“Lady Caroline Louise Chatterton, it is hereby charged that, in contravention of Article 6, Section 114b of the Preservation of Civil Society Act of 2317, you organized illicit gatherings of female persons at your home in New Cambridge. It is further charged that as leader of this subversive and illegal company of women you attempted to challenge the supreme authority of the High Council and distributed inflammatory and seditious pamphlets with the intention to incite rebellion in order to secure equal rights for the fairer sex.”
Mocking laughter rippled around the chamber and Caroline was disheartened to hear more than one man snigger “equal rights, indeed.” Her skin prickled with indignation that they should find the notion so absurd as President Hall banged his gavel on the desk to silence the crowd so the bailiff could continue.
“You are also charged with the possession and distribution of a number of banned texts deemed to be a danger to public morals. It has been noted that when you were arrested you were dressed in unauthorized, manly clothing, and you were committing the most flagrant self-abuse.” He paused to allow for the exclamations of outrage from the gallery to die down. “Furthermore, since your arrest you have acted in an unwomanly and disobedient manner by refusing to reveal the names of your co-conspirators.”
Caroline shook her head as she heard the ridiculous charges being publicly stated for the first time. Despite all she’d been through in the last twenty-four hours, she still couldn’t believe that any of this was happening. Less than a hundred years ago, nothing of what she’d done would be considered a crime. All she and her friends had ever done was talk about reform and publish the occasional pamphlet. There had been no attempt to raise a rebellion. Mostly, they’d sat around and talked about the books they’d read. Sometimes they did have serious discussions about history or politics but more often they’d indulged in tea and cakes and giggled about the naughty bits in the erotic romances they all loved. Where was the harm in that?
The books the Council thought were so corrupting had once been widely available and any woman who wished to read them could do so without fear of punishment. The jeans and t-shirt she’d been wearing may not have been the standard dress for women in the last century or more but she knew from her research that they’d been acceptable at one time. Besides which, it wasn’t as though she’d worn her favorite historical clothing outside of the house. And as for the charge that she’d refused to name the other women in the group, well, no matter how unnatural they believed her disobedience to be, she could never betray her friends, not even on pain of death.
“You understand the penalty for your actions?” President Hall didn’t even try to mask the hatred in his voice. “You are to be punished most severely, young lady.”
“As far as I am aware, my guilt has not yet been determined,” Caroline protested, the strength and clarity she spoke with surprising her, considering how worn down she felt. “What about a fair trial? I have a right to defend myself against these charges.”
“You have no rights here,” Lord Barron, the youngest member of the Council said, to rapturous applause from the spectators.
“But,” Caroline persisted, “what about the due process of law?”
“What would a woman know about the due process of law?” Lord Barron sneered, raising a laugh from the audience that reverberated around the chamber. “Besides which, there is no possible defense. You were caught red-handed in the act of reading one of those foul texts, eh, what was it called, bailiff?”
“The Space Pirate’s Virgin Conquest, sir.” He sounded as though he might actually throw up, so strong was his outrage.
“Ah, yes,” Barron snorted as others in the room roared with laughter and lowered Caroline’s spirits even further. “You were caught pleasuring yourself with this book in your possession and we know that you have encouraged other impressionable young ladies to abuse themselves in a similar manner. We are well aware that you have tried to subvert the laws of our society by proposing reforms that threaten to shake the foundations of civil society including the bizarre suggestion that females ought to be given status equal to men, that they should be given access to education, and that they should be allowed to select their own husbands. Your guilt is not in doubt here. What we are here to determine is the severity of your sentence.”
So, it was worse than Caroline had feared. She wasn’t even going to be given the opportunity, however unlikely it was, to succeed, to persuade them that she hadn’t done anything wrong. She had to breathe deeply so they wouldn’t experience some perverse satisfaction in seeing her tremble.
“The standard punishment would be fifty lashes in public once a month for one full year and assignment to one of the state’s service programs for the remainder of your natural life.”
Despite the fear the threatened punishment instilled in her, she couldn’t help but snort at the euphemism. Referring to the brothels and breeding houses as service programs was a spectacularly sterile way to describe the enforced subjugation of hundreds of women to the whims of the male population.
“However,” President Hall continued, “we need to take into account your illustrious bloodline. Your grandfather, Lord Perceval Chatterton was, after all, one of our society’s founding fathers.”
Now Caroline really did have to fight to hold her tongue. Yes, her grandfather had helped to establish order after the chaos of the last war and the civil strife that followed, but the state’s values had long since become a mockery of everything he held dear. There was no way her beloved grandpapa, who’d taught her the history of the world they lived in, of the rights women had once held and their past achievements, had intended for the female of the species to live under such severe restrictions. Every action a woman took was scrutinized, each thought she expressed aloud was criticized, and her sexual needs were only met at the pleasure of her husband, a man chosen for her by her guardian without anyone asking her opinion.
Almost as though he’d read her thoughts, President Hall continued, “And it seems as though there was some error upon the passing of your esteemed forebear that left you and your sister without the benefit of a firm male hand to guide you.”
A loud gasp went around the room at that. It had been almost two years since her grandfather died and it was completely unheard of for a woman to be without a moral custodian for so long but Caroline knew that he’d deliberately failed to appoint one because he hadn’t wanted her and Elizabeth to be ruled over in that way.
“So it is perhaps not surprising that you have veered so far from the right path.”
This elicited murmurs in the chamber, signaling a general agreement that it was the lack of a strong male protector that had allowed this woman to become a danger to herself and society. Caroline’s jaw clenched as she struggled to hold onto her temper.
“And,” President Hall continued, “there is the question of your virginity. If you are, indeed, untouched as you claimed to be during your interview at the prison, we will need to take that into consideration.”
“Prove it! Prove that she’s pure!”
Caroline looked up in alarm as the call went out around the chamber for them to prove her virginity, shuddering to think how that might be achieved. President Hall banged his gavel repeatedly, demanding that order be restored but several members of the audience were now on their feet and it looked as if a riot might erupt. Glancing toward the door, Caroline contemplated making a run for it though she doubted she would get very far.
“Silence!” A commanding shout rang out and all heads seemed to turn as one toward the imposing figure who was striding onto the floor of the chamber, flanked by two equally impressive-looking men in military uniform.
It took Caroline only a moment to recognize Commander Andrew Rossingham, the greatest flyer the interplanetary air force had ever known, and darling of the evening newscast. A good bit taller than the average human male, the commander was broad-shouldered and muscular and he looked as though he could tear an oppo
nent to pieces without breaking a sweat. His eyes were an unusual shade, an almost purple blue and his hair a golden blond unlike anything she had ever seen. It was, she supposed, an indication that the rumors that his birth mother was a native of Taar-Breck, the planet his companions clearly hailed from, were true. Rossingham certainly bore more resemblance to the two men he was with than he did to the people who raised him, the late Adaline and Arthur Rossingham, although he did have a look of his father about the nose and mouth.
The commander’s impressive physical strength was matched by a fierce intellect and negotiating skills that had helped to open up new food supply routes from Taar-Breck. There were few men who would think about challenging him and, Caroline thought wryly, a great many women who would like to try. Rossingham had once been a student of her grandfather but that was a long time ago and while Caroline was no longer the shy child she’d been back then, he was no longer the same gangling youth. What he was doing here was a mystery to Caroline. A hush fell as he began to speak.
“Mr. President, gentlemen of the High Council, I have here a contract signed by Lord Perceval Chatterton shortly before his death,” he held up a piece of crisp parchment for the audience to see, “consenting to the marriage of his granddaughter Lady Caroline Chatterton when she attains the age of twenty-one, an event which I believe will occur in two days’ time.”
Caroline held her breath, stunned by this turn of events as President Hall asked the question that was running through her own mind.
“Marriage? To whom?”
“To me.” Rossingham’s tone was infuriatingly matter of fact given the unexpected news he was imparting. “Now, as I understand it, this contract is binding upon both parties and, as such, under Article 6, Subsection 181b of the Preservation of Civil Society Act of 2317, it supersedes the authority of the Council. I believe that I have the right to claim Lady Caroline as my bride and to see to her correction using whatever methods I deem suitable.”
Caroline struggled to process this shocking new information. Why would her grandfather have arranged for her betrothal without telling her, especially to a man whose dominance screamed from every pore? Why had he not prepared her for this startling turn of events? As she looked up at the man who’d intervened in the proceedings, studying the harsh planes of his face, the angular jaw, she couldn’t help but wonder if being his wife would be any less punishing than whatever it was the Council had decided to do to her.
While she pondered her fate, there was a flurry of activity as President Hall’s legal advisers rushed to verify Rossingham’s claim. The contract he’d brought with him was studied carefully, law books were pulled from shelves, and people scurried about trying to make sense of what was happening. Within minutes, precedent was found and, after a terse, whispered conversation with his lead counsel, President Hall turned to the commander with his response.
“Yes, Commander, it seems you are quite correct. Lady Caroline will be yours to do with as you please if you should choose to claim her.” Hall’s beady little eyes narrowed fractionally as a salacious grin formed on his lips. “Provided, of course, she is still a virgin.”
“Indeed.” Rossingham turned to Caroline and gave her a look she could not interpret; a plea to bear with him, perhaps? Whatever that slight grimace indicated, it passed quickly and his expression became blank once more. “We must establish that she is untouched. I will not take her otherwise.”
Chapter Two
As the onlookers in the gallery broke into excited chatter about the events unfolding before them, Andrew turned and looked down at the woman kneeling beside him, making a careful study of her. Lady Caroline was every bit as beautiful as he remembered with those bewitchingly green eyes and pale skin, but he could cheerfully choke the last breath from whoever was responsible for hacking off the gloriously thick, dark hair that had trailed down into the small of her back when he saw her last. Despite looking as though she might pass out, the heat of defiance burned in her eyes. As she met his gaze, her face fell into a puzzled frown and he supposed he couldn’t blame her for being caught off guard by him swooping in here to save the day. If he was being completely honest, his decision to intervene had only been made at the last minute, and it had come as something of a surprise, even to himself, that he wanted to do this.
With so much work yet to be done to reintroduce the supply of foods from one hundred percent natural sources to Earth and the occasional flashes of insurrection in the outlying colonies of Taar-Breck to deal with, he had little time for a wife, especially one who had proved herself to be a menace to society.
He’d come to honor the marriage contract he made with her grandfather because he owed Lord Perceval a debt of gratitude for setting him on the right path back when he was a feckless youth bucking against the demands of his father to find some useful occupation for himself. On the road to leading a life of indolent self-gratification, Andrew had been taken under Lord Perceval’s wing and he knew that his distinguished military career would never have happened if it hadn’t been for the other man’s tutelage. The least he could do in return was take his mentor’s granddaughter into his protection. Besides, it probably was time he started thinking about producing an heir to carry on the family name and that meant he had to marry. Lady Caroline had grown up to be an exceptionally beautiful young woman so bedding her would be no hardship. As to her rebellious inclinations, well, he knew exactly how to deal with those and would do so in a more effective manner than the Council ever could.
He could have put a stop to this mockery of a trial at any time, but he wanted to see how his bride-to-be would handle the pressure. If he was to marry, then his wife would need to be a woman with some spirit in her to help him face the challenges that lay ahead. He intended to take her back to his country estate on Taar-Breck. With its endless fields, lush forests, and languid rivers, it was the ideal place to raise a family and he intended to make a success of things there with his new bride. Yes, she would have to learn to submit to his will and would, no doubt, suffer many bare bottom spankings and other more humiliating punishments but she could not be some simpering wreck too afraid to stand by his side when things became difficult. Seeing the way Caroline had retained her poise as she refused to surrender her rights without a fight gave him hope that she was the woman for him.
“Guard!” President Hall called out. “Take the prisoner to the medical room and have the doctors prepare her for examination. We shall establish whether the contract between Commander Rossingham and Lord Chatterton remains valid. If the prisoner is no longer a virgin, then the marriage contract is nullified and the Council will pass sentence as originally planned.”
As the guard moved toward Caroline, Andrew stepped into his path and the other man stopped dead.
“My lieutenant will escort Lady Caroline,” Andrew said in a tone that nobody could argue against. “Nobody is to touch her until I get there.”
Bryn, his second in command and a native of the planet of Taar-Breck who’d fought by his side on many occasions, nodded and held his hand out to help Caroline up from the floor where she’d remained kneeling throughout the proceedings. There was a look of bewilderment in her eyes and although she tried to mask it with a haughty glare, there was more than a touch of fear.
In a gesture Andrew hoped was reassuring, he smiled, encouraging her to take the other man’s hand. Andrew was a warrior by nature, a hard man when he needed to be, but he was never cruel. Although he would demand her total obedience, he didn’t want to see Caroline shrink back from him in dread. It appeared that she was somewhat soothed when her lips twitched as though she wanted to return his smile, before she put her tiny hand into the meaty fist of his giant of a lieutenant. She let Bryn help her to her feet and then walked, by his side, from the room.
“Are you sure you want to take on a woman who’s so much trouble?” Lord Barron asked.
Andrew bristled. He had only the merest acquaintance with the newest member to be appoin
ted to the Council but he knew enough to know he did not trust the man.
“You have some doubt that I’m up to the task?” he challenged, experiencing a deep sense of satisfaction as Barron struggled for a response.
“Nobody is suggesting that, Andrew,” President Hall interjected, addressing the commander with a familiarity he did not welcome. “It is just with so much work to be done to ensure the reintroduction of food supplies as agreed in our treaty with Taar-Breck, perhaps a more docile companion would suit you better.”
“Perhaps,” Andrew conceded, ignoring the underlying threat in the president’s reference to the terms of the alliance, which they all knew was on a fragile footing and could be fractured by the slightest disagreement. “And yet I find myself compelled to honor her grandfather’s wish that we marry.”
“And of course there’s her money,” Lord Barron muttered, sounding more like a petulant child than the statesman he purported to be with every word he spoke. His attitude made Andrew wonder whether he had some personal interest in Caroline or, indeed, her fortune.
“Her money?” Andrew was not about to let the man get away with the implied insult. “Do you wish to question my integrity, Lord Barron?”
A ripple of frantic denials went around the room as the other members of the Council hurried to smooth over the potentially confrontational situation. Andrew couldn’t help but grin to himself as they made attempts to placate him. He had little time and even less respect for this unelected council, a group of men who’d inherited their right to rule from their equally corrupt and useless fathers. He despised those who never dared to venture out from their desks to experience real life in the world they governed with such tight control. Men like these hid behind bureaucratic nonsense whilst all the time lining their own pockets and furthering their own selfish agendas. It was Andrew and his colleagues in the intergalactic forces who worked to keep the peace in the ever-expanding universe and tended to the daily business of ensuring that everyone had enough food to eat. Each and every one of the Council members was a coward as far as he was concerned. Their callous treatment of women like Caroline who broke their ridiculous rules was evidence enough of that.
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