Page 76 of The Lady’s Great Escape

The men at the front of the room muttered to one another.

Hale, being a duke, was the first to rise and speak.

“Lord Speaker, if you would,” he looked around. “I don’t wish to share such intimate details regarding my own marriage, but my wife has given me leave to do so if it might deter an invasive investigation.”

“Go on, your grace,” the speaker said.

“Thank you. I can speak in regard to experiencing a similar situation with my wife, whom I assure all here was in fact a virgin, that the age of the bride is a factor in such things. A more mature woman, especially one who is active as with my duchess, as well as Lady Hamlin, may not produce such proof as one might expect. I’ve a doctor waiting outside who can confirm this if you wish to hear from an expert in such things. Or perhaps we might ask the lords present who are married if they have experienced such things.”

There was a murmuring throughout the room, but no one jumped up to offer such testimony.

Gray rose next. Kit saw his hands clenched in fists by his side.

“Might I say something as well as the brother of the woman whose virtue is being called into question?”

The mumbling rose louder and Edward went from pale to a greenish hue.

The speaker smacked the desk with his mallet in an effort to demand quiet.

“Go on.”

“The previous Earl of Hamlin, my sister’s husband, did not set up the settlement on my sister before the marriage. It was done months later when he’d grown ill. Would a man do such a thing for a wife if he had not consummated the marriage? The same chambermaid that will say the sheets were unmarked will also be able to testify that the couple shared a bed. So who are we to doubt what happened in their marriage bed if the earl clearly saw it to be a real marriage.”

Kit stood next and introduced himself.

“Rather than testify, I wish to learn Lord Hamlin’s motives by calling his grandfather’s marriage into question at this time, years after he’s been gone. I daresay, it seems suspect as the man has gone deep into debt with many gaming houses as well as other peers. If he forces an innocent woman to be subjected to an examination, I as well as many others, require his finances be examined.”

Edward blustered about until the speaker called for quiet yet again.

“Lord Hamlin, it appears your claim will be met with heavy contest. Are you sure you wish to proceed?”

Edward swallowed and slowly shook his head. Timmons slammed his fist and glared at Lord Hamlin.

“Then this matter is deemed resolved. No further inquiries shall be made regarding Lady Hamlin’s virtue.”

All the men that had been on their side seemed to take a deep breath. Hale patted Gray on the back.

Celia would be spared any examination or forced to testify.

She remained free to continue on with her plans.

*

Upon arriving atthe Clemmons’ Ball that evening, Celia visited briefly with Kit before Lord Rathmore came to her side to request a dance.

She thanked them both for standing up in defense of her that day at the House of Lords. Gray had told her all that had happened and assured her the matter was resolved and she was safe.

She hadn’t realized how much it had been weighing on her until it was no longer important.

“It is an easy enough thing to defend an innocent woman,” Rathmore said.

Kit winked at her, for he knew the truth.

“Shall we?” Rathmore asked when the music began playing. She took his hand and smiled as Kit quietly wished her a pleasant evening.

Perhaps tonight would be the night she would not go home alone.

She spent most of their dance trying to step closer to him, only to have him step back. Keeping the proper distance between them, even when they had moved to the corners.