Thank you,” she said, rushing up to him and throwing herself into his arms. “I was so scared. When I found out it was Duncan who took me, I didn’t know what to make of it.”
“Duncan?” Charles questioned with confusion. “Did his father send him to deal with you?”
She shook her head. “It’s been him the whole time. Part of me always wondered if he might have accidentally hurt Isadora because he was jealous or didn’t want to marry her, but I was too scared to voice my concerns. It was stupid of me. I should have told you what I suspected. I never thought that he could be responsible for the blackmail, too. He claims Isadora’s death was an accident, but I don’t know if I believe him. He didn’t want to marry her, and she was investigating his blackmailing. I think it was rather convenient that she accidentally ‘fell’ over the railing at the theater.”
“Where is he now?”
“He said he had to visit the privy. He could be back at any moment,” Josephine explained, glancing at the door with apprehension.
“We need to get you out of here now. I have the authorities with me. They are dealing with his henchmen, but I don’t want you to be here when they arrest Selborne.”
“What if he sees you and escapes?”
“He won’t get very far now that we know it’s him. He’s going away to prison for a very long time.”
“I wouldn’t count on that,” he heard Duncan say from behind them. “I watched as the constables took my men away and waited to come in here to deal with the two of you.”
Charles and Josephine turned to face the other man.
Duncan was holding a gun, pointed directly at them. Charles knew he couldn’t raise his own gun fast enough to shoot the other man before he pulled the trigger. He was going to have to find another way to deal with Selborne.
“Take your hands off her, right now,” Duncan demanded in anger. “She’s my fiancée.”
“Not anymore, she isn’t,” Charles corrected. “The fact you’re a blackmailer and a killer, not to mention an abductor, means you won’t be marrying anyone, let alone Josephine.”
“Besides, I don’t love you, Duncan. I never have,” Josephine added. “I could never love a man who did the things you’ve done.”
“No, that’s not it; it’s because of him,” Duncan said, gesturing with his gun towards Charles. “He keeps getting in my way. He ruins everything for me. The moment I walked in here and saw you in his arms, I could tell that my suspicions about your affair were valid. If I can’t have you, no one can.”
Charles was worried he might shoot Josephine if he thought he was going to lose her. He needed to do something to keep that from happening.
“You’re right, Lord Selborne, all of this is my fault,” he said, letting go of Josephine and moving away from her. Just as he hoped, Duncan kept his attention and gun focused on Charles. “If you remove me from the equation, you’ll have Josephine all to yourself.”
“What are you doing, Charles?” Josephine whispered, a confused and worried look surfacing on her face.
“It’s all right, Josephine. Why don’t you go downstairs, and we can handle this,” Charles explained, hoping she would understand that he was giving her a chance to escape to the authorities down below.
“Yes, Josephine, go downstairs and wait for me. I’ll be down once I’ve disposed of him.”
Josephine moved towards the door, and Charles felt relief in his heart. Even if he died, it would be worth it if the woman he loved survived. He took one final look at her, grateful that he got to know her and love her, even if it was for the shortest of times.
“You should have never come after me, Mr. Gilbert. It’s going to be the mistake that got you killed,” Selborne said with a smug smile.
Before the other man could pull the trigger though, Josephine was rushing towards him, and jumping on h
is back. She started hitting him, causing him to stumble around as he tried to swat her off.
“Get off me, get off me,” he shouted in anger. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I can’t let you hurt him,” she cried out.
Charles used the distraction to his benefit. He darted towards the struggling pair, reaching out to grab the gun. Selborne must have seen him coming because he moved his hand out of the way. Charles tried again. This time, he got a hold of the barrel and wrapped his hand around the edge. They pulled back and forth on the weapon, and during the skirmish, Josephine was knocked to the ground. Several more pushes back and forth, and Charles was about to get the gun when it went off. He felt a massive pain stab him in the arm right before something wet and warm spread across his chest.
Josephine screamed, and he knew the moment he heard the terror in it, that the pain he felt must be from a bullet. He pushed the pain away. It didn’t matter, he had to stop Selborne before it was too late. Charles swung out and hit the other man in the face, then followed it by another punch. Selborne grunted, lifting his hand to his face in shock. Charles bet the man had never been hit in his life, which worked to Charles’ advantage. He grabbed the gun that was now loosely gripped in Duncan’s hand.
“It’s over, Selborne; you have no alternative but to surrender. Don’t make me shoot you.”
Josephine scrambled to her feet, rushing to Charles’ side. “You’ve been shot. What can I do?”
“It’s only a graze,” he said dismissively. “Josephine, I need you to run downstairs and get one of the constables.”
“I don’t want to leave you while you’re hurt,” she objected, pulling out her handkerchief and placing it over the wound.
“I’ll be fine,” Charles insisted.
Before she could protest further, one of the detectives came bursting into the room. “Is everything okay? I heard gunfire.” He rushed forward, then glanced between the three of them. “Mr. Gilbert, you’ve been shot.”
“Yes, people keep telling me that,” Charles said with irritation. “And like I said before, I’ll be fine. It’s just a graze.”
“It’s bleeding a lot,” Josephine protested. “My handkerchief is nearly soaked through in a matter of minutes.”
“I can take him into custody while you go to the doctor to get that mended,” the detective offered. “What are the charges?”
“Blackmail, kidnapping, and murder,” Charles said. “He’s guilty of all three.”
“And don’t forget, attempted murder. He nearly killed the man I love,” Josephine added, as the detective grabbed Selborne by the arm and dragged him off. “I hope I never have to see him again as long as I live.”
Charles looked down into Josephine’s eyes, pleased with her announcement. “You love me?”
She pressed her lips together, then nodded. “I didn’t know how much until I saw you get shot. I thought I would die with you as I saw your chest turn red.”
“If I love you and you love me, what are we going to do about it?”
“We need to be together.”
“That’s easier said than done. I have no title, no money to offer you.”
“I don’t care about any of that.”
“You’re supposed to marry a lord, not a man whose only attribute is expertly conducting espionage. My life is no life for a lady.”
“I’ve come to realize; I don’t want to marry a nobleman and live a pampered life without adventure. I want to be spend my life with the rough, rogue spy who managed to steal my heart.”
“You do?” Charles asked optimistically.
“There’s nothing I want more.”
Charles leaned down and kissed Josephine, forgetting everything other than spending the rest of his life devoting every moment to the only woman he’d ever love.
Epilogue
One month later.
Josephine couldn’t wait to walk down the aisle and marry the man she loved. When she had told Charles that she wanted to be with him, she hadn’t thought about how it would all work out. She was willing to give up everything if it meant being with him, but it turned out she wouldn’t have to.
The Queen was grateful for Charles’ service and decided to bestow upon him a title and land for the work he did over the past decade. Today, Josephine would have the privilege of marrying the freshly titled, Viscount Primore, the new favorite of the Queen—a fact that made her father more than agreeable to their union. It also didn’t hurt that Charles saved his daughter’s life.
“Are you ready to go?” her father asked, taking her hand and placing it in the crook of his arm.
Josephine nodded. “Yes, Father, I can’t wait to marry Charles.”
“I had my doubts about him in the beginning, but as I’ve gotten to know him, I’ve realized he’s the perfect match for you.”
“I know, I feel so lucky to have found him.”
“It wasn’t luck, Josephine. God guided you to him.”
In her heart, she knew it to be true. She was meant to be with Charles.
The music began to play, informing her bridesmaids, Vivian, Julia, and Matilda, to head down the aisle, followed by her sister, Rachel, who would be standing next to her as her Matron of Honor.
The music switched, letting her know that it was her time to enter the church. The doors opened and she glided down the aisle with her father by her side.
Charles was standing at the end of the aisle, smiling in his black suit. Standing next to him was her brother, Paul, and brother-in-law, Matthew, along with Mark Bennett.
She reached the end of the aisle as the pastor asked, “Who gives this woman away to marry this man?”
“I do,” her father said, leaning forward and kissing her cheek through her veil. He took her hand from his arm and gave it to Charles. “Take good care of my daughter.”
“You have my word,” Charles said, squeezing Josephine’s hand with his own.
The ceremony passed by quickly with a message on the bonds of love and commitment, followed by the exchanging of vows and rings.
“It’s my great pleasure to present, the Viscount and Viscountess Primore,” the pastor announced.
The assembled guests clapped and cheered as Josephine and Charles moved to face them.
“You may kiss your bride.”
Charles turned to Josephine as he pulled her towards him. “I’m so glad I get to do this the rest of my life.”
“Me, too,” she whispered back, right before his lips met hers, branding Josephine his for all time.
They rushed down the aisle and headed towards the waiting carriage. Just as it took off, Charles leaned over and kissed her again. “Do we really have to go to the reception?”
“Considering the Queen’s sending a special gift for us to open there, I think it would be in poor form to not show up. She’s a much better ally, than enemy. Besides, if we want to stay in the running for our ambassador post, we need to stay on her good side.”
“I’m still surprised you want to do that, considering it means leaving everything you’ve ever known.”
“I can’t think of anything I would want more than to travel the world and serve our country together.”
“When you put it that way, it does sound rather wonderful,” Charles admitted with a smile.
“Are you disappointed you have to give your life up as a spy?” Josephine inquired, worried he would resent it in the future. “Being an ambassador won’t be nearly as exciting.”
“Never, I would give it up a hundred times over if it meant getting to spend the rest of my life with you. Besides, being shot made me realize there were more important things in life than just focusing on my job.”
“Like what?”
“Like loving you, Josephine. I know now, I was born to love you.”
“Who knew you could be such a romantic,” she laughed, letting him pull her towards him as he kissed her again.
They spent the rest of the evening dancing and enjoying a fu
n-filled evening with their friends and family. The Queen’s gift was the official papers offering Charles the position as Ambassador to France. They were to travel there after their honeymoon. She felt like the luckiest woman in the world. Not only did she get to live her life with the man she loved, but she was going to be able to do it from the most romantic city in the world.
“It seems we will be in Paris by the beginning of summer,” Charles said, leaning over and kissing her cheek. “Get ready to pack your bags.”
By the end of the night, Josephine was exhausted, but not too tired to enjoy her final quiet moments with her husband before they headed to their honeymoon suite. He held her in his arms as they swayed to the music on the dance floor.
“I love you, Josephine. Thank you for agreeing to marry me, making me happier than I ever thought I could be,” Charles whispered in her ear.
“The pleasure is all mine,” she whispered back, looking up into his eyes and letting herself melt into them. “Never doubt how much I love you.”
Just as the song ended, his lips met hers. The kiss was filled with a promise of a life that she never expected, but now knew, was the one she always wanted.
A Note from the Author
I hope you have enjoyed Charles and Josephine’s story and will continue to read the rest of The Lawkeepers series.
Your opinion and support matters, so I would greatly appreciate you taking the time to leave a review. If you would like more info, please join my Newsletter and get a free novella and short story just for signing up. I’d also love for you to check out My Reader’s Group!
Happy Reading!
Also by Jenna Brandt
Most Books are Free in Kindle Unlimited too!
The Lawkeepers is a multi-author series alternating between historical westerns and contemporary westerns featuring law enforcement heroes that span multiple agencies and generations. Join bestselling author Jenna Brandt and many others as they weave captivating, sweet and inspirational stories of romance and suspense between the lawkeepers — and the women who love them. The Lawkeepers is a world like no other; a world where lawkeepers and heroes are honored with unforgettable stories, characters, and love. Jenna’s Lawkeeper books: