Page 54 of The Gilded Heiress

But I was determined.

Acting as Josie’s manager showed that I have skills to offer besides dodging the police and running swindles. I merely needed

to find a person willing to take a risk on hiring me.

Quickly.

Arriving in Boston empty-handed hadn’t made for a pleasant homecoming. Though my mother was disappointed, she tried to put

a brave face on it. Molly and Hattie both called me a fool. Carolyn guessed that I’d fallen for Josie, which made it impossible

to go through with the plan. Flora laughed upon hearing the news, then disappeared, likely off with the McLaughlin fellow.

I’d deal with her later, as soon as I found a job.

Tess, my quietest sister, merely patted my hand, as if to reassure me that my failure wasn’t the end of the world. But we

both knew the truth: if I didn’t earn money soon, it would be the end—at least for the Hardy family.

I trudged up the front steps, my feet aching from all the walking after a long day scouring the city and visiting agencies.

When I pushed inside the door, complete silence greeted me.

That was odd. The last thing I needed was to hear my own thoughts, to drown in the regret and rejection I’d suffered both

in New York and Boston.

Where was everyone? Had someone died? Concerned, I hurried into the sitting room, not even bothering to remove my hat. The

room was crowded, but my gaze locked on one person.

Josie.

Holy shit. Josie was here. In Boston.

In my home.

Frozen in place, I drank in the sight of her like a man dying of thirst. My god, how elegant she looked, with her blond hair

neatly styled and a new green dress to match her eyes. Full lips, a delicate nose. Her skin was a pale rose color now, the

result of staying indoors—a luxury possessed strictly by the wealthy in this country.

This was Joséphine Pendelton, not the woman I’d met in Post Office Square all those days ago. My Josie might be lurking underneath

somewhere, but this was why I’d let her go. She’d transformed into someone else, someone better. Perfectly illustrated by

how out of place she appeared in our shabby surroundings.

A man cleared his throat.

Blinking, I saw Mr. Pendelton standing not far from his daughter, his arms crossed over his chest. He was glaring at me. My

family were seated around the room as well, their expressions a mix between curiosity and outright amusement.

I was making an ass of myself.

Slowly, I removed my hat. “Mr. Pendelton. Miss Pendelton. This is a surprise.”

Josie rose from her seat and clasped her hands. “Leo. Hello.”

No one else spoke or moved, but I didn’t glance away from her. I had no clue as to what to say or do, my mind clogged with

possibilities and questions.

“Girls.” My mother rose and began motioning to my sisters. “Let’s give Leo and his guest privacy. Come along.”

“I don’t wanna—” Molly started, until Flora grabbed her arm and tugged Molly from the room.

“Mr. Pendelton,” my mother continued, “I have a fresh apple cake in the kitchen. Perhaps you’d care for a slice?”

The older man nodded once. “I’d like that, Mrs. Hardy.” He started across the room, but he paused when he reached my side.

“I won’t be far.”

“Yes, sir. I understand.”

Then Josie and I were alone. I was desperate to touch her, to hold her once more. Smell her skin and feel the press of her

lips on mine. Being this close, yet maintaining a polite distance, scraped against the inside of my chest like a blade.

I swallowed hard. “Why have you come here?”

“I needed to see you.”

“I can’t imagine why.”

“First, I wanted to thank you.”

That was odd. I slipped my hands into my trouser pockets and lifted a shoulder. “You don’t owe me any gratitude.”

“Of course I do. Without you, none of this would’ve happened.”

“I’m glad it’s worked out for you. You deserve it.”

She nibbled on her bottom lip. “I’m not sure I deserve it, but I’m trying to adjust to my parents and new circumstances.”

“They’ve been treating you well, I trust?”

“Yes. We’ve been getting on. They’re overly protective, but I don’t mind.”

Yes, I could imagine, considering she’d been stolen from them once. We fell silent and I couldn’t help but say, “You look

well.”

“As do you.”

Awkwardness descended like a thick blanket around us. This was the most painful conversation I’d ever endured, and that included

speaking to my sisters about men. Finally, I couldn’t take it. “Josie, why are you here?”

“To see you.”

“Why?”

She searched my face intently, her head angling slightly. “I thought you would be happier to see me.”

Was she serious? Anger sparked in my belly. Hadn’t the past two weeks been bad enough? Now I needed to suffer more? Why was

I so fucking unfortunate?

I put my hands on my hips. “For god’s sake, woman. Every day is an uphill battle, and seeing you is breaking my heart all over again. What else do you expect from me?”

She didn’t flinch in the face of my anger. Instead, she closed the distance between us, coming to stand in front of me. “I’m

here because I needed to confess. I lied in New York.”

“But you never lie.”

“Not usually, no, but I lied when I said I didn’t return your feelings.”

Time came to a standstill, the air pausing as I stared down at her face. “You lied?”

She gave me a tiny nod. “I do return your feelings. Very much.”

“You... love me?” Another nod. My chest squeezed, hope soaring inside me. But I had to be sure. This was too important.

“I need the words, Josie.”

She inhaled then let the air out slowly. “I love you, Leo. I realized it as soon as I heard you turned Mr. Birdman down, that

you wouldn’t use me to get a position with him.”

“It wasn’t right, not after all that’s happened.”

“But you could’ve asked me. I might have agreed to the visit, if it meant you were offered a job.”

“I won’t use you for my personal gain ever again.”

“See? That is how I know I love you.” She grinned and rocked on her toes, pleased with herself.

Those words on her lips... Would I ever tire of hearing them? They sounded better than anything in the world, even her

singing voice.

I started to smile, but common sense prevailed. What did this revelation change? She was still an heiress . I was still a struggling former confidence man looking to go straight. Furthermore, I had six other people who depended

on me here in Boston. Our lives could not be more different.

We were worlds apart.

I shoved down all the premature happiness and hope. “Thank you for telling me. I’m sure your father is anxious to leave.”

Her lips parted as deep lines formed in her brow. “This is your response? To thank me?”

“What should I say, Josie?” My arms flapped uselessly at my sides. “Our circumstances are what they are. I cannot change them

and neither can you.”

“Balderdash. You’re pushing me away, using our circumstances as an excuse. Why? Don’t you love me enough to fight for me?”

Her voice tightened, the last few words coming out strangled with emotion. They tore at my heart, even when I was determined

to let her go.

I cupped her jaw in both of my hands, holding her, and I gazed at her beautiful face. How could she ever doubt my feelings?

“I love you enough not to drag you down. You’re an heiress now. Probably the richest heiress in the world. I want you to have

a new life, one free of the past, sweetheart. You can become whomever you want now.”

“I don’t want to forget my past, Leo,” she said softly and wrapped her fingers around my wrists. “I realized something the

last few days. I like who I am. I’m not ashamed of growing up in the asylum or earning a living by singing on the street. All those steps brought

me here, to this place right now. Without them, I’d never have met you or found my parents.”

“But Joséphine Pendelton—”

“Is still Josie Smith underneath. Please, Leo. I don’t want to do any of this without you. Because you’re not dragging me

down; you make me a better version of myself.”

I closed my eyes briefly, absorbing the words and letting them sink in. My chest lightened, as if the dark clouds inside me

parted to let in the sun. She’d made me a better person—someone with useful skills to offer beyond lying and stealing.

Was it impossible I did the same for her?

Leaning down, I rested my forehead against hers, letting the scent of her fill my lungs. “Once you say it, you cannot take

it back.”

“Which part?”

“All of it. Because now that I know, I’m never letting you go. It’s you and me until the very end, sweetheart.”

Her fingers tightened on my hands, holding on. “That’s all I want.”

“You don’t want anything else?”

“Well, I still want to sing and perform. So I’ll need my manager back.”

“You can ask, but he comes at a very high price.”

She stiffened slightly and started to pull away. “Oh? And what price is that?”

I wrapped an arm around her waist and kept her close. “I want to marry you. Soon. Say yes, Josie.”

Her body moved closer to mine, hands sliding up my chest. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

“Thank Christ.” Her lips were right there, plump and perfect. I was dying to kiss her, even though my family was probably

eavesdropping in the hall. “I love you so damn much.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Because you’re going to need to move back to New York.”

“I’ll go anywhere with you.” I couldn’t wait any longer. I started to lower my head, but she pressed on my shoulder to stop

me. “What is it?”

“Your family will come with us. And Pippa.”

“Jesus, fine. May I kiss you now?”

She slid her arms around my neck and sealed her body to mine. “Yes, but make it fast. Your sisters are listening out in the

hall.”