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John reeled back, shocked. ‘Good God. That bastard!’

Mary looked at John. He was reading a letter at the breakfast table. It was unlike John to express his emotions so vehemently.

‘John!’ Kate whispered.

Mary put her cup of chocolate down. John was looking at her. Whatever had made him angry was something to do with her.

His expression changed to a look of regret. ‘I am sorry.’

‘Why?’ she asked.

So far, the child had been kind to her; she had only suffered slight nausea in the mornings and never been physically ill, but now she felt as if she might be sick.

John’s gaze ran around the footmen about the table. ‘Leave us, please.’ They bowed deeply then filed out. ‘You too, Finch,’ John prompted the butler.

Mary had never seen him send the servants from the room.

A hand pressed to her stomach, as though she would protect the child from whatever was coming. John stood.

She stood too, with a desire to run. ‘Please, do not tell me. I do not wish to know if he has been seen with her.’

‘Mary.’ John came closer. ‘You must know this. The letter is from Uncle Richard, and you must hear this from me and not others. It is worse than you thought. Sit down.’

She did, her legs too weak to hold her.

John’s gaze softened as he sat in the dining chair beside her. ‘Uncle Richard saw Lord Framlington at a ball last night. He was involved in another brawl and an accusation was thrown, which everyone heard.’

‘Is the woman married?’

‘She is.’ He looked sorrowful. ‘It is the Duchess of Kilbride, his sister Caroline. He was accused of incest by his brother-in-law, and his sister has disappeared. It is said they have been in a physical relationship for years.’

‘Good Lord.’ Kate’s fingers covered her mouth.

It is not true . Mary shook her head. ‘John, it is not true. He would not.’

‘You told me his family have cut him,’ Kate said. ‘They also cut the Duchess of Kilbride. This would explain why, if their family knew…’

Mary looked at Kate. ‘That is absurd. It is not true! He would not do such a thing. I saw him speaking with the Duchess of Kilbride once, before we wed. They had been talking outside?—’

‘Is that not added proof?’ John said in a kind voice, as though he thought she simply did not want to believe it.

‘No.’ Her voice grew stronger. ‘Andrew told me Lord Kilbride beat her, and all he could do was offer comfort. He was the only person she trusted. I saw bruises on her neck once after that and they looked like finger marks. Lord Kilbride will have said that because Andrew has helped his sister.’

Mary shut her eyes and felt the blood drain from her skin. Suddenly everything made sense. She opened her eyes and looked at Kate. ‘The woman in the draper’s… That was her! She wears veils to hide the bruises.’

Mary stood. ‘He bought the house for her! He said, Caro. Caroline. His sister. I did not make the connection. He does not have a mistress, Kate! Oh, Kate, he made love to me and said he was sorry, that he would try to prove himself, and I left him.’

Mary looked at John. ‘You must take me back. I must go to him.’

John’s expression became uncertain. ‘You cannot. He has gone into hiding. Kilbride wants him hanged. Although as far as I know there is no charge against him yet.’

She shook her head. ‘He will not hide from them, that is not Andrew. He will not run. If they accuse him, he will look them in the eye and tell them all to go to hell, not hide.’

John’s lips twitched at one corner. ‘That is what he said to Uncle Richard.’

‘Then Mary is right, John, if she knows him so well.’ Kate pressed. ‘And if Mary cannot go to him, we ought to bring him here. If he loves Mary he will come and they can hide from these rumours and resolve the rift between them while the gossip dies down.’

Kate’s gaze caught Mary’s. ‘There is something else you ought to know, which I believe now indicates Lord Framlington’s innocence. John and I discussed it and we thought it better not to tell you. But now… Your father and mother know this too and agreed we should not tell you. But Mary, when you came back, it was the same day John and your father received cheques from Lord Framlington. He returned most of your dowry, with a letter that stated he could not keep it if he did not have you. He said it would only be a bitter reminder of what he had lost. John thought it a ploy to win you back, and yet we were not sure because he asked John not to tell you. At the time it made your father and John doubt their judgement. Yet knowing he had a mistress, we thought it would confuse things for you.’

‘Were we wrong, Mary?’ John touched her shoulder.

‘Yes.’ He understood at last. ‘Andrew never argued against the things you said, John. I think he thought it lowering to defend himself. Yet he told me he loved me a dozen times, and I did not always believe him because you told me he was lying to win my dowry. If it was not for my dowry, then it is true.’

‘What you felt was real, Mary. Andrew loved you.’ Kate looked at John. ‘Mary cannot go to London, so we must bring him here.’

‘I will have a carriage prepared.’

‘I will come with you,’ Kate said. ‘He may not be willing to speak with you, John.’