Only Marriage Will Do (24 page)

“Then you had best go find some strumpet who will have you.” Amiable sneered. “Juliet is
my
wife. I beg you to remember as you seem rather forgetful. You have not yet chosen weapons for tomorrow nor your seconds. Dalbury here is my primary second. His wife’s brother, the Earl of Manning, will stand as my secondary.”

“Ah, but Mr. Morley, my Juliet has forbidden me to fight you and I cannot go against her wishes, can I? I am afraid I will not be able to meet you, much as I would like to do so. Another time, perhaps? When my wife is less apprehensive?” He beamed at Juliet. “So you will have the examination done today,
ma petite
? It should be the work of a few minutes. I will send a woman to your home to perform this for us. She will report back to Monsieur Grimes the results, which will be as I have predicted.” He grinned wickedly.

“Not a chance, St. Cyr,” Duncan snarled. “I will have Dr. Pritchett come to examine my sister.” He turned to her. “Pritchett should see you anyway, Juliet.”

St. Cyr unfolded himself from his chair and came to stand before Duncan. His head barely reached her brother’s shoulder, but he faced him down without blinking an eye. “A physician will not know what to look for in this matter, Lord Dalbury. It is the provenance of a certain kind of woman.” The man leered at her brother, seeming to revel in the perverted or disgusting. “By all means, have my Juliet attended by your man to make sure her child is well. To ascertain such a repair, however, you need a woman who has had some experience with both losing and restoring virginity. I am sure you have availed yourself of such a woman, Lord Dalbury? You had one, I remember, the last time we met at the Ambassador’s house, although of course she did not attend with you that weekend.”

Duncan clenched and unclenched his hands, clearly itching to tear the foppish young man apart with his hands. He clenched and unclenched them as they hung down by his sides. “I will have Katarina’s midwife attend Juliet as well. She should be knowledgeable enough to spot this ‘repair’ of which you speak.”

“She might have such knowledge, but I insist upon a professional opinion to prove my claim.” He fixed a cool eye on Duncan. “Remember, according to the papers, Lord Dalbury, Juliet is my wife. I have the say over her care or treatment.” He turned a stern look on Juliet. “You will do this,
mon espouse
.
J’insiste
.”

“Damn you, St. Cyr.” Amiable took a step toward the man.

“I am not your wife, Philippe!” Juliet clutched her husband’s arm. Dear God, would this ever end? She turned her head and pressed her cheek against Amiable, wanting nothing more than to sink beneath the floorboards of the reception room.

Duncan clenched his hands so tightly she expected to see blood drip from the white-knuckled fists.

Her brother took a breath and relaxed. “I do know one such woman who I trust to tell me the truth, no matter what it is. I will send for her.” The words came out through gritted teeth. “Grimes, call back around this afternoon, around three. You will have the report but only for yourself. Nothing will be recorded. This is a private matter and is not to find its way into the court records or scandal sheets. Is that understood?”

Grimes nodded his head vigorously and moved behind the desk to help his copyist pack up his writing implements. He glanced at the group still hovering then leaned over the young man frantically finishing a line, and whispered, “Did you get every word, Robby?”

Juliet closed her eyes and shuttered. The true ordeal had not even begun.

Juliet paced her bedchamber, awaiting the advent of the woman who would check her for signs of repaired virginity. How would she ever endure this shame? She paused at the door. No footsteps yet. Slumping with relief, she strode to the plush Queen Anne chair in the corner and lit on the edge. For a moment. Sitting still made her apprehension worse.

She rose once more and gazed out the window at the carriages passing by in the weak afternoon light. One slowed before the front entrance and she froze then sagged with relief as it continued. She’d fidgeted with her handkerchief until it lay in tatters. Like her nerves. And the torment but half over.

Mrs. Kearny, the midwife Duncan had hired for Katarina’s lying-in, had arrived after lunch. The tall, substantial woman had looked her over then smiled kindly. “My lady, I’ll take just a moment to ask you some questions then we’ll see how that young one is doing.” The examination that followed, while not painful, had been embarrassing beyond anything she’d imagined. While she assured Juliet the child appeared to be healthy and the pregnancy quite normal, Mrs. Kearney sounded less certain about the question at hand.

“I’m sure I’ve never tried to repair such a thing, my lady.” The woman shook her head. “Once the hymen’s gone, ’tis gone. Oh, there’s tricks a woman can play to make a man think she’s a virgin—bite your lip and spit the blood between your legs or push a small bladder of sheep’s blood up inside that’ll rupture when your man thrusts into you. Those ploys will stain your sheets and give your man peace o’ mind, but to try to sew it back together?” Mrs. Kearney sniffed. “Sounds like an old wives’ tale to me. Can’t such a thing be done.”

She peered sharply at Juliet and shrugged. “I don’t see no markings of any sort down below to say you’ve been messed with. I’ll tell his lordship so. So if they’ll take my word, I’d say you’ve had naught but your husband’s attentions.”

Though tentative, the midwife’s verdict had soothed Juliet’s fears. Until time for the second appointment had neared. Facing the prospect of this next examination, her stomach roiled.

She’d never encountered such a woman before, although she knew her brother had frequented them for years. The thought of having such a one look at her…She shuddered and rubbed her arms. How would she ever feel clean again?

Of course, the woman would find nothing—there was nothing to find. She had told the exact truth regarding her encounter with Philippe at the house party. Philippe must know that.

So why put her through this humiliation? Did he hope the stress would make her lose her child? Did he think Amiable would turn against her—believe him and not her? Could he know about their estrangement and the causes for it?

The faster she circled the room, the wilder she became. She wrung her hands, misery in every twist. If the woman lied, would Amiable cast her off again? Her knees weakened and she sank down in the chair once more. She would rather die than lose him again. The idea of being Philippe’s wife, under his absolute power, could not be entertained. Life would be a living hell and death a haven by comparison.

The door opened and Juliet cringed. Katarina appeared in the doorway. Not yet, thank God. She slumped in her chair and covered her face.

“Juliet, please. You will make yourself ill.” Katarina sat beside her sister-in-law and put her arms around her. “You must not let this examination distress you, my dear. I understand we will face even greater indignities soon enough.” Katarina ran her hand over her belly, now swollen to proportions similar to her own. They were both due to be confined in March, a prospect both satisfying and terrifying.

“I just don’t know why Philippe insists on this, Kat. He knows I remained untouched when he left the room. Why must I suffer this indignity with that…that woman?” Juliet shivered. She shouldn’t think about it.

“I suspect the ordeal will be much less than you fear, Juliet. This woman is certainly not what you would expect, either.” Katarina’s face took on a nostalgic air and she smiled.

“Do you
know
her Kat?” Appalled to think her sister-in-law familiar with such a woman, Juliet shrank back into the chair.

“I have met her twice. The second time she did me and Duncan a great favor, although I suppose in a roundabout way the first time could be construed as a favor as well.” Kat’s sharp peel of laughter sounded odd, but she did not elaborate. “She seems decent despite her profession.”

“You say this, yet you know who she was?”

“Duncan’s mistress? Yes, I had to come to terms with that knowledge rather abruptly in August. But as I said, she in effect rescued us, although it could have gone hard with her for doing so. I have trusted her with my life and Duncan’s. I would do so again.” Kat patted Juliet’s hand. “This will be over in moments, I suspect. You are fretting for no good reason.”

“I just want it to be over, for it all to be over and Philippe out of my life forever. So Amiable and I can go back to the life we had before you and Duncan found us.”

Kat patted her arm. “I fear the real world will not allow such a paradise for any length of time, Juliet. Wish instead for a good, happy life together.” Her eyes twinkled. “You know they say be careful what you wish for, for you just might get it.”

Juliet smiled, imagining that paradise, until a maid opened the door and admitted a small, dark-haired woman in a gray woolen cloak. Juliet came to her feet and Katarina rose to support her.

“Miss Vestry?” Her smile genuine, Kat walked toward the pale woman in gray.

“Lady Dalbury.” The low-pitched pleasant voice almost soothed her.

“It is good of you to come. May I take your cloak? I am sure the reason for your summons seems quite odd.” Katarina removed the garment, revealing not the garish clothing of a whore, as Juliet had feared, but a serviceable dark-blue worsted gown, tastefully cut. The woman would not have looked out of place in the parlor of a respectable home.

“There is little I find odd regarding the workings of men, Lady Dalbury,” Miss Vestry said, appearing to ignore Juliet’s scrutiny.

Fascinated by the woman’s countenance, she could find no expression on her face, not sarcasm, nor disdain, nor anger.

“This is my sister-in-law, Lady Juliet Morley, Duncan’s sister. He has informed you, I suppose, of the reason for the necessity of your, should we say, expertise?”

“He has, my lady.” She looked skeptically at Juliet. “Although considering the circumstances, as they have been explained to me, I doubt I can tell him anything definitive. Men so often don’t want a definite answer when a perhaps will do much better. Lady Juliet.” Miss Vestry addressed her so briskly Juliet jumped in apprehension. “You need not fear me, my lady. I would do nothing to harm you. I find men much more capable of that. I will ask what you have to say about the situation. You are trying to prove your virginal state to your husband?”

“No, Miss Vestry.” Juliet sighed in frustration. “My true husband knows I was untouched when he…when we…” She cast an agonized glance at Katarina. The humiliation of explaining the intimate details of her life with Amiable made her feel sick inside.

“When you first had sexual relations with him?” Miss Vestry’s calm, disinterested tone made the admission somehow less shameful.

“Yes. It is the other man, my previous betrothed, who now claims to have been first. He says I could have been repaired so Mr. Morley would not have known.” She frowned at Miss Vestry. “Is such a thing possible?”

What could have passed for a smile flitted over the woman’s lips. “Indeed, Lady Juliet, I have done the procedure myself several times. It is not difficult, although a bit painful. Those who need to prove their innocence are quite willing to endure it. However, it seldom fools any but the most naïve man. If your husband is convinced he breached you first and he himself was not a virgin at the time, then I’d say he knows the truth.” She gazed thoughtfully at Juliet. “Is the other one trying to prove consummation as an argument to annul your current marriage?”

“Yes. He asserts the marriage we contracted via proxy is legally binding. By claiming we were intimate he hopes to bolster his case.”

“But you were not?”

“No, though it cannot be proved, can it?” Juliet sank onto the sofa as the impossibility of her situation crashed through her. Who would believe her other than her family? A court would see her as a woman no better than she should be.

“Beyond a shadow of a doubt, no. But my examination may find little possibility of repair exists. The time frame is rather important, though. When was the supposed consummation to have taken place?”

“January of 1760.”

“And the real consummation?”

“July ninth of this year. We were married on the tenth.” Juliet’s face heated once more at the admission.

“You planned the wedding?”

“No. We met under extreme circumstances on July second and set off for Cumbria that same day. Along the way we fell in love and went to Gretna Green.”

Again, a fleeting smile appeared on Miss Vestry’s face, this time with a tinge of satisfaction. “I will examine you, if I may, Lady Juliet, so I can honestly report the findings. Lady Dalbury, will you hold the lamp, please?”

Within moments Juliet found herself stretched out on the bed, her skirt lifted and turned back over her raised knees. Miss Vestry’s swiftness and her professional, detached attitude made the ordeal much less mortifying than she’d expected. Still, the comments she overheard made her want to smother herself with one of the big feather pillows.

“The skin is smooth here and here, the most typical points for repair. There is no evidence of scarring from stitches at either point, which makes such a procedure at best a remote possibility.” Miss Vestry eased Juliet’s skirt down, covering her again, and motioned her to sit up.

She complied, though she knew her face flamed.

Miss Vestry walked away and retrieved her cloak, as though this examination was nothing out of the ordinary. It probably wasn’t.

Juliet would be lucky if her cheeks ever returned to a normal color.

“I will report exactly what I saw—and didn’t see—to Lord Dalbury and Mr. Grimes,” she said over her shoulder, “along with my opinion that it would have been impossible for you to have been repaired within a time frame that could have fooled your husband into believing you a virgin.”

At last, Juliet raised her head to meet the woman’s eyes, startled to find compassion there.

Miss Vestry pulled on her cloak. “Repairs are rather delicate, Lady Juliet. Had you been repaired soon after an indiscretion with your former betrothed, the repair would never have lasted a year and a half. Most women have the procedure done several days before their wedding. As your marriage occurred without prior notice, it would have been unlikely you sought a repair before leaving London and doubtful you would have found someone to perform the operation once you left the city.”