Lord Shirwell grimaced. “That will not be necessary. Again, your wife is not the subject of this hearing. Nor do these accusations against her bear on the present case—the wrongdoing committed by Hannah Rogers.”
“Of course they do,” Sir John insisted. “For there sits Marianna, pretending to be the injured wife, when nothing could be further from the truth.”
“Even if that is true, it does not change the fact that Hannah Rogers perpetrated a fraud. She doesn’t even deny it.”
Sir John rose, cane forgotten, and stood tall and straight. “If you insist on pursuing this farce, if you try to punish Miss Rogers in the slightest degree, I shall avenge her if I have to go to Parliament itself and argue my case. For all the wrong I have done, I could never forgive myself, nor any of you, if any harm befalls this fine woman or her son because of my stupid, prideful posturing.”
He speared the magistrate with a fierce gaze. “Do you hear me, your worship? Let this woman go.”
The magistrate blustered, “But ... there has been wrongdoing. Laws have been broken....”
“Yes, there has been wrongdoing, but not by Hannah Rogers. She has helped me, succored me, aided me. Not harmed me. Do you understand? What sort of a travesty is this, when the man supposedly defrauded is not even pressing charges, but is defending the falsely accused?”
“She has done something to Lady Mayfield. She has tried to take her rightful place. She—”
“Her rightful place?” Fire sparked in Sir John’s eyes. “This woman has done everything in her power to dishonor me and our marriage vows ever since our wedding trip. She has committed adultery with her lover again and again without discretion or thought to my feelings or reputation. There is no shortage of people who know of this affair. She has detested her rightful place and has lost any claim to it in my eyes, no matter what the law says. Now will you release Miss Rogers, or must I remove her by force and charge you with lynch law and intention to riot?”
For several moments Sir John and the magistrate locked gazes. Hannah feared Sir John had pushed too hard against a man so keen on demonstrating his superior power. But at last, Lord Shirwell tore the paper in two and handed the pieces back to his clerk. “Very well. Miss Rogers, I hereby dismiss all charges against you based on Sir John’s evidence. You are free to go.”
Dr. Parrish murmured, “Thank God.”
Marianna sat stone-faced while Mrs. Parrish looked at her like a sullen child regarding a cheap toy, quickly broken.
Hannah rose on shaking legs.
Sir John turned to Marianna, a muscle above his jaw ticking. “So. Shall we go home,wife?”
Lady Mayfield formed a sour smile. “For now.”
Hannah walked out of the magistrate’s office before any of the others. Alone. She trembled all over and felt physically ill.Relief at her freedom washed through her, along with nausea from all the sordid accusations and lies she had heard that day. It left her feeling coated with tar as foul as sin. All she wanted to do was take Danny and go away somewhere clean and sunny, peaceful and true. And maybe have a long bath.
She stopped short at the sight of Mrs. Turrill rising from a bench in the hall just outside the door. She barely resisted the urge to throw herself into the woman’s arms.
Hannah breathed, “I thought you weren’t coming. Where’s Danny?”
“I had to come. Don’t worry, Danny is safe at home with my sister. I wanted to be here, whatever the outcome. You’re not vexed with me, I hope?”
Hannah shook her head. “I’m glad.”
Mrs. Turrill smiled. “I heard the last of it, my girl, sitting here as I was. And I can’t tell you how relieved I am.”
“Me too.” Hannah’s chin trembled.
Mrs. Turrill put an arm around her and together they walked outside. “Well, thank God, that’s over. What will you do now, my dear?”
“I don’t know.” She looked at the kind woman. “Mrs. Turrill, why are you so good to me, after all I’ve done? After I’ve deceived you and everyone else?”
“Oh, not everybody. Sir John knew. He was no victim, no matter whatshesaid. And I had my suspicions. But I saw your heart. Even if you took it too far, I knew you were thinking only of your son.” Her dark eyes sparkled. “And perhaps a certain gentleman.”
Hannah shook her head. “At this point, I want nothing to do with either of them.”
“Don’t forget how they rushed in and saved you today.”
Hannah lowered her head, cheeks heating anew. “I won’t forget.”
Mrs. Turrill squeezed her shoulder. “Now, come home withme and have some tea. We’ll talk and sort things out, all right? Becky got awful scared when you were taken away. Thought she was next, poor creature. She’ll be over the moon to see you again, and that’s the truth.”
Hannah hesitated.
