Chapter Twelve

T he day dawned bright and clear, and Sadie was a mass of nerves. It was one thing to act as Lady Vengeance in the back garden of a ballroom. It was quite another to be a brassy Scotswoman in front of the Prince Regent. A few weeks ago, that would not have made any difference to her. But now, she didn't want her reputation to hurt Lord Heath.

"Good God, you are giving me a headache!" the countess snapped as they rode to the park. "You Scots always go to extremes. First you don't care at all about your reputation and now you're…" She waved her fingers at Sadie fidgeted on her seat. "Well, you're like this."

"If I mess up today in front of the Prince Regent, how will that effect Lord Heath?"

The countess's brows arched in surprise. "Not at all! He will cut all ties to you. His reputation can afford a misstep, but attaching himself to you would be like marrying a clown who can never put a foot right. And just think how this will affect his girls! They'd never have a good come-out—"

"Enough!" Sadie exclaimed. She did not need all her worst fears voiced aloud.

"On the other hand," the countess persisted, "if you act as you usually do—"

Sadie dropped her hands on her hips. "Brassy and rude?"

"As yourself with a firm sense of justice and modest control, then I believe the prince will be charmed by you."

Charmed and hopefully ready to put Lord Liddican on a boat headed someplace more suited to his vicious nature. That was what she held onto as they neared the park. Until she looked out the carriage window.

"Oh my." The entire route was choked with carriages and riders.

"Hmmm," returned the countess. "It is about what I expected."

"Do you think the prince is here already?"

The countess looked at her watch. "Doubtful. Prinny rarely keeps to his schedule."

Lord Liddican, however, was already there. Sadie saw him as soon as she descended the carriage. He was dressed in finery as he chatted with a circle of young bucks. At least he didn't have a gaggle of girls around him. Lady Vengeance and her friends had gotten the word out, so the women of the ton had been warned away.

She and the countess began strolling, and lots of people came to talk with them. They knew Sadie was the reason the prince was coming to the park that day. At least, she hoped he was. As time ticked by, she began to fear a backlash if Prinny decided to skip this afternoon's stroll.

And then, finally, the royal appeared.

The man never went anywhere without a retinue, so the first hint that Prinny had arrived was a flurry of guards, not to mention the royal carriage and his general circle of friends. A murmur went through the crowd, and everyone seemed to press to the edge of the park.

Damnation! How was she going to be seen over all these people? Everything was for naught if the prince never spoke to her.

Like everyone else, she stretched forward, though she searched for Lord Heath. Then, one by one, everyone dipped into a bow or curtsey. The Prince Regent strode forward. And there—easily keeping pace—was Lord Heath. Just as she'd been searching for him, he was scanning the crowd for her. The moment their gazes locked, Sadie felt a rush of confidence. He was here. No matter what happened, she would be safe.

It wasn't logical. There were a thousand things he couldn't protect her from, but she felt reassured nonetheless. Even when the countess nudged her from behind.

"Go on," the woman said. "Get Prinny to like you."

Right. Squaring her shoulders she sauntered ahead, without fear that she would be blocked. People magically separated as she wandered by the tree. The prince saw her immediately, but before he could say anything, Lord Liddican stepped forward.

"Prinny! Wonderful to see you now that that ghastly vote is over. I do want to speak with you about a viper in your midst."

"Hmmm," the prince said, halting his progress toward the tree. It was a non-committal response, but Lord Liddican took it as encouragement.

"You've been talking to Lord Heath, haven't you? Or he's been talking to you. He's the one who told you to come here today, isn't he? Of course he did! He's in league with that whore Scotswoman, and he's pushing you to make her popular. Don't do it, my liege. Don't give them the satisfaction! Indeed, I might suggest that Lord Heath has shown himself to be too untrustworthy to manage your affairs correctly."

"Hmmm," repeated Prinny.

"Yes, my liege. Please let me suggest—"

"That's a rather tall tree," Prinny suddenly said loudly. Then he turned to Lord Heath. "That the one?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"I don't believe it," the prince said as he pushed Lord Liddican aside. "No child could have climbed that. I simply don't believe it."

Lord Liddican stepped up again. "Of course not. It's just part and parcel of their lies. Stupid really, that they thought they could fool you."

To the side, she saw the countess gesturing with her hands. She wanted Sadie to speak up, but Sadie had a lot more practice interrupting men than the countess. She knew it was not the time.

She held her tongue, though admittedly that was hard. Fortunately, she wasn't the only one there to defend her honor. Lord Heath quickly pointed out the truth of the matter.

"Your Highness, the tree has been pruned. You can see where the branches have been cut." He pointed out the places where the wood had been recently severed. "The groundskeepers likely feared another child might become adventurous. One cannot count on an intrepid Scotswoman to be around the next time a child desires adventure."

"Hmmm," Prinny said as he inspected the tree. Then he lifted a foot as if to step onto the lowest branch where it had been cut. "I don't see how a child could climb that. It's difficult for me and I'm a full-grown man."

He was a full grown, very fat man, but no one wanted to point that out.

Lord Heath turned to Sadie. "Miss Allen, could you perhaps show his highness how you climbed the tree? Or how Lacy made it so high?"

Sadie dropped into a low curtsey. "Of course."

The branches were cut, so there was no way she could repeat what Lacy had done, but she looked at the Prince Regent and let her mischievous smile through. "It's quite a puzzle, isn't it?" she said. "But that's because it's been so long since you've were a little boy. You don't think of how determined children can be."

"Determined is one thing. Impossible feats—" he began, but then he let his words die out as she stood beneath the lowest remaining branch.

"You were thinking she stepped up onto the low branch," she said.

"My word. Did the child jump? Can little girls do that?"

"Just as well as little boys," she said, then she made the leap. It took a bit of skill for her to jump and grab hold. But once she did, it was a simple matter of swinging her legs back and forth until she could settle them on another branch and pull herself higher. And then more pulling and balance before she sat, pretty as you please, well above the prince's head.

"Well done," the prince applauded.

"Definitely not a true lady," Lord Liddican said.

He was echoed by others. "Climbing trees like a monkey. She's an acrobat!"

Even from her place in the tree, she could hear people's murmurs, equating an acrobat to a whore.

"My liege!" she called out. "I would like you please to watch my skirt very closely. Or look to my legs." It was not a hard request to make. Everyone was looking at them anyway.

She swung herself from one branch to the next, slowly coming down until she hung from the second lowest branch and dropped to the ground. She'd picked the other branch specifically because it put her between Lord Liddican and the prince.

And when she straightened up, she grinned at the prince. "Did you see my legs?"

"What?"

"Did you see my ankles or any amount of flesh?"

The prince frowned. "No, I don't believe I did."

"Exactly," she said. Then she leaned forward and pulled up her skirt to reveal what would have been a long expanse of leg. Instead, she had on thick stockings that closely resembled some men's pants. "It's crazy to go to a picnic without appropriate covering, don't you think? Out in the park with children? One might have to save a young child who is up a tree. Or hike up a skirt to run a footrace. Modesty requires an extra layer. I'm sure you would do the same."

"Of course, of course!" Prinny said with great cheer.

"You weren't wearing those at the picnic!" Lord Liddican snarled.

"Good God, man," Lord Heath inserted. "You weren't even there."

"I have heard from those who were!"

And now was the moment to insert herself—bodily—between Lord Liddican and the prince.

"You seem awfully interested in my legs, Lord Liddican. And everything else about me. Why is that? Is it because I refused your insulting offer to become your mistress? Are you a man scorned because he's unable to find a mistress the normal way?" She touched her lips. "Oh yes. You haven't the funds to pay a woman, have you?"

The man's eyes narrowed as he balled up his fists. But he didn't strike her. Instead, his gaze flicked to Prinny's. "That's a lie!" he growled.

"No, it isn't!" came a tremulous voice. Everyone turned to see old Mrs. Blay leaning heavily on her cane. She'd been there the night Sadie had first confronted Liddican—her and her dueling pistol. "I heard it! He wanted her as his mistress. And when she refused…" The widow brandished her cane. "I showed him what for." Then she thumped the cane down hard in the ground before realizing she hadn't made her curtsey to the royal. "Oh, good afternoon, Your Highness," she said as she bent in a creaky curtsey.

"Oh bravo, my fair lady. Bravo," drawled the prince.

"Thank you, Your Highness. But she's not the first he's hurt. Not by far." She waved around her as women stepped forward, one by one.

"He tried it with me, my liege. But I wasn't strong like her. I ran to my mother and cried for a week."

"My aunt scared him off."

"He tried to drag me outside, but Carolyn saved me. I didn't leave her side for the rest of the ball."

"That's true. I saw it!"

"Me, too!"

It couldn't be true. Lord Liddican could not have importuned so many women. He would be the worst Lothario in England, were that the case. But one by one, the women came forward. Until one dragged her brother forward.

"I told my brother," she said.

"She did," her brother confirmed. Then he shook his head. "Bad enough the man cheats at cards and won't pay his debts, but to think he can touch my sister?" He shuddered. "That was beyond the pale."

"I pay my debts!" Lord Liddican bellowed.

"No," Lord Heath said quietly. "You sell your votes for money, betraying England and the crown each time."

"It's not true!" Lord Liddican screamed.

"Your Highness! Your Highness, please! May I be heard?"

Sadie turned, startled to hear the voice. Lady Liddican was in hiding, or had been. Except here she was now, walking with a limp as she tugged her three-year-old daughter forward.

"My lady," the prince said, his expression softened with compassion.

"My husband has a terrible temper. He has beaten me when he lost at cards. He has beaten our daughter when the dice did not favor him. I cannot keep maids in the house for fear of what he does to them."

"It is lawful to beat a willful wife," Liddican snarled.

The lady squared off with her husband. "And your child?"

"And bad servants as well!"

Sadie wasn't sure that was true, but she was no magistrate. Either way, Lord Liddican was barely holding onto his temper. His fists were clenched and his face was dark red. It was time she pushed him over the edge, but she wouldn't do it where his wife or any of the ladies could get hurt.

She gently pushed Mrs. Blay back, using the motion to step closer to Prinny. "Let me get this straight," she said to Liddican. "You harass every young lady of the ton , then lie when you do not get your way. And you never get your way, do you? That's because you're ugly and rude, not to mention you cheat at cards, don't pay your debts, and sell your vote. Have I missed anything? Oh yes," she said, pleased when she saw the tick in his jaw. "When was the last time you bathed? Was it in a pig sty?"

Finally, the man's control broke. His fist shot out to deck her, followed by a grab at her throat. She was prepared, of course, but she needn't have bothered. Lord Heath was there. He didn't raise a fist in her defense. Instead, a well-placed foot—worthy of Mrs. Blay's cane—tripped him up before any blow could land.

Lord Liddican went sprawling straight at Prinny's feet. Then Lord Heath dropped his knee down on the man's back even as he turned to the prince.

"I think he was about to attack you! Exposed for his crimes, he thought he would turn traitor and assault the crown!"

Cries of outrage slid through the crowd. Prinny wasn't fooled. He had eyes and knew that the attack had been aimed at Sadie. But he also had a tender heart for abused women.

His gaze landed on Lady Liddican. "Is this true?" he asked gently. "Do you believe your husband turned traitor?"

The lady lifted her chin. "He broke his vows to me. He broke his promise to pay for his goods. Of course, he would turn traitor to the country. I would swear it in the highest court."

That wasn't exactly what she'd been asked, but it worked nonetheless. Prinny nodded and gestured to two of the guards who immediately grabbed a sputtering Lord Liddican.

"It's not true! I would never! My liege!"

"Gag him, please," Prinny drawled as the man was hauled away. Everyone watched, shocked by the display. Meanwhile, Prinny turned to Lady Liddican.

"You have named him a traitor. That means your title and all your goods are forfeit. You know that, don't you?"

The lady nodded. "There are no goods and you may take what is left of his land. I don't even want his name. I was a fool to ever take it in the first place."

Prinny nodded. "Very well. Your marriage is annulled. The Crown thanks you for bringing this to our attention."

The lady dropped into a curtsy, her face and words showing deep gratitude. "Thank you, Your Highness. You have been most kind."

Prinny smiled, pleased with the praise, but then his attention slid to Sadie. She was absorbed in thoughts of Lady Liddican's future. She hoped there was enough wealth in her mother's household to maintain her.

"Lord Heath!" Prinny said, his voice loud enough to jolt Sadie's attention back.

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"You were indeed correct. This has been a most interesting afternoon—"

"Yes, Your Highness—"

"But it was not the afternoon we were promised."