Secret Brides [3] Secrets of a Scandalous Marriage by Valerie Bowman

on the inside of her arm. Why had she told him about her dog and her parents? No doubt Lord Medford wasn’t interested in such drivel. She had a job to do. A pamphlet to write. “Shall we get started?” she asked, schooling her features into the most professional manner she could muster. “Discussing the pamphlet?”
    “By all means.” He stood and moved back around to his seat behind the desk, gesturing for Kate to sit in one of the facing chairs. Themis trotted away and curled up on the rug in front of the fire again and closed her eyes.
    “Before we discuss the pamphlet,” Lord Medford said. “I wanted to speak to you about your defense. I’ve sent for Mr. Abernathy. He’s the most experienced barrister in town.”
    Bracing her hands on the arms of the chair, Kate sat up straight and blinked. “Mr. Abernathy?”
    “Yes. I promised you the best and I’ll deliver.” He winked at her and Kate’s insides felt funny again. “I must admit I was quite surprised to hear you didn’t already have someone employed. Abernathy was working on another case, but I … persuaded him to put his work on hold.”
    Kate settled back into the chair and expelled her breath. “Thank you, my lord. I’m going to need the best. But I’ve seen enough of how the aristocracy works to not trust the House of Lords, to be honest. I doubt even Mr. Abernathy will stand much of a chance against the charges I face.”
    Lord Medford cleared his throat. “Abernathy will do everything he can. He’ll be here at one o’clock.”
    She took a deep breath. “I look forward to meeting him. In the meantime, perhaps you should tell me what exactly you have in mind for the pamphlet.”
    He leaned his elbow on the arm of his chair and propped his chin on his fist. “I ask nothing more than that you tell your story, in your own words.”
    Her gaze snapped to his face. “Truly? You don’t want the salacious details? I thought surely—”
    “Trust me. The ton will be interested in whatever you have to say.”
    Kate shook her head. Trust me, he had said. That made her stop. She didn’t trust him. Didn’t even know him. True, he’d been kind to her so far, but he wanted something from her. Though he had surprised her by giving her free rein to write the pamphlet. And seeing to her defense. But there had to be a catch … somewhere.
    He leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers in front of his chest. “What is it that you want to tell people?”
    “That I’m innocent,” she said in a loud, strong voice, quite sure her eyes were flashing with all the passion she felt on the subject. “Though I expect most won’t believe it,” she finished more softly.
    His eyes narrowed on her face. “May I ask you a question?”
    She smiled. “I believe I cannot say no to that.”
    He leaned back in his chair. “You might have an easier time of it if you had friends in the aristocracy. Why is it that you were in the country for so long? Why did you never come to London? Never meet anyone? Make friends?”
    She swallowed and glanced away. “What does any of it matter?”
    “It matters to your defense.”
    Kate bit her lip. “Very well.” She paused, expelling her breath. “After we were married, my husband and I … we soon realized we didn’t suit. He wanted to pursue his … pleasures in London, and he didn’t want me there, reminding him of what an awful choice of wife he’d made.”
    Lord Medford pursed his lips. “Awful choice?”
    She stared at her hands that were folded in her lap. “You must have heard about me, Lord Medford. My past. It’s been in all the papers.”
    He nodded. “If you mean that your father was a gentleman landowner, not a peer, then yes. But how does that make you an awful choice?”
    She raised her head and gave him a skeptical look. “You know how vast the divide is. I was never a part of my husband’s world. Despite the fairy tales, one does not go from a farm to a ducal estate. Not successfully at