Page 93 of When the Viscount Seduces
The session started, and they fell silent. There was to be a debate regarding former soldiers, and Lazarus stood to deliver his speech.
A movement to the right drew Gwen’s attention. A few more gentlemen had entered. One of them was her father. She pivoted so he wouldn’t be able to see her, then whispered to Tamsin that she needed to move to Gwen’s other side to block her father from seeing her.
Eyes wide, Tamsin adjusted her position. Then she lifted her hand and appeared to giggle silently behind it. Gwen couldn’t help grinning—this was a terrible risk, but one she was gladly taking.
After addressing the members of Parliament, Lazarus offered a dedication. “I dedicate the speech I am about to make to my lovely new wife, Gwendolen. Yes, as of this morning, I am no longer the reckless rake.” There were murmurs and laughter.
“I am proof that love can transform a man. In meeting Gwen, I have found not only a brilliant spouse, but a true partner in everything. She has given me hope where I had little, for you see, I have struggled to read my entire life.”
Gwen sucked in a breath, but quickly clapped her hand over her mouth. What was he doing?
“Some have discounted me as unserious or unintelligent, and I have been rather absent from this fine chamber. However, today I rededicate myself to my duty and share with you the challenge I have long faced.”
He took a breath and glanced down briefly before continuing. “I have always had trouble reading. I can read, just very slowly and it is a chore. My father did all he could to help me as a child. I made slow but steady progress. After his death, I did not continue to improve in this arena. He was the only person who understood my deficiency. However, he never made me feel deficient.”
Gwen realized tears were streaking down her cheeks. She hastened to wipe them away lest someone notice the odd gentleman crying.
“When I recently became better acquainted with my darling wife, I decided to share my difficulties with her, for you see, she is quite brilliant. She can read multiple books in a day.” He smiled, and Gwen felt as though her heart might burst.
“Unsurprisingly, she came up with a methodology to help me improve my reading and also to ensure I would be able to deliver my speech today. I have memorized it, but if I lost my place and needed to refer to my written copy, it would have been a disaster.”
Over the past few days, they’d written his speech out in small passages on different pieces of parchment so that he could easily find his way. He’d practiced countless times, and Gwen had never been prouder.
There were more murmurs and a bit of laughter, and Lazarus smiled once more. “What is most remarkable about my wife, however, was the risk she took in tutoring me. She’d agreed to meet with me at my cousin, Lady Droxford’s, house.”
Gwen heard Tamsin gasp softly beside her and reached over to touch her arm. She would have held her hand, but couldn’t very well do that in their current disguises.
“During those meetings, she helped me become better at reading and ensured I would not make a fool of myself today. We were not having an affair as that idiot I shall not name has alleged. He was merely seeking vengeance against Lady Somerton after she accidentally spilled orgeat on him at Almack’s. It was a hideous waistcoat, and honestly, can you think of a better use for that drink?”
This was met with a loud burst of laughter. Moving her head back slightly to peer behind Tamsin, Gwen looked toward her father. He was smiling, and the man beside him was guffawing.
Straightening, she refocused on her magnificent husband. How he’d found the courage to say all this was astounding. She could hardly wait to see him later tonight.
“But as it happened, I fell in love with Gwen as she so generously gave me her kindness, her cleverness, and her trust. Without her, I would not be the man I am today. And now, I suppose I shall deliver my actual speech, though I guarantee you this bit was far more interesting.” He flashed his signature roguish grin, and Gwen fell in love with him all over again.
Tamsin quickly put her arm around Gwen’s waist and gave her a gentle squeeze. “Thank you for helping my cousin. I had no idea he struggled or that you were meeting for such a noble and wonderful purpose.”
“It was a secret,” Gwen whispered. “Indeed, I am in shock that he would share it like this.”
“But perhaps it will help someone else,” Tamsin noted.
“I hope it does.” Again, Gwen felt a swell of pride. And love. Both of which only grew as Lazarus delivered his speech nearly perfectly. She watched as he carefully moved the paper in his hands as he spoke so that he always had the part he was saying within sight. He only had to check the parchment once, and he barely faltered.
When he was finished, there was a resounding round of applause. And then the debate began. Unsurprisingly, his advocacy was not as popular here as in the Commons.
Gwen and her friends listened for a while, but then decided to depart. Outside, they all laughed and congratulated Gwen, marveling at what Lazarus had revealed.
“How wonderful that he was able to take down Eberforce too,” Ellis said with a laugh.
Jo smiled. “That was my favorite part.”
Gwen looked around at her dearest friends. “Thank you all for your support. I could not imagine how I would have navigated the past few weeks without you.”
“We will always be here for one another, and that includes Persey and Pandora. Though they are not here in person, they are in spirit,” Min said. “And I did visit Persey a couple of days ago to inform her of all that was happening. She was agog.”
“I hope I’ll get to see her soon,” Gwen said. And Pandora would certainly write—Gwen had written to her about the wedding. She’d also painstakingly recalled the events of the past several days, which she realized would read like a scandalous novel penned by some anonymous lady.
“Shall we remove ourselves from these clothes?” Tamsin asked. “I do think my breeches are rather tight.” She giggled, and they made their way to the coach.
