Page 69 of A Kiss Of Lies

It was only when the two of them had partaken of an early dinner and Lily was getting ready for bed that Serena began to worry. Where was he?

Later, she was ensconced in the library, trying to read, but her nerves were fraught and she couldn’t keep her leg from jiggling in anxiety. She was too scared to ask Roberts if he had had any news. His most recent reply of “No news, not since the last time you asked, five minutes ago” was as rude and as pointed as Roberts could allow himself without impertinence.

She looked at the clock on the mantle. Seven-thirty. Her bottom lip stung, chewed raw from worry. What else could she do but sit as patiently as possible and wait?

Finally she heard the front door and someone being admitted. Serena forgot all decorum and bolted from the room into the hall, only to barrel into a solid muscled chest that didn’t feel familiar. Strange hands gripped her arms to stop her from falling.

It was Lord Fullerton.

“Where’s Christian?”

Lord Fullerton looked over his shoulder. “Perhaps I could talk with you in the library?” He nodded toward the room she’d just vacated.

She let go of his forearms and silently reentered the room. He indicated for her to take a seat, but she couldn’t sit. Instead, she paced in front of the fire.

“Christian’s been detained by the magistrate on suspicion of the rape and murder of Susan Potts, a laundry maid connected with the opera house.”

Serena stopped her pathetic pacing, all her breath leaving her body in shock. Murder? She vehemently shook her head, talking to no one in particular. “No. Christian could never hurt any woman.”

“I concur. Plus I know he’s innocent. He left the opera early to return to you, and the murder happened at three o’clock this morning. He has an alibi.”

She flopped down into the nearest chair. “Thank God. Then why has he been arrested?”

“He’s been set up, just as the rape of Harriet was a setup.”

“Why? Why are they fixated on discrediting and ruining him? What can I do?”

Hadley took the chair opposite and rubbed a hand over his face. “You’re not going to like it.” He dropped his hand to the arm of the chair and looked closely at her. Serena’s stomach clenched. “His alibi is you, but he refuses to let you come forward. He won’t jeopardize your safety. If he does, the magistrate will want to question you and your real identity might be revealed.”

Her eyebrow rose. “But it might not. What else are you not telling me?”

He sighed and looked away. “Even if you do come forward as Mrs. Sarah Cooper, being a rich man’s mistress might not be enough to sway them. In all likelihood, they will still force Christian to go to trial, and then your identity would be revealed.”

“Why would they not believe me?”

“If the magistrate believes you are Mrs. Sarah Cooper, he may well think you want Christian released for the money and position he affords you.”

The sudden clarity was blinding. They’d view her as a fallen woman. Instantly she knew what she had to do. “But if I go to the magistrate as Lady Serena Castleton, he’d believe me then, wouldn’t he?” She clutched her hands tightly in her lap. “Or he’d have no choice but to believe me, once my father’s name is mentioned.”

Hadley smiled. “I knew you’d understand. Christian won’t be happy about this. He doesn’t want you in danger.”

She swallowed back her fear. “I don’t want to be in danger either, but if I want to be with Christian for the rest of my life, at some point I’m going to have to come forward. It may as well be now, when I can do some good.” She rose on steady legs. This was the right thing to do for all of them. “Can you acquire an appropriate gown in order for Lady Serena Castleton to look her best? I might need a maid to set my hair. There is no one better to intimidate a magistrate than an angry and insulted duke’s daughter.”

He took both her hands in his and pressed them to his lips. “Thank you. I will do all I can to protect you, as will Christian. I knew what your husband was like, as did most of theton. That will definitely help your cause. Most will believe that you had to kill him, and it would have been in self-defense.” He ignored her welling tears and added, “Come, I’ve organized Marisa Hawkestone, Sebastian’s sister, to help us. She’s waiting nearby with her maid.”

It was close to ten o’clock at night by the time Lady Serena Castleton managed to gain an audience with Mr. Simpson, the magistrate. Christian had been held the whole day. They had to summon Simpson from his home, and he was not well pleased.

The magistrate’s office was small, crowded, and very stuffy, yet Serena’s poise was magnificent. Her regal manner and haughty air saw the magistrate shrink in stature before their eyes. Christian had never been more proud.

Taking the only seat in the room, she spoke. “I demand to know on what charge you are holding Lord Markham.”

Simpson looked uncomfortably around at the men crowding the room. There stood John Farnham, Hadley, and Christian. The magistrate had no idea how to delicately answer her question. “My lady, it is a matter best left to men.”

“I see.” Her tone clearly indicated that she did not. “Lord Markham is a special friend of mine. I have been informed that he is being held on very serious charges relating to a crime perpetrated last night.”

Simpson looked once again at the men in the room and cleared his throat. “That is correct, my lady.”

She stood and waved her hand at Simpson. “Well then, release him you foolish man. He was with me last night, so it would have been impossible for him to commit any offense.”

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