Mr. Jennings slipped another piece of paper out of his folder. “The Tatler was served papers for slander six days after the report was published. They were, of course, expecting this response on our part and had thought to shield their report by labeling your wife ‘the Countess’ and your brother ‘the Twin.’ However, my brief noted that there is in fact only one countess, your wife, who stands in any familial relation to a male twin and therefore they infringed upon the law, which is quite strict with regard to personal slander. After consulting with his solicitors, who naturally concurred with my brief, Mr. Hopkins, the editor, approached me with a quite handsome proposition. They published a full retraction.” Jennings handed Alex another sheet of paper.

“However, this retraction has no real effect, given that the season was over,” Jennings pointed out. “I put this to Mr. Hopkins with some force. I also ventured to name a sum in pounds that I was confident the court would assign to us, should this lawsuit continue. Mr. Hopkins therefore has agreed to publish a further article about ‘the Countess’ and ‘the Twin,’ in April when the season begins again. This article will carry no reference to the lawsuit, and will appear to be simply a further piece of news. However, it will retract all the innuendo that was suggested by the earlier article. The article will be read and approved by yourself and your ladyship before publication. I judged, under these circumstances, that it was better to overlook the report of your wedding night.” Jennings tactfully refrained from mentioning that according to his investigations the article was dead right about that night.

“All this will depend,” Jennings said heavily, “on the birth date of your child, unfortunately.” Silence fell in the room. Jennings stared assiduously at the glowing colors of the Persian rug that adorned his study.

Finally Alex spoke. “Prepare a bill for divorce,” he said abruptly.

“My lord, you are asking me to gather a case against your brother for incestuous adultery. I consider the evidence to be quite slender and I must beg you to reconsider. The proceedings in Parliament would be remarkably distasteful.”

Alex rose. “I will contact you about whether you should proceed with the divorce.”

Jennings bowed, and Alex left the study. He needed to think about all this in peace and quiet. Clearly nothing had happened in London between his wife and Patrick. The fact that Charlotte had fainted when she saw Patrick brought the first twinge of pain that he had felt so far. Of course, she must love him. Women never forgot the man who took their virginity. A deep ache moved through Alex’s heart and was ruthlessly banished.