“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 theton, then lie when you do not get your way. And youneverget 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.”
Chapter Thirteen
