Page 59 of One Bed for the Bluestocking
Iain was still speaking.“Think about it, gentlemen.Has anyone in this room ever seenMissWitherspoon without her coat?I haven’t.She always keeps it on.She doesn’t roll up her sleeves when she’s working in the chemistry lab, nor does she ever take it off to join in a game of cricket.What could she be hiding under there?”
“That doesn’t prove anything,” Colin said.Kate felt her heart squeeze, that her friend would stand up for her in front of so many onlookers.
Iain looked unconcerned.“How about using the necessary?Has anyone seen her use one of the communal easement rooms?Or does she skulk off to do her business someplace private?”
Roderick called, “Well, Galbreath, if I’d known ye were so interested in peeking at our cocks, I’d have found a more private place to piss, too.”
That got a laugh.But as the laughter died down, Kate could see whispers being exchanged across the room, followed by subtle shakes of the head.Come to think of it, I’ve never bumped into Witherspoon in the privy, they would all be saying.
“None of this proves anything, Galbreath,” Arthur said.“So our Kit is a bit shy.That’s hardly a crime.”
Iain’s smile was smug.“Then explain why there’s padding sewn into her coat.”
“Lots of men pad their coats.”Roderick flexed an arm.“Not everyone is born with my braw physique.”
“To be sure.They pad their clothing at the shoulder, or even the calf.”Iain smirked.“But why would agentlemanadd padding around his waist?”
“Around his…” Kate watched Roderick’s face fall.He tried to rally but couldn’t banish his pinched expression.“Don’t be daft.”
“I felt it,” Iain insisted.“I lost my balance when we were playing skittles, and we went down in a heap.She’s padding her waist, and she’s binding her breasts.You can feel the band of linen through her clothes.Go ahead.See for yourselves.”
A sense of hesitation was palpable in the room, as the notion of laying a hand somewhere as innocent as the back suddenly felt scandalously improper.
“Mr.Galbreath,” came a new voice from the front of the lecture hall.
Kate turned and saw it was Professor Pope.Perfect.She wouldn’t even have a few minutes’ grace before the university faculty became aware of the scandal.
“These are extraordinary allegations.”Professor Pope’s gaze sharpened on Iain.“I hope you are not making them speciously.”He turned to Kate, his expression sympathetic.“As for you, Mr.Witherspoon, the accusations levied against you by Mr.Galbreath would be very easy to disprove.I am a physician, in addition to being a chemist, and I would be glad to perform a cursory examination should you wish to lay Mr.Galbreath’s lurid claims to rest once and for all.”
Kindhearted Professor Pope—he thought he was doing her a favor.He thought “Kit” would pass the exam.
But Kate knew better.
Shoulders drooping, she gave a slight shake of her head.
Conversation burst out across the room, as her fellow students interpreted her refusal as a confession.Which it was.Professor Pope looked stunned speechless.
Kate turned to her three friends—former friends, perhaps—ready to see the disappointment, the derision in their eyes.
Instead, she saw fierce defensiveness.In fact, if she didn’t know better, Kate thought… that they didn’t look all that surprised.
Roderick surged to his feet.In three strides, he was nose-to-nose with Iain Galbreath.“Proud of yerself, are ye?”He shoved Iain in the chest, sending him staggering backward.“Do ye have any idea who she is?That’s Katherine Weatherby!Her sister is aduchess!Ye’ve gone and kicked the hornets’ nest.”He laughed blackly.“Just wait until the Duke of Norwood gets through with ye.Yer reputation will berubbish!”
“Not that he has much of a reputation to begin with.”Arthur’s voice dripped with disdain.“The world already knows what a shit artist he is.”
Iain blinked.“Katherine Weatherby?”He turned to Kate.“Is that true?I—I didn’t realize.”His head swiveled to face Roderick.“How did you?—”
Colin stood.“Come, Kate.”He turned to her.“You don’t mind if I call you Kate, do you?”She gave a tiny shake of her head, and he offered her his arm.“There’s no need to subject you to this riffraff.”
In a daze, Kate accepted his arm and allowed her friends to shepherd her from the room.
They stepped outside into the quadrangle and huddled in a corner.
Kate was still struggling to wrap her mind around what had just happened.“You… You knew.How?”
Colin nodded toward Arthur.“Arthur spotted that you were a woman on the first day.”
Arthur inclined his head.“You can’t slip a beautiful woman past a Welshman.We’ve a keen eye for these things.”
