Scorned By Him, Cherished By His Brother novel · Chapter 20 of 24
Chapter 20: Sentence
Four hundred people rose when the King came in, and he waved them down with the head of his cane.
He took the Chancellor's chair without asking for it.
Cordelia stood in front of him between two guards with her hair coming loose.
"Madam," said the King. "I have read the evidence in the time it took me to climb the stairs. Do you wish to say anything before I speak?"
"Your Majesty, I am the wronged party."
"I see."
"I was a young wife to a cold man. I was lonely. They have made me into a monster because I wanted a little warmth."
"You poisoned a minister of my Crown for eleven months," said the King.
"You forged the hand of an honest woman on every bottle."
"You tried to hang her for it, and you played dead in my capital."
Cordelia opened her mouth, and he lifted one finger.
"Your marriage to Lord Barrington was voided. Your name is struck from his house. Your portion is forfeit to the Tindall estate, for the false charge laid against its master."
My father drew in his breath behind me.
"For the attempt on the life of my Minister, and the forging of a lady's name, and the escape from my gaol by bribery," the King went on, "you will be taken to the northern penitentiary at Greywater and kept there for the rest of your life."
"Your Majesty..."
"You will have no visitors, and no pen."
Cordelia swung round and looked for Henry.
She found him standing at my shoulder, and for a moment the whole sweet face came back.
"Henry. You know me. You know what I am to you."
"I do," said Henry. "I have known it since the vestry."
He said nothing else.
She turned to me instead, and her face was white and flat.
Keep reading free with an account. Start Scorned By Him, Cherished By His Brother from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.
← Chapter 19 · All chapters · Chapter 21 →
Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend