Secret Brides [3] Secrets of a Scandalous Marriage by Valerie Bowman Page B

sigh with relief. Instead, she became exceedingly conscious of the fact that she hadn’t said anything yet and the two lovely sisters were staring at her with expectant looks upon their faces.
    “I … I’m Kate.” Ooh. She should have been a bit more formal. She pinched the inside of her arm. “Please do not call me ‘your grace,’” she blurted next, and her fear that the sisters would think she was mad was quickly dispelled when both of them smiled widely at her. “Absolutely not. We wouldn’t think of it,” Lily said. “Now, come and sit.” Lily motioned to the settee.
    Annie leaned over and said in a conspiratorial voice, “Locke is bringing tea and cakes, and I’ll let you in on a secret if you have not already discovered it yourself. Medford has the best teacakes.”
    Kate didn’t bother trying to hide her smile. Peeresses who seemed as devoted to teacakes as she? Oh yes, Kate could become friends with these two ladies, she was quite sure of it.
    “It’s very nice to meet you both,” Kate murmured, hoping she didn’t sound like a fool.
    “We want you to know right away,” Lily said, “that we do not for one moment think you are guilty. I had the, ahem, misfortune of meeting your husband and I have to believe there were a great number of people who wished him dead.”
    Kate bit her lip and did her best to hide her smile. “I see. Thank you for that.”
    “But I must ask, my dear,” Lily continued. “Is it true you’d asked him for a divorce?”
    Kate took a deep breath. There was something about these two, their openness and friendly demeanors, that made her feel safe answering the question. “Yes. I’m afraid so. Ours was a very unhappy marriage.”
    Lily watched her with sympathetic violet eyes. “It must have been truly awful for you.”
    Kate let out a sigh of relief. Two peeresses who would not censure her for wanting a scandalous divorce either? The sisters truly were special.
    “Well, I don’t blame you,” Annie said. “We’re quite happy that you’ll have an opportunity to write your story for Medford.”
    Kate’s eyes went wide. “You know about Lord Medford’s printing press?” She wanted to kick herself again for asking the question. Of course they must know, why else would they think she was here? But the question had just flown from her mouth.
    “Oh, we’ve known for quite some time,” Lily replied with a wink.
    “And you’re not…” Kate lowered her voice. “Scandalized by it?”
    “Oh, certainly not,” Lily replied with a laugh and a quick shake of her dark head.
    Annie laughed too. “Oh, now we shall be forced to tell her our secrets, Lily.”
    Kate looked back and forth between the two of them, knowing her eyes must be wide as the teacakes. “ Your secrets?”
    Lily gave her a conspiratorial grin. “Yes. You see, you happen to be sitting next to the authors of Secrets of a Wedding Night and Secrets of a Runaway Bride. ”
    “No!” Kate’s mouth fell open. She clapped a hand over it.
    Annie’s face wore a catlike smile. She nodded resolutely. “Yes.”
    Lily settled into the settee and kicked out her legs in front of her, in what Kate assumed was a most unmarchionesslike style. “Guilty. So you see, you are about to join our illustrious club. Although our pamphlets were anonymous of course,” she finished with another wink.
    “I promise not to tell anyone it was you,” Kate said. How marvelous that these ladies were so open and friendly with her, trusting her with their secrets so completely. It seemed too much to hope for, really.
    “I must say, I’m a bit surprised,” Kate murmured.
    “Whatever for?” Annie asked.
    “James…” She cleared her throat. “Lord Medford doesn’t seem entirely convinced of my innocence, but both of you—”
    Lily tossed a hand in the air. “Oh, ignore Medford. He fancies himself a businessman. And we don’t always see eye to eye. Knowing Medford, I’m surprised he hasn’t taken over your defense