The Day of the Duchess (Scandal & Scoundrel #3)(101)

God knew that was right. Until that moment, Mal had fought for himself.

It was time he start fighting for her.





Chapter 26



Ducal Divorce: Decision Day!




October 12, 1836

House of Lords, Parliament



“I don’t see him.”

Sesily leaned out over the railing of the observation gallery and stared down at the procession of parliamentary members filing into the House of Lords, and Sera ignored the pang of disappointment at the pronouncement, which was validated with a longer, hanging look. “No, I don’t think he’s there.”

“Well, everyone can see you, so that’s what matters,” Seline pointed out dryly as Sesily righted herself and turned her back to the speaker’s floor.

“I’m not inclined to show deference to a passel of ancient, venerable men, you know. Not unless they give Sera what she wants.”

“Which won’t happen,” Seleste replied, putting her perfect bottom to the railing and crossing her arms over her chest. The position placed her posterior on full view below, not that she seemed to mind. “Clare says he has it on good authority that you haven’t the votes, Sera, which you know. Though, of course, you’ve Clare’s.”

“And King’s,” Sophie chimed in.

Sera knew she wasn’t getting her divorce. Indeed, she was still surprised that there was a vote at all on the matter. After all, Mal had spent weeks playing at plans for the dissolution of their marriage, ruining the summers of a half-dozen women and Sera’s, as well.

Lie.

She ignored the whisper and the truth that came with it. It was easier if she imagined the summer ruined. If she pretended she didn’t care for him. Then, perhaps, it would not hurt so much when he did as he’d always promised—kept the marriage and stayed away.

For three weeks, he’d stayed away, with no contact and no message other than the one he gave to Sesily at the Sparrow after nearly destroying the place. He wasn’t marrying Felicity Faircloth.

It seemed he was not marrying Lady Lilith, either, considering both women were returned to London and the marriage mart with the new session of Parliament, along with Lady Emily. Surprisingly, The News of London gossip column had already claimed them three of the brightest jewels of the Season.

So, it seemed, Mal would not marry another and, therefore, had no intention of divorcing her.

Three days after Mal left The Singing Sparrow without a word, Sera received word from the Lord Chancellor, indicating that that “the matter of the dissolution of your marriage to the Duke of Haven, by divorce” was to be taken up on the floor of the House of Lords. She was neither asked to make a statement about her request nor was she permitted to engage a solicitor for the proceedings. Wives were not legal entities, and so she was simply given a date and time.

October the twelfth, 1836, at half-eleven in the morning.

“Well,” Seline had declared when Sera had told her sisters of the missive. “At least we shan’t miss our morning ride.”

And so, here they were, each of the Dangerous Daughters having been allowed into the viewing gallery to sit beside their sister as her fate was decided below, by nearly two hundred men born into pomp and privilege. Well, nearly two hundred, and their father, who’d won his title at cards, which, if one thought too much about the current situation, might easily have been the reason they were all sitting there, in the current situation.

The men below milled about, seemingly unaware of the futures that hung in the balance of their legislative work, filing in and out of two doors, one on either side of the chamber. The door on the left led to the Content Lobby, where lords in favor of the Duke and Duchess of Haven’s divorce cast their votes for “Content.” To the right, the Non-Content Lobby, where the opposite occurred.

“You’ve at least two votes in favor of the divorce, though,” Seleste pointed out. “King and Clare are standing on your side. The problem is, not one of those crusty old titled men are interested in unhappy wives being able to simply beg off marriage. Our husbands, however, they are loyal to a fault.”

“I’ve never considered it a fault.” Sophie smiled, peering down over the viewing gallery. “And, besides, I’ve no interest in begging off marriage.” She paused, then breathlessly, “I haven’t ever seen King in his wig. It’s quite . . .”

“Stirring?” Sesily offered.

“I was going to say curious. But stirring is an interesting option.” She tilted her head. “Am I stirred? It’s possible.”

“Wigs will do that,” Seline said, dryly. “Powdered horsehair passed down through the generations. Very handsome. And fragrant.”

The sisters dissolved into laughter. All the sisters, that was, but Sera, who could not ignore the pressing question of the day. Which made sense, considering the question was to directly impact her future and freedom.

It did not matter that suddenly, with Mal disappeared from everywhere but her thoughts, she was far more interested in one of those than the other. “You’re sure he’s not down there?”

Sesily turned and considered the men below once more. “It’s difficult to tell, what with all the wigs and robes, but I don’t think so.” She looked back to Sera. “Don’t you think he would look up here? Or even better, come and fetch you? I mean, this whole procedure seems designed to put you on display. He’s not giving you the divorce, so what’s the point of it?”