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“That is what she said,” Beatrice retorted, getting to her feet. “Tell me, what am I meant to think?”

“You are meant to understand that she is a liar and that it is notpossiblefor her to have my child.”

“I don’t believe you. Why should I believe you?”

“Our agreement! No children!”

Beatrice let out a strangled cry and threw the book across the room. It knocked over a small potted plant, and Stephen itched to go and right it.

“Withme! You did not want children withmebecause you wanted them with your mistress! And now I am humiliated more than ever. The scandal sheets are bad enough, and now people are taunting me—taunting me in the Park of all places! I’m the greatest fool in London already, and once Cornelia’s condition becomes known—” She broke off, pressing the heels of her hands into her eyes. “How could I have been so foolish?”

The last part was scarcely louder than a whisper, and seemingly directed towards herself rather than Stephen.

Swallowing hard, he took a step forward. Beatrice took a step back.

“Cornelia Thompson is not carrying my child,” he said, his voice crisp. “It is impossible.Nowoman could be carrying my child.”

“And how so?”

“Because I have not bedded her in the past year. Our relationship was over before I met you. I have not bedded any woman since we got married.”

Beatrice’s head snapped up. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and Stephen wondered for the first time whether she had been crying.

“You expect me to believe that?”

He opened his arms wide. “It is the truth.”

“You have a tenuous relationship with the truth, I think.”

He groaned. “What can I say to convince you? I never intended to have children, not with anyone. I am always careful, always. My line must never continue. I was once Cornelia’s richest and most powerful patron. She does not want to lose me, especially now that her brother is so disgraced. I have not been with her, I swear to you.”

Beatrice stared at him, her brow furrowed. “Her brother? Who is Cornelia’s brother?”

Stephen paused. “I had hoped I would not have to tell you,” he mumbled, raking a hand through his hair. “Her brother—half-brother, I should say—is the Marquess of Hampton.”

There was a brief pause, then Beatrice’s eyes widened in horror.

“What? Why did you not think to tell me?”

“I didn’t think it was relevant.”

“Didn’t think it was… they’ll want to take revenge on us both!”

Stephen nodded. “No doubt, yes. I imagine that is why they have been feeding false information to the scandal sheets—to humiliate you and put me in a bad situation. I cannot imagine that Cornelia is truly with child, but whether she is or not, it isnotmine, Beatrice. Please, you must believe me.”

She held his gaze for a long moment.

“I don’t know what to believe,” she said, “but I do think that Cornelia is a liar.”

He moved closer, reaching out to rest his hands on her shoulders. He had intended to draw her close in a reassuring hug, but she flinched, and he dropped his hands.

“I will stop this,” he promised. “I will stop them from feeding the scandal sheets any more lies. I won’t let them humiliate you anymore.”

She swallowed, looking away. “Why do you not want to have children?”

He flinched. “I… what?”

“You say you are always careful, that you never want children. You said your line must not continue. Why not?”