What does 公け mean?


I am wondering what the reading and meaning of 公け is in the following
sentence:  
彼女のことが公けになることを好まず、ひそかに離縁しようと決心した。




It is pronounced おおやけ (although I've never seen it with け as okurigana --
usually just 公). It means "publicly/openly", similar to 公的 【こうてき】.

That sentence would translate as "Not wanting it to be made publicly known to
everyone, He/I decided to break up with her in private."




It is pronounced おおやけ (although I've never seen it with け as okurigana --
usually just 公). It means "publicly/openly", similar to 公的 【こうてき】.

That sentence would translate as "Not wanting it to be made publicly known to
everyone, He/I decided to break up with her in private."

