“Unfortunately,” Grimes said, apparently unperturbed by his clearly irritated client, “people are prejudged upon their appearance, even when the one who does the judging does not realize it. And your inclination to become angry does not help your case.”
“Well, what do you expect?” Gil asked him.
“I expect that you will learn to follow my instructions when it comes to the hearing,” Grimes said. “If, that is, you are serious about recovering your daughter. I expect, sir, that you will learn to curb your temper no matter what my learned colleague may be saying that outrages you. You must trust me. I cannot promise beyond all doubt that I will win a favorable verdict for you, but Iamyour best hope.”
“I am to smile and grin, as though I have not a care in the world or a sensible thought in my head, then, am I?” Gil asked, his frown deepening.
Grimes did not answer. Abby’s hand slid along Gil’s forearm until it was tucked within his own.
“We will both trust you, Mr. Grimes,” she said. “And by the day of the hearing we will bothlookas though we do.” She smiled at Gil, and he wanted to punch someone. Not her. Not Grimes either. Butsomeone.
“Whatmayhelp,” Grimes said, “is an explanation of how you got that unfortunate scar across your face, Lieutenant Colonel. Can we make something heroic of it? I do know about your leading a forlorn hope while you were in the Peninsula, and I shall certainly work that into my defense of your character. The facial wound was not acquired on that occasion, by any chance?”
“No, but I know the story,” Abby said. “He was slashed by the sword of a cavalryman in India while saving the lives of hundreds of his men by ordering them to form square instead of fleeing in panic.”
“Form square?” The lawyer raised his eyebrows.
Gil explained.
“It is a pity,” the lawyer said, “that you were merely a sergeant at the time. However, I believe the story must be worked into what I say. It will encourage the judge to see you differently. And at least the uniform in which you will appear will be that of a lieutenant colonel. It displays a few medals, I hope?”
“Yes, a few,” Gil admitted reluctantly. He hated all this.Hatedit. And all because Caroline had taken Katy to her mother instead of leaving her safe and well cared for at Rose Cottage with her nurse and other servants whom Gil had trusted.
But there was no point in crying over spilled milk. Wherever had that saying originated? he wondered idly.
The wearying questioning continued. Many of thequestions Gil had surely answered before in letters. But he answered them again. Grimes wanted details about the house in Gloucestershire, the servants who worked there, and the neighbors who lived close by. He wanted a list of persons who would be willing to give Lieutenant Colonel Bennington a good character and was clearly unhappy that Gil could give him the names only of fellow officers, none of whom, including Harry, lived close enough to make a personal appearance at the hearing. His mind touched upon the Westcotts, most notably the Duke of Netherby and the Earl of Riverdale, but knowing what they did of him now they must not be feeling kindly toward him. Grimes wanted to know about Gil’s relationship with his first wife, especially while they were living at Rose Cottage. Were there any servants or neighbors who might be drawn into testifying to loud arguments or verbal or physical abuse? Or their absence?
“Not that the law does not allow a man to discipline his wife in any way he sees fit short of killing her,” he added. “But we must hope the judge does not decide you are too violent a man, Lieutenant Colonel Bennington, to be granted charge of a child.”
“Mychild,” Gil said curtly. “But anyway, yes, there were arguments. Are there not always disagreements and arguments in any relationship? There was no abuse, physical or otherwise, unless insisting that my wife stay safe at home with our baby while I went to war without them counts as abuse.”
“Hardly,” the lawyer said, and Gil regarded him with narrowed eyes.
Do not lose your temper,he told himself.Practice what Abby has promised you will both do by the time of the hearing before a judge.
The questions continued.
Grimes expected the case to come to a quick resolution. It would not drag on indefinitely. General Sir Edward Pascoe’s lawyer was pressing for an early appearance before a judge. The general and his wife were already in London in anticipation of it.
“I am also eager for an early resolution,” Gil said as his lawyer got to his feet in a clear indication that their meeting was over. “I wish to return to the country with my wife and daughter.”
Abby extended her hand to Grimes, thanked him for his time, and assured him that they trusted him.
“He is not confident,” Gil told her as they walked away from the chambers. “I ought to have chosen someone different. Perhaps it is still not too late.”
“I believe,” she said, “I would feel more worried about Mr. Grimes if hewereconfident. He is amassing facts in great detail, Gil, so that he may make the very best case possible for you. He is neglecting nothing, including the effect your scar and my birth might have upon the judge. He will explain the scar, I am sure, in a way that shows you as the hero you were on that occasion. I am sorry about the other. If only I were stillLady Abigail, I would undoubtedly be more of an asset to you.”
“If you were still Lady Abigail,” he said, “you would not be married to me at all, Abby. You would have married some grand lord years ago and presented him with half a dozen children by now.”
“Oh. One each year since I was eighteen?” she said. “That does not sound pleasant at all. I am glad, then, that I am not still Lady Abigail.”
“So am I,” he said. “I want those six children—or maybe not quite as many—to be mine.”
She turned her head to smile at him, her cheeks flushed, her eyes shining, and devil take it, he wanted her. Right here in the middle of a busy London street. And he wondered if perhaps he had already impregnated her. Two nights. Four times. It was a bit of a dizzying thought. But for the moment it had at least distracted his mind from the growing worry of what would happen about his daughter.
“Gil,” she said, “I believe Mr. Grimes is a competent lawyer. He asked questions I would not have thought of myself. I do not believe that anything General Pascoe’s lawyer says can possibly take him by surprise. He will have his answers and arguments ready. You must trust him.”
“That is easier said than done,” he said.
