"Miss Hastings's belly has grown?"
Viscount Melbourne, initially disinterested, slowly widened his eyes at the words. He sat up straight and asked, "Henry, do you know how despicable it is to slander the reputation of a noble lady?"
Although the relationships among the upper class are chaotic, it doesn't mean that noble families don't care about their reputation. From a certain perspective, family reputation directly determines their status in social circles, which in turn influences their wealth and power.
In short, in the upper society, you can be morally corrupt and have a chaotic private life, but you must keep it concealed.
Furthermore, since women in noble families are often seen as the link for exchanging wealth and interests between families, noble families have exceptionally strict moral requirements for their female members. Any behavior that violates social norms may be considered a disgrace.
