“I was fencing with some other ladies.” Kendra stood and made a pretend lunge. “Wearing pantaloons makes it possible to be a better fencer.”

Christopher accepted that explanation with a nod and covered another yawn.

“It’s time you went to bed, my lad. I’ll take you up to my room so you can get some sleep,” Kendra said.

The boy was tired enough that he didn’t protest. Kendra took his hand and led him away but said over her shoulder, “Can you stay, Lucas? I have some matters to discuss with you.”

He didn’t doubt it. And the top of the list would be deciding where Christopher could be kept safe.

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 22

Christopher had grown in the months since she’d last seen him, and he seemed more mature as well. That wasn’t surprising given his experience at his horrid school and the challenges he’d overcome to find her in London. Should she tell him that he had a twin sister? No, it was too soon for that; her son had too many other changes to deal with. She’d wait until life calmed down.

When they reached her room, she hugged Christopher again. “You were so brave, Kit! Brave and clever both.”

His new maturity vanished as he burrowed against her and began sobbing. “Papa said the most awful things about you, Mama! He . . . he said you were a whore and wanted to turn me into a molly boy. I asked a boy at the school what ‘whore’ and ‘molly boy’ meant and he laughed in a mean way and told all the other boys and they started calling me a whoreson!”

Kendra thought savagely that if Denshire were here and she had a sword, she’d run him through. “That is absolutely not true, Christopher! For all the years of my marriage, I was a faithful and honorable wife.” That night with Lucas didn’t count because she was no longer married when they came together.

Kit’s voice dropped to a shaky whisper. “He . . . he said you didn’t want me anymore, but I didn’t believe him. Didn’t want to believe him! That’s why I had to find you again.”

Forget having a sword—if Denshire were here Kendra would kill him with her own hands. “That was a horrible lie! I was frantic when he took you away and told me I’d never see you again. More than anything on earth, I wanted to find you.” She drew a deep breath, thinking she should be calm and strong for her son. “Instead you found me. What a blessed day this is!”

“Why did he tell such lies?”