Page 75 of The Lady’s Great Escape

Kit wanted to plant the man a facer and be on with his day, but later today the lords would gather to vote on Edward’s claims that Celia didn’t deserve her settlement, so Kit stayed to hear what the man had to say.

“It is no secret Lady Hamlin’s brother has been my close friend since we were lads,” Kit said with an air of boredom.

“You know what I’m getting at, Stormont. If you’ve dallied with her, I have a proposition for you.”

“A proposition?” Curiosity won out, though his fingers clenched into fists.

“If you will say she was a virgin when she came to your bed, and turn your vote for me, I will share the proceeds with you. I know you could use the blunt.”

Kit could only stare at the man, as words abandoned him. It was clear the blighter was quite desperate if he held any hope that Kit would betray his best friend for coin.

“You are despicable. Not only would I have nothing to do with such a proposition, but I will tell all who will listen how you were willing to lie to get what you want. What you have no rightful claim to. I will see you in a few hours and when the vote is cast against you, the laughter you hear will be mine.”

With that, Kit hurried back to his carriage and apologized to Willa.

“He is most unpleasant,” Willa said. “My brother said he cheated him out of a fair amount of money at the tables a few weeks ago.”

“I am not surprised. Let’s forget about him. You were saying, before we were interrupted…” Kit took the coward’s way out of having to carry the conversation.

Fortunately, Willa showed mercy and took over the discussion once again.

He hadn’t realized how difficult it was to talk to an innocent young woman. Everything he would have normally said to Celia had to be run through a filter. Most topics were quickly tossed aside as inappropriate.

He would need to get better at this. And soon. But first he had somewhere quite important to be.

He returned Willa and her maid to Derforth House and offered Ernest a ride to the House of Lords for the session that afternoon.

“You do plan to vote in favor of Graham’s sister, don’t you?” Kit decided to confirm before allowing the carriage to move on.

“Yes. Do you think anyone would dare to cross Lord Penbrook in regard to his only sister? Only someone courting death would be so dimwitted.”

Kit nodded and thumped on the roof to carry on.

As they entered Westminster Kit found Gray waiting. Hale had arrived from Scotland. Hayworth was there, as were other men Gray knew from Eton.

“Who does Hamlin have to vote on his side?” Hale asked.

“Only a few men he owes money to. Timmons knows this may be the only way he’s to see any of the blunt he’s due.”

“Beckstone will side with him as well,” Kit said, remembering what Celia had told him after she’d danced with him.”

“No, he won’t.” Kit looked up to see Lord Rathmore standing at the edge of their impressive group. “He owed me money and I told him I would waive the amount if he voted with us.”

Kit had known the man to be honorable. While he wasn’t overjoyed that Celia had her sights on the man to become her next lover, Kit felt he had at least earned such a right here today.

The group entered the chambers and took their assigned places, awaiting the session to begin.

Lord Hamlin looked pale and sweaty. Whether his own guilt was eating at him or he cowered from the many glares sent his direction, Kit wasn’t certain.

When the time came for him to take the floor, Kit had to lean in to hear his breathless voice as he stammered over the declaration.

“Speak up,” the lead speaker ordered and Hamlin cleared his throat before trying again.

“I declare that my grandfather, the Sixth Earl of Hamlin was tricked into offering a settlement upon his wife, Lady Celia Dorsett Hamlin that is unjust under the accusation that the marriage was not consummated and is rendered therefore illegitimate.”

“What proof do you have of this?”

“A chambermaid at Archstone will give witness that the bedclothes were not marked after the wedding night, my lord speaker.”