Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (285 page)

Scott

at the back of the room and told to remain silent.

They were in no way to

the proceedings.

The committee came in and took their places.

Three of them were ministers from various departments of the Foreign Office.

recognised

Lucien's father, Viscount Montfort, among them, an older, chiselled rendition of Lucien at sixty.

She didn't know the other two members, but Beldon whispered they were from the Home Office, one of them a particular friend of Val's.

Valerian's barrister was there as well. Even though it wasn't technically a legal proceeding, Beldon had insisted.

Valerian was brought in at five minutes past the hour and Philippa's heart was in her throat at the sight of him. He was dressed well for a man who'd had to dress without his valet. His clothes were clean, and his hair was well ordered. But his features were haggard, his skin pale. For a man who loved the outdoors, she was starting to realise just what an agony the week in

had been.

But his eyes were sharp as they swept the room, assessing the committee,

the measure of each

man present. His roving gaze fell on her in the back of the dim room.

sat up straighter, fighting

the urge to

him in some way. She

didn't dare call out for fear of being dismissed. But she did hazard a wave of her hand in hopes that he would see that she wore the ring he'd given her. In fact, she hadn't taken it off since Lucien had come to take him away. She thought she saw the minutest of smiles pass across his lips.

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The Viscount
Claims
His Bride
was here. Her presence shocked him utterly.

had not expected it. Indeed, he was be-leaguered by conflicting emotions at the very sight of her. He'd hungered for her steady presence all week, filling his lonely night-vigils with the mental pictures he had of her and the new ones he conjured up of her growing big with their child. That news had overwhelmed him with joy in spite of the darkness he faced.

This morning, he thrilled to the sight of her serene beauty lighting up the back of the room, knowing that such loveliness was a mere foil for the intelligence and temper that lay beneath the surface. The sight of his ring on her finger meant more to him in that moment than she could probably guess or under-But now that she was here, he'd rather she not be subjected to what the hearing would reveal. She would leave here firm in the knowledge that he was a tarnished hero, if a hero at all. He'd done his country's bidding, but it had often been grim work.

He hoped it had been worth it, that his services in all their forms would be enough to offset the death of Turkish soldiers by his hand.

Valerian knew how important it was that he fight these charges with everything at his disposal. The longer he remained in

the longer Lucien

held the upper hand. He didn't worry so much for himself. In a fair fight, he could manage henchmen. It was

for whom he had the

most concern. The longer he was imprisoned, the longer she was unguarded. Of course, she had

Scott

Beldon, but Beldon could not be in two places at once. Beldon could not watch them both.

He sat straight in his chair, refusing to look ashamed of the charges as they were read.

'What do you have to say to these charges?' the chairman of the committee asked, setting down the papers.

Valerian speared him with a sharp glance. 'I rescued two innocent children from certain death, one of them a babe only a few months old. Since when is it England's policy to make war on women and children who have no say in the politics and treaties of men?

'I for one could not countenance such wanton and unnecessary violence. They were of no threat to us or our ambitions in the region. Yet the Turks were allowed to destroy their homes and take their lives.

I do not believe any of you gentlemen would stand by and watch that type of slaughter take place if you had the

to stop it.' Valerian looked each of them in the eye. 'Am I wrong? Has English chivalry been bought for gold and trade routes?'

The men shifted uncomfortably in their seats. He'd hit a mark with them. No one would want to be branded a coward and they'd certainly appear less than saintly if they argued it was acceptable to slay women and children, all for the sake of a passage to India.

Viscount Montfort blazed at the insinuations.

'You paint the truth too lightly, St Just. You didn't save random children on a battlefield. The children you saved were the get of rebel leader

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The Viscount Claims His Bride

Stefanov. He worked hand in glove with the secret society,

to

against the Turks. You

befriended Stefanov's family and remained in contact with them after British negotiations with the Phanariots ceased.' Montfort pointed an accusing finger at him. 'You were the last visitor to see Stefanov alive before his execution. You stand as guardian to his surviving children.'

'I was,' Valerian answered smoothly. 'Children are children, it hardly matters who their fathers are.

They are all worthy of our protection.'

The chairman glared at Montfort. 'These proceedings must be managed in an orderly fashion. We will get to everything in time, but we must not resort to outbursts.'