Page 111 of How To Tempt A Bodyguard

He returned the ledger to Tam and stood beside Florence.

"I believe this concludes the matter, Lord Rochford?"

"Indeed." Rochford dipped his head towards Matthew. "Most thoroughly."

Carrick was cornered. Everyone knew it.

But cornered men were dangerous.

"You think you've won?" His voice rose to a shriek. "You think this ends here?" He pointed at Florence. "She's the criminal! She's Madam Tansley! She runs illegal operations across England! She should be in chains, not me!"

The crowd turned to Florence.

She stood slowly. Smoothed her skirts. Met Carrick's wild eyes with perfect calm.

"It's true," she said. "I am Madam Tansley."

Murmurs. Shock. A few guests shot up from their seats and walked out.

"I have spent the last decade rescuing women from men like Lord Carrick. I have given them shelter. Employment. Safety." She looked around the room. "I have operated outside the law because the law refused to protect them."

Silence.

"Every woman in this hall who has received help from my network, every husband who has looked the other way, every family whose daughter was saved from ruin…" She paused. "You know what I have done. You know why."

A long, terrible moment.

Then Mrs Cassidy rose from her seat.

"I know."

Dahlia Lockwood stood.

"As do I."

Sylvia Raines stepped forward.

"I know."

One by one, women spoke up. Wives of lords. Daughters of merchants. Women of influence and women of none.

"I know."

"I know."

"I know."

Some remained seated, faces averted. Some gathered their things and left. Some looked at her with contempt.

There would be consequences. Enemies made tonight who would not forget. But that was a problem for tomorrow.

A door opened at the back of the hall.

A man entered. Tall. Silver haired. The bearing of old nobility.

The Marquess of Ashworth.

Florence's brother.