by Lucy Langton
When Marcus didn’t return to the dining room, Catherine left Beth in the care of Mrs. Denton and made her way back to their bedchamber. There, she found him dressing in one of his finer black vests with black silk embroidery. Once he pulled on his black tailcoat, the valet came forward to finish fixing his silk cravat.
“Your gown is ready for you,” Marcus spoke up, his eyes looking at her through the looking glass in front of him. Catherine nodded as she went into the dressing room. She found her lady’s maid waiting for her and saw a green silk gown resting on the display table.
It didn’t take her long to change from one gown to the next, and once she was ready with a pair of pearls around her neck, she returned to the bedchamber to see that Marcus had gone once more. Feeling frustrated, she left the room and went to the front of the house where she found Marcus standing in the entryway as though waiting for her.
He didn’t even look up as she came down the stairs. His foul mood upset her more than what they were about to go do. The last thing she needed was for Marcus to be upset. Instead, she yearned for his comfort and not the cold wall he had seemed to put around himself.
At least he was kind enough to lead her from the townhouse to the waiting carriage outside. But Catherine didn’t dare speak a word until they were both situated in the carriage and sitting across from one another. As the carriage started to roll down the cobblestone road, Catherine sat and studied Marcus for a few minutes, thinking he looked rather stiff and afraid. Much like he had first appeared when they had taken a stroll through Hyde Park during the viewing hour after their engagement had been announced.
“What is the matter, Marcus?” Catherine eventually asked. His brown eyes looked up at her finally from where he had been studying his clasped hands in his lap.
“I simply want this to be over with,” was all he said.
“Then why are you treating me so coldly?” she asked in response.
His brows furrowed as he looked at her, seeming to be confused by the question. “I don’t intend to be cold,” he said.
“And yet you are,” Catherine was quick to respond with.
“Never in my life did I ever think that I would ever have to answer to a summons from the Royal Magistrate, Catherine,” Marcus said, his voice raising in volume. “I wonder why the man didn’t take your brother’s testimony seriously, why Lord Whetstone still walks free. And now it seems that I am the one that must handle all these matters when all I want is to be back home.”
Catherine fell silent as tears pricked her eyes. She looked of the carriage window, watching the many buildings passing them by. This was the thing she had dreaded from the beginning. That the mess her brother had found himself in would eventually invade their lives and then become their problem. The worst part was how Marcus seemed to be handling the sudden stress now that they needed to report to the Royal Magistrate. She needed his comfort, not his harsh words.
The rest of the carriage ride was spent in silence as Catherine did her best to compose herself. The last thing she needed was to appear before the Royal Magistrate with red eyes and puffed cheeks from crying in the carriage. After all, she would have to give her account of that dreadful night and morning. Furthermore, she needed this magistrate to believe her. If he didn’t, she would forever live the rest of her life with a ruined reputation as a liar, and that would no doubt affect Marcus and Beth as well.
Chapter 26
When the carriage came to a stop outside the gates of the palace courtyard, Marcus took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He was nervous and wasn’t completely confident that the Royal Magistrate would see Catherine’s point of view and accept the truth of the matter. And if he didn’t, they would certainly be ruined for the rest of their lives.
He didn’t want to raise a family in that type of situation. Life would be hard for Beth as it was with both her real parents deceased. But to be scorned for the rest of her life because of the blame that would be put on Catherine? He didn’t want that for any child.
The carriage door was opened by the footman, and Marcus stepped down first. He turned back and offered his hand to Catherine. A hard expression was settled on her face, her lips tight and thin as she took his hand and stepped down from the carriage. One look at her dark blue eyes told Marcus that she was not very pleased with the situation, either. If the Royal Magistrate didn’t lean towards their favour, what would that mean for the remainder of their marriage together? Would their romantic relationship then become strained?
With Catherine’s hand tucked in his elbow, Marcus led them towards the large double gates of the courtyard. At the gates, his footman announced them to all of those at court, the tall iron gates of intricate design swinging upon.
Marcus quickly scanned the open courtyard with his eyes, spotting all manner of elite couples and families milling about as though they had important business to attend. In reality, they simply wanted to be seen by others at the palace courtyard.
“Lord and Lady Kingston,” said a courier as he approached them as they stepped in through the gates and approached the main walkway through the gardens. “What business does the Earl of Ralston have at the palace?”
“We’ve been summoned by the Royal Magistrate and wish to respond to the summons post-haste,” Marcus answered.
“Certainly, Lord Kingston. I shall go and let the Royal Magistrate know that you have arrived. Would you like to be seen to a sitting room, or perhaps enjoy a turn of the gardens?” Marcus was then asked by the young man.
“A sitting room would be appreciated, thank you.” The courier then bowed and began to lead them through an open door leading to the courtyard. Marcus had never been inside the palace before and couldn’t help but marvel at the architecture. Tall ceilings of arched design filled the hallway they were shown into. Varies paintings filled the walls, making Marcus wish they could walk slowly and view the artwork instead of hurrying along to a sitting room.
“Someone will come and collect you once the Royal Magistrate is ready,” the courier explained as he opened the door and gestured inside. Marcus’ footman took up position outside the open door while he and Catherine went inside. It was a quaint room with ample seating. The carpet was plush underneath his feet as he stepped into the room, allowing Catherine’s hand to drop from his elbow.
When the door was closed he turned to Catherine, curious to know her opinion of the room and the palace. However, she walked over to the window and peered out into the courtyard, seeming to be more interested in the garden. Not wanting to disturb her, Marcus took a seat on a wooden chair that seemed to have been recently polished, for it glistened in the sunlight that came in through the window.
A grandfather clock stood in the corner of the room. Marcus tried to ignore the ticking of the clock as he instead viewed the room. The walls had been papered with a silver and gold design that seemed to glisten as well. It truly reflected the home of a king and his family.
“I wonder if the Royal Magistrate will make us wait all day,” Catherine said from the window, her voice low and emotionless. Marcus wished he could see her face as she talked, for she seemed to be feeling some sort of pain that he couldn’t understand.
“It’s possible. We don’t know what other appointments the man needs to keep,” Marcus replied. He watched then as Catherine took to a chair near the window and began to examine her fingers. As he watched her, he could tell that she was fighting back tears as she blinked several times. He was just about to ask her what the matter was when the door was quickly opened as the courier returned to collect him.
“The Royal Magistrate will now see you,” the young man said as he entered the room and bowed. Marcus stood quickly and offered Catherine his arm. She accepted it without looking up into his eyes. Then, he escorted her from the room as they followed quickly after the courier. Marcus glanced over his shoulder and saw that his footman was following closely behind, swinging his arms to keep up with them all.
“Here you are, Lord and Lad
y Kingston,” the courier said as he stopped at a door after they had turned down several hallways. How the man could keep his sense of direction in such a vast place was utterly unimaginable to Marcus. Regardless, Marcus led Catherine into the room and was quickly surprised by the number of gentlemen that occupied the space.
“Welcome, Lord and Lady Kingston. You honour us with your visit,” said a man who sat upon a stand, looking down over a wooden podium. A white wig was situated on his head, along with spectacles. As the only man in the room wearing a red robe, Marcus could only assume he was the Royal Magistrate.
“Good morning,” Marcus said. “We’ve come in response to the summons we have received.”
“Thank you for coming so quickly,” the Royal Magistrate said, a small smile on his face that appeared larger due to his many wrinkles. “With me are other gentlemen of status and good breeding to help determine the truth or falsity that has been spoken against Lord Whetstone. Please, have a seat.” The Royal Magistrate motioned towards the row of wooden chairs in front of the podium.
Marcus led Catherine in that direction as the other gentlemen sat down in various chairs around the room as though they were to be observed like a science experiment in a laboratory.
“Now, let us begin with a review of what Lord Hall has claimed,” the Royal Magistrate said as he stood from his chair and leaned over the podium. “According to the earl’s testimony, Lord Whetstone bribed Lord Hall with a large sum of money to drug Lady Kingston to the point she was completely vulnerable and defenceless. Then, Lord Hall left the two unaccompanied and Lord Whetstone was able to take advantage of Lady Kingston and appear together with her to start a scandalous rumour.”
Marcus couldn’t help but look about the room as the other gentlemen began to whisper to one another. All the while, Catherine sat erect next to him, appearing to be handling the situation very well despite so many watching them. Whatever came of this meeting would surely spread to the rest of the elite before the day was finished.
“Lord Kingston, what do you have to say in regard to Lord Hall’s statement?” the Royal Magistrate then asked once the room had quieted once more.
“The morning after the ball at our home to celebrate Lady Kingston as my countess, I left my bedchamber to see our guests off on their journeys back home. I was approached by Lord Hall, who was in search of Lady Kingston. When we did come to her bedchamber, worried for her safety when her door was left ajar, I did find her in bed with Lord Whetstone. At first, I truly thought the worst,” Marcus said.
“What did you do then, Lord Kingston?” the Royal Magistrate then asked.
“I sent Lady Kingston away to live with her brother, not knowing the truth. It was only when I heard the details from the staff of the substance found on her drink that I started to believe the truth of the matter. That my wife was tricked and left vulnerable to a man who wanted to ruin her,” Marcus continued.
“When I went to Lady Katherine where she was staying with her brother, we discussed the matter. She was able to remember that terrible night. Later, after I had brought her home, Lord Hall did come to our home and confess the truth of everything, of why he accepted the bribe. It was then that I told him to confess to the Royal Magistrate so that Lord Whetstone couldn’t harm another person in this way.”
The room became filled with the sound of lower chatter, like the hum of a beehive. Marcus watched as the Royal Magistrate glanced around the room and waited patiently for the room to quiet once more. Marcus wasn’t sure what the other gentlemen were discussing, for their voices were low whispers. Truly, all he wanted to know was whether or not his story would be believed.
“And you, Lady Kingston. Can you please describe what happened in your own words?” the Royal Magistrate said over the room, focusing his aging eyes on Catherine.
“When I returned to my bedchamber after retiring from the night of the ball, I found my brother in my room. At first, I was deeply confused by his intrusion. But when he said he simply wanted to toast to the night, I accepted the glass he did offer me.
“It was shortly after that I began to lose my ability to keep a good balance on my feet or see clearly. I was able to make it to my bed before fainting. It was there that I heard the sound of a knocking on the door.
“Thinking it was my lady’s maid, I looked up in horror to instead see Lord Whetstone. I was terrified as my brother let him in, then left the room. Unable to move, as though I had become suddenly weak, Lord Whetstone approached me and stripped me of my clothes. He said he would not defile me because to him I was soiled goods.”
Marcus realised that the room had become eerily quiet as everyone focused on what Catherine was saying. Though he knew the story, he couldn’t help but watch Catherine closely and see the tears return to her eyes once more. He wanted to reach out to her and hold her hand, but thought against it as he simply listened.
“When I woke the next morning, I was mortified to find myself in bed with Lord Whetstone. I quickly sprang up from the bed and tried to cover myself. Yet, the damage had been done. My brother showed Lord Kingston into the room so it would appear as though I was an unlawful wife. But I would never dream to do such a thing to my husband.”
“Lady Kingston, why would Lord Whetstone design to do something so outrageous as to render you vulnerable to ruin your family’s name?” the Royal Magistrate then asked in a soft voice.
Marcus saw how Catherine paused, her lips parting before shutting again. Her jaw tightened before she was able to open her mouth once more.
“Two Seasons ago, I attended a dinner party at Lord Fethering’s townhouse. I was under the impression that Lord Whetstone had designs to ask me to marry him. So, I accompanied him to the gardens to hear what he wanted to say to me in private.
“It was there that he explained that he wanted me for a mistress. I refused him, of course. And when I did so, he forced himself upon me. I barely managed to get away, but it resulted in my dress being ripped and ruined. I had to explain myself when I returned to the dinner party.
“Lord Whetstone’s reputation was tarnished after that night. When he attended the ball at Ralston Manor, I could tell he still had intentions towards me. I did not, however, realise that he schemed to ruin me as well with the help of my brother.”
When Catherine finished speaking, the room remained quiet. Marcus looked about the room, seeing the hard expressions on all of the gentlemen’s faces. He was thinking that perhaps this was a good sign, but waited for the Royal Magistrate to speak before he was certain how this meeting would go.
“Lady Kingston, what is your reasoning behind sharing your story?” the Royal Magistrate asked after a time.
“My only design is to one day live a life where I don’t fear Lord Whetstone, nor have to worry about him harming another young lady and her family,” Catherine said, her shoulders back and her posture straight. She spoke with such conviction that Marcus was certain she would be believed.
Chapter 27
Catherine wasn’t sure how much longer she could take all of the men staring at her. She had given her side of the story and now stood standing rather still to hear what the Royal Magistrate would say in response. The silence of the other gentlemen did not reassure her one way or another, and she didn’t dare take her eyes off the man standing above her.
“Lord and Lady Kingston, I feel as though we have heard all that is needed for this time. You may return to the sitting room while we debate on this most grievous matter,” the Royal Magistrate said as he took a seat behind his podium. It was only then that Catherine allowed herself to relax for a moment as Marcus stood and helped her to her feet.
Without another word, Catherine rested her hand on his arms and allowed him to lead her from the room. It was the moment that the door was shut behind them that the voices of the gentlemen were quick to rise as discussions ensued.
Catherine didn’t say a word to Marcus as the courier led them back through the winding hallways to the sitting room. She didn
’t think it was a good idea to say anything at the moment. Also, she wasn’t sure what she would want to say, either. She was afraid to ask him of his opinion and wouldn’t feel completely well until they heard for certain what the Royal Magistrate had decided.