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Her mother lowered the scandal sheet slightly, her face pale with dismay.

"It is worse than I feared."

"What does it say?" their father asked.

Their mother hesitated, looking from Katherine to Cordelia.

"Mama," Cordelia said quietly, "please read it."

Her mother drew a troubled breath and lifted the paper.

"'A Most Unexpected Midnight Discovery,'" she read, her voice strained. "'It would appear that the Season's most elusive bachelor has at last surrendered to the tender persuasions of Cupid, although perhaps not in the manner society had anticipated.'"

Cordelia closed her eyes.

Her mother continued.

"'At Lady G's splendid midnight assembly, several ladies of impeccable reputation happened upon a most astonishing tableau in one of the residence's private apartments. A certain Viscount T, whose reluctance to indulge in the matrimonial pursuits of the ton has long been a subject of considerable discussion, was discovered in a passionate embrace with the beautiful and widowed Viscountess B.'"

Katherine made a strangled sound.

Their mother paused, but Cordelia opened her eyes and nodded for her to continue.

"'Our sources report that the pair appeared quite overcome by their mutual affection, and that the lady's state of disarray suggested a degree of familiarity rarely witnessed outside the marriage bed. One can only imagine the embarrassment of those unfortunate enough to interrupt such an intimate encounter.'"

Cordelia’s heart shattered.

"'Naturally, society now awaits an announcement with the greatest anticipation. Will Viscount T prove himself a gentleman of honor and make an honest woman of the charming widow? We suspect that wedding bells shall soon be ringing, and our readers may rest assured that we shall be among the first to report the happy news.'"

Her mother lowered the paper. For several moments, no one spoke. The ticking of the mantel clock seemed unbearably loud.

Katherine began to sob again. "Oh, Cori, I am so sorry. I never meant for this to happen. Victoria assured me that once you witnessed his attentions toward her, you would understand that he could not be trusted. I did not know she intended to make such a spectacle of herself."

Cordelia looked at her sister with growing disbelief.

"You did not know?"

Katherine flinched at the quietness of her voice.

"I swear it."

"Then what precisely did you imagine would happen when you arranged for Lady Giles and several other ladies to enter that room?"

Katherine's lips parted.

No answer came.

Cordelia felt another tear slip down her cheek.

"You told Victoria that they were coming. I heard you, Katherine. You said Lord Templeton would have to marry her."

"I..." Katherine's voice faltered. "I was frightened. I thought if you knew he was capable of such behavior, you would finally see that he was no different from other gentlemen."

"And you believed the proper way to demonstrate this was to ruin him?"

"Cori, I was trying to protect you."

"Protect me?"