Page 44 of Deceiving an Earl
And Josie was looking at Philip with an expression that Oliver didn’t even want to contemplate. This was not happening. This was notgoingto happen. Over Oliver’s dead body would Philip come within ten feet of Josie.
“Will you introduce us?” Philip asked, a sly smile curving his lips.
The boy knew exactly what he was doing, and Oliver wanted to blacken his eye again.
“Lord Fieldhurst, this is Lady Josephine McCaron, mysister.”
“Josie. Most people call me Josie.” She smiled at Philip, and Oliver wanted to step between them and sweep Josie out of there.
“Most people call me Philip,” the boy said. His voice rose an octave.
“Josie was just leaving,” Oliver said.
“Why so soon?” Philip asked. “The entertainment hasn’t even begun yet. Poetry, I believe.”
Josie fluttered her lashes. She actually fluttered her lashes! Oliver had never seen her do that before.
“Ah, poetry,” Josie breathed. As if poetry was her very favorite thing when they both knew it wasn’t. Josie was like Oliver. She preferred numbers and facts to silly words strung together.
But tonight she seemed to be changing her tune.
And Oliver felt he was losing this battle, and he was desperate to stop it. He didn’t like the looks in either of their eyes.
“Lord Armbruster.”
Oliver was entirely too pleased to see Ellen glide up to them, looking between her son and Josie.
“Philip, you didn’t tell me you would be attending tonight,” she said in veiled reproach.
“I thought I would wander through before meeting friends. You didn’t tell me that your guests were so…fetching.”
Josie blushed, and Oliver bit back a groan.
Their mother was going to be furious when she found out what happened tonight, and she would blame Oliver for not taking care of the situation from the beginning.
“Lady Fieldhurst, this is my sister, Lady Josephine.”
“Lady Josephine,” she said. “Your sister?”
“Yes,” Josie said.
Ellen had gone white, and for a moment Oliver feared she would faint. He had no idea what would cause such a reaction. It wasn’t as if he’d kept Josie a secret. His mother had been pregnant with Josie when he and Ellen had been together.
“May I speak to you for a moment?” Ellen asked him.
Oliver hesitated, not wanting to leave Philip and Josie alone.
“Philip, aren’t your friends waiting for you?” Ellen asked.
“I believe tonight I will forgo that entertainment and stay for this.”
Ellen made a choked sound and forcibly yanked Oliver away from the group.
“This cannot happen,” she hissed once they were out of earshot.
“I agree.”
“Philip and Josie cannot… You agree?”
