“I hope you don’t mind my saying so, your grace,” Louisa murmured, after she’d arranged Kate’s hair in a loose chignon. “But you must be the prettiest lady I’ve ever seen.”

Kate’s cheeks heated. “Why, what a nice thing to say, Louisa. Thank you.”

The maid returned her smile. “Lord Medford asks that you meet him in his study at half past, your grace,” Louisa announced, bobbing a curtsy and retreating from the room.

Kate glanced at the delicate clock on the mantelpiece. Fifteen minutes yet. She squared her shoulders and smoothed her skirts. She might as well go in search of Lord Medford’s study. Louisa had rushed away before she’d had a chance to ask its location.

Taking a deep breath and opening the door to her room, Kate made her way into the hall, through the corridor, and down the grand staircase in the foyer. She glanced about uncertainly. Which way? Might as well begin here. No doubt she would find the study eventually. She poked her nose into the first few salons in the front of the house. All perfectly appointed like the rest of the mansion. Where were all of the helpful servants when she needed them? All probably industriously occupied elsewhere no doubt. She couldn’t imagine any one of them being lazy for even a moment. She gingerly made her way toward the back of the house, where she came upon two large wooden doors. Either the study or the library, she decided. She knocked lightly and a deep voice answered, “Come in.”

Ah, the study.

She opened the doors with both hands and pushed them wide. She twirled around in a large circle to take in every detail of the vast space. The study was a grand room, and it didn’t have so much as one paper out of place. A large mahogany desk sat in the center of the room framed by floor-to-ceiling windows behind it. Two large coffee-brown leather chairs rested in front of the desk. Bookcases lined with an enormous variety of tomes marched along the walls and a warm fire crackled in the hearth across from the desk. A big yellow dog lay on the rug in front of the fireplace. The dog jumped up and wagged its tail eagerly, watching Kate, but the animal remained in its spot, obviously awaiting a command from its master.

I want to pet a puppy. The memory of what she’d said to Lord Medford when he’d made her his offer in the Tower came floating back to her. He hadn’t mentioned that he had a dog.

She smiled brightly. “Oh, but she’s adorable. I love dogs! I haven’t seen a dog since I lived at home with Mother and Father.” A wave of homesickness hit her and she pressed her lips together tightly.

Lord Medford had looked up from his papers and was watching her. “Would you like to pet her?” he asked with a smile that made Kate’s heart flutter.

She nodded. “Yes, very much.”

Lord Medford gave a short whistle and the dog bounded forward. She stopped in front of Kate and sat politely, wiggling and putting up one paw that Kate took and shook. Kate laughed. “Well, well. Someone has extraordinary manners. What’s her name?”

“Themis.” Lord Medford stood up and walked around the side of the desk. He rested a hip against it and smiled at the scene in front of him. “I’ve enjoyed training her,” he said. “Though sometimes I think I may have gone a bit too far.” He laughed.

“Themis.” Kate put a finger to her jaw. “Why do I know that name?” She tapped her fingertip to her face. “Ah yes, the goddess of custom and order.”

“You know her?” Was that a look of admiration in his green eyes? “Themis isn’t one of the more popular goddesses.”

“She’s the goddess of divine justice,” Kate murmured. “Perhaps that’s why I know her. I need to call upon her now.”

His eyes shifted back toward the dog and he gave a little laugh, perhaps to lighten the mood. “Well, here she is.”

Kate bent down and patted the dog’s head. “Themis,” she said. “You and I shall become fast friends.” Themis stamped a paw on the floor and breathed out through her snout.

Kate smiled at Lord Medford. “I’ve never seen such manners. What else can she do?”

Lord Medford issued commands for the dog to sit, lie, roll over, and bring him the paper, all of which Themis did without hesitation. She obviously loved her master.

Kate clapped her hands. “Amazing, truly. How long have you had her?”

Lord Medford sighed. “She was a stray, actually. My friend Lily, Lady Colton, she and her sister have made it a habit to rescue animals in need. This poor girl was not long for the world, I’m afraid. She had no one to take her in.”

Kate watched him carefully. “So you agreed?”

“Yes, and I must admit I never thought myself one for owning a dog until I met Themis.”

Kate ducked her head to hide her smile. How wonderful. The man had saved a dog out of the kindness of his heart. And he obviously loved the animal. She could tell just by watching them together.

“I used to have a dog that looked very much like Themis,” Kate said, her voice trailing off softly.

Lord Medford braced his palms on the desktop on either side of his hips. “Did you? What happened to him?”

“I couldn’t take him with me when I married. My parents kept him. Eventually he … he died of old age just before my parents did.”

“What happened to your parents?” Lord Medford asked softly.

Kate glanced up at him and it struck her then. Lord Medford had kind eyes. Very kind. “They both had the fever,” she murmured, swallowing.

Lord Medford nodded. “I’m sorry.”

Kate cleared her throat and straightened her shoulders. She pinched the delicate skin on the inside of her arm. Why had she told him about her dog and her parents? No doubt Lord Medford wasn’t interested in such drivel. She had a job to do. A pamphlet to write. “Shall we get started?” she asked, schooling her features into the most professional manner she could muster. “Discussing the pamphlet?”

“By all means.” He stood and moved back around to his seat behind the desk, gesturing for Kate to sit in one of the facing chairs. Themis trotted away and curled up on the rug in front of the fire again and closed her eyes.

“Before we discuss the pamphlet,” Lord Medford said. “I wanted to speak to you about your defense. I’ve sent for Mr. Abernathy. He’s the most experienced barrister in town.”

Bracing her hands on the arms of the chair, Kate sat up straight and blinked. “Mr. Abernathy?”

“Yes. I promised you the best and I’ll deliver.” He winked at her and Kate’s insides felt funny again. “I must admit I was quite surprised to hear you didn’t already have someone employed. Abernathy was working on another case, but I … persuaded him to put his work on hold.”

Kate settled back into the chair and expelled her breath. “Thank you, my lord. I’m going to need the best. But I’ve seen enough of how the aristocracy works to not trust the House of Lords, to be honest. I doubt even Mr. Abernathy will stand much of a chance against the charges I face.”

Lord Medford cleared his throat. “Abernathy will do everything he can. He’ll be here at one o’clock.”

She took a deep breath. “I look forward to meeting him. In the meantime, perhaps you should tell me what exactly you have in mind for the pamphlet.”

He leaned his elbow on the arm of his chair and propped his chin on his fist. “I ask nothing more than that you tell your story, in your own words.”

Her gaze snapped to his face. “Truly? You don’t want the salacious details? I thought surely—”

“Trust me. The ton will be interested in whatever you have to say.”

Kate shook her head. Trust me, he had said. That made her stop. She didn’t trust him. Didn’t even know him. True, he’d been kind to her so far, but he wanted something from her. Though he had surprised her by giving her free rein to write the pamphlet. And seeing to her defense. But there had to be a catch … somewhere.

He leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers in front of his chest. “What is it that you want to tell people?”

“That I’m innocent,” she said in a loud, strong voice, quite sure her eyes were flashing with all the passion she felt on the subject. “Though I expect most won’t believe it,” she finished more softly.

His eyes narrowed on her face. “May I ask you a question?”

She smiled. “I believe I cannot say no to that.”

He leaned back in his chair. “You might have an easier time of it if you had friends in the aristocracy. Why is it that you were in the country for so long? Why did you never come to London? Never meet anyone? Make friends?”

She swallowed and glanced away. “What does any of it matter?”

“It matters to your defense.”

Kate bit her lip. “Very well.” She paused, expelling her breath. “After we were married, my husband and I … we soon realized we didn’t suit. He wanted to pursue his … pleasures in London, and he didn’t want me there, reminding him of what an awful choice of wife he’d made.”

Lord Medford pursed his lips. “Awful choice?”

She stared at her hands that were folded in her lap. “You must have heard about me, Lord Medford. My past. It’s been in all the papers.”

He nodded. “If you mean that your father was a gentleman landowner, not a peer, then yes. But how does that make you an awful choice?”

She raised her head and gave him a skeptical look. “You know how vast the divide is. I was never a part of my husband’s world. Despite the fairy tales, one does not go from a farm to a ducal estate. Not successfully at least.”

“You didn’t enjoy your new position?”

She looked up at the ceiling and searched her memory, trying to locate the right words. “I tried. I truly did. I tried everything to fit it, to be a good wife. But I just couldn’t, and I wasn’t. I was miserable and George was even more so. We’d made a terrible mistake.”