My Lady Notorious by Jo Beverley

Sir William did not seem to want his brother
to have it, I have wondered if it might be an amendment to his will…”
    “Cutting out Henry as guardian?” asked Chastity sharply. “Let’s see—”
    Verity snatched it. “We mustn’t! Oh, Chastity. I’m sure it will invalidate it if the seals are broken.”
    “But…” Chastity broke off. “I don’t suppose it makes much
difference. The main thing is to get you to Nathaniel. Then we can
decide what to do about this.”
    “Perhaps we should ask Lord Cyn.”
    “Lud, no,” said Chastity. “Who knows what this document is? We don’t
want to put ammunition into the hands of a Malloren. Keep it well
hidden. Now, I’m going upstairs to change.”
    When Chastity had gone, Verity tucked the paper away safely and
sighed over her sister’s predicament. Verity had hopes that her own
situation would turn out right, but nothing on earth could mend
Chastity’s life.
    That the Earl of Walgrave should order Chastity to marry Henry
Vernham was peculiar; that he should be willing to ruin such a valuable
pawn as his daughter in the attempt defied belief.
    Verity had been in the country, in the last weeks of her pregnancy,
when the scandal had occurred. She had heard the story from her
husband, however, spiced with rage and foul humor. Sir William had been
furious that Chastity had scorned his brother, and had painted the
worst possible picture. Now Verity had heard the story from Chastity.
    Henry Vernham was ten years younger than his brother. Where William
was coarse and greedy, Henry was smooth and calculating. He was not
ill-looking, but had only a small competence and a minor court post. He
was, in effect, a nonentity who could hardly have expected even to
encounter Lady Chastity Ware except for his family connection.
    He had, however, not just met her but been so bold as to offer for
her hand. And the mighty Earl of Walgrave, far from laughing in his
face, had ordered Chastity to accept.
    She had refused, scarcely taking the matter seriously at first. The
earl’s rage had corrected that impression, but Chastity had still
refused. She had stoically accepted petty restrictions and lectures on
duty, not even bending when he forbade her to attend the Wares’ annual
grand rout if she would not do so as Vernham’s partner.
    Chastity had remarked that she had been more relieved than anything
to be locked in her room if the alternative was to have Henry Vernham
pawing at her all evening.
    She had gone peacefully to sleep, but had woken near midnight when
her father burst in on her with half a dozen guests in tow. She had sat
up in alarm, and only then realized that Henry Vernham was lying in the
bed beside her, stark naked. She had realized immediately that the trap
could only have been accomplished with her father’s full compliance.
Her door had been locked on the outside.
    He had doubtless expected her to give up all resistance to the
match. What else could a young lady do? Chastity, however, had loudly
protested her innocence and continued to refuse. The matter had then
become highly unpleasant, with the whole world believing the worst, and
the earl losing all control of his temper. Even whippings and
starvation, however, had not changed Chastity’s mind.
    In the end the earl had given up. He had washed his hands of his
daughter and banished her here to this cottage. He had made sure she
would stay in her exile by providing no money, only the coarsest
clothing, and by shaving off all Chastity’s beautiful hair.
    It had hardly been necessary, for where else could the Notorious
Chastity Ware go? The Earl of Walgrave’s daughters were not trained for
employment, and no respectable man would offer her his name. And that
was a shame, thought Verity, for Chastity had always been a joyous
girl, made to be a wife and mother.
    Chastity reappeared, transformed. She’d cinched the loose frieze
breeches with a belt, and they added bulk to her legs. The moleskin
shirt also disguised