Lord of sin by Christopher Nicole

Author:Christopher Nicole [Nicole, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

'In order that you might convey it to me.' I found myself frowning again. 'Then where is the to-do ?'

Hobhouse got up, began to pace the room, hands tucked under the skirts of his coat. He was starting to remind me of a lawyer himself. 'Thus advised, Lady Byron produced some fresh evidence which she supposed might necessitate a separation.'

'Fresh evidence? What fresh evidence?'

'Well, it is of a delicate nature.'

'Between you and me, Hobby ?'

'I am sure you know of what I speak, Byron,' he said, somewhat severely. 'And you may believe me that I would far rather not speak of it at all. Neither would anyone else.'

'Yet my wife appears to have done so.'

'To her lawyers, in the strictest confidence.'

'Who promptly spoke to you, in the strictest confidence. Just as they have told their wives in the strictest confidence and their wives will have told their best friends, in the strictest confidence. Thus all London will know of it, in the strictest confidence. I am the only person who does not know of it.'

He paused in his perambulation. 'You mean that?'

'I have no idea at all of what she is speaking.'

He sat down beside me, glanced at the door. He looked at his hands, which had twined together, then took out a handkerchief and wiped his neck. His face was so crimson I feared he might have a stroke. 'Whatever can be the matter ?'

He sighed, and licked his lips. 'She accuses . . . well, there were rumours ... of course I took no heed of them, and well, I would take no heed of them now . . . well. . . .'

'Hobby,' I said gently, 'you are gabbling like the maniac I am supposed to be. My wife accuses me of what?'

'Of attempting to . . . well . . . my God, Byron. You must know what I mean.'

I stared at him, while an awful suspicion crossed my mind. But would she, could she, could any woman, much less Annabella Milbanke, so confess to the secrets of the marriage bed? My thoughts must have revealed themselves on my face, for he sighed.

'Belle has accused me of sodomy?'

'My God.' He seemed to be speaking to himself.

'And you believe her?'

'I will believe anything you tell me to be the truth,' the poor fellow lied, for knowing me as well as he did, how could he possibly have had any doubts?

'But everyone else believes her.'

'Well, as I say, she has told only her lawyers.'

'Yet all London knows of it.'

'I did not say that. I do not think so. I was thinking of the other matter. . . V

'The other matter? What other matter?' The room seemed to be reeling around me.

'Well . . . my God, Byron, I but repeat what has been said.'

'I understand that, my dear fellow. But at least tell me what has been said.'

'Lady Byron. . . .' His voice sank almost to a whisper. 'Lady Byron accuses you of incest with Mrs. Leigh.'

Once again I felt I was sinking beneath the blow.

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