The only refuge was outside London. She would go to their country estate. If only Alex were here! Alex would find their ex-butler Staple and put him in jail. Despite herself, tears filled Charlotte’s eyes. She didn’t want to arrive at Downes Manor by herself, a countess without a husband.

She fought to control her raging emotions until finally the look in her eyes turned from anguished mortification to determination. Taking a deep breath, Charlotte battered back the hysterical wish to throw herself onto her bed and cry. Instead she rang the bell, summoned Marie, and calmly told her that the entire household must be ready to leave in one hour.

She had last seen Pippa two hours ago, when Pippa toddled into her room for their early morning hot chocolate. They had snuggled together in the bed, Charlotte tickling Pippa’s round tummy.

Charlotte walked quickly down the hallway to the nursery, and told Katy their change in plans. Pippa was sitting on the ground, clanking spoons together in a businesslike way. She looked up, sensing a new tone in Charlotte’s face.

“Mamaaa!” Pippa said gaily.

“Of course, my lady,” Katy replied. Katy never seemed to be ruffled by anything, not even when Pippa had upended a chamber pot on the kitchen cat.

Charlotte smiled at Pippa and then knelt down beside her as Pippa held out her arms. Somehow with Pippa’s tight grip around her neck, the scandal didn’t seem so insurmountable. Who cared what the ton thought of her? After this scandal, Alex would probably banish her to Scotland anyway … but she would have Pippa. And her baby. Charlotte’s new, gently rounded tummy was evidence that Alex’s child was nestled under her heart.

In her rush Charlotte completely forgot that Chloe van Stork had been asked for tea that afternoon. But her oversight was just as well. Because Mr. van Stork read Taffy’s entire article, thoroughly, and then laid down his paper and announced that Chloe was not going to Sheffield House for tea, not now and not ever. His daughter’s protests left him unmoved. He wasn’t going to risk Chloe’s engagement to Lord Holland—and that’s just what might happen if she were associated with someone like the Countess of Sheffield and Downes.

“Not that I blame her, you understand,” Mr. van Stork explained ponderously. “Though why all the tears on her wedding night? I can only assume that her parents explained nothing to her!”

“Explained what?” Chloe cried in frustration.

Mr. van Stork looked at her in exasperation. “Alexander Foakes is not wholly a man,” he said and then closed his mouth firmly. Chloe knew that was all he was going to say on the matter. She turned to her mother, who was slowly digesting the article.