Unfortunately, it did not appear that Justice Armitage was similarly affected. The silence grew tense as he tapped his fingers on his blotter, his eyes running down the notes in the file on his desk. He turned a page with deliberation, and Alex could almost feel Apple’s rising anxiety. He flicked a glance at her and gave an infinitesimal shake of his head. To his relief, she remained silent. The less said the better at this juncture.
The magistrate read through to the end of his notes and then set them aside and looked up. “I believe we have covered all the queries I had, and it does not appear to me that there are grounds for the charge against you to stand, Lord Dymond.”
The outbreak from the bench was inevitable, dissipating the instant relief in Alex’s breast.
“What? You’re letting him go?”
“This is outrageous!”
Both Greenaways were on their feet, and the fellow Jackson at once thundered across the room, intercepting himself between them and the desk.
“No, you don’t!”
Marjorie ducked under his arm. Reaching Apple, she seized her by the elbow, addressing herself to the magistrate before Alex could do anything. “If you won’t throw him in prison, as he deserves, you’ll at least release my brother’s ward back into our charge.”
Apple tried to pull away. “Let me go, Marjorie! I won’t go with you!”
Alex was on his feet. “You see, sir? This is why I wouldn’t let them take her.”
“Miss Greenaway, unhand the girl at once!”
“She’s coming with us!”
“I said unhand her! Jackson!”
The burly minion released Walter, whom he’d been holding back, and took up a threatening stance beside Marjorie. She let go and Apple shot out of her seat and took refuge behind Alex, grabbing onto his coat. He eyed Marjorie with disfavour, but he saw the magistrate take note of Apple’s manoeuvre, brows raised. An explanation was clearly called for.
“Miss Greenaway trusts me to keep her safe, sir. Gave her my word I would do so until she comes of age and is able to take control of her own future.”
“Take control of her future, is it?” Arms akimbo, Marjorie went into the attack. “What sort of future, I should like to know?” She flung a hand in his direction, turning to Justice Armitage. “Ask him what he intends! If she don’t come home with us, a carte blanche is all she’ll be fit for!”
Alex very nearly hit her. “How dare you? Nothing of the kind! She’s been chaperoned throughout. As if I’d so insult her!”
“Will you sit down and be quiet, Miss Greenaway?”
The unexpected thunder from the prissy little magistrate shocked Alex out of his fury, and he was not much surprised to see Marjorie drop into the chair vacated by Apple.
But Walter was swiftly in again, his tone more wheedling than bombastic. “She’s in the right of it, sir. All very well to say Lord Dymond here has had my ward chaperoned. The fact is, no one of our acquaintance will believe it. Only thing is to get her married off as quick as we can.”
The magistrate turned on him. “To this Cumberledge fellow, I take it?”
“Over my dead body!”
Justice Armitage turned his head. “Patience, Lord Dymond, if you please.”
But Alex had had enough. “I’m out of all patience, sir! If you think I’m going to stand here and allow these vultures to claim Apple after all we’ve been through to keep her safe from their schemes, you can think again.”
“And in any event, I won’t go with them,” declared Apple, entering the lists.
The magistrate held up his hands for silence, his tone biting. “I am not concerned with the wishes of anyone present. My interest is purely with the legality of the proceedings.”
The threat of losing Apple at this point drove Alex to throw caution to the winds. “Then I suggest you send for Vergette, sir, if you want legality. Truth is, Apple ain’t this fellow’s ward.”
“Alex!”
Ignoring Apple’s plea, he directed a look of triumph at the vultures. “She ain’t even your cousin. She’s not a Greenaway at all. You’ve no rights over her whatsoever. Put that in your pipe and smoke it!”
Both Greenaways were gazing at him in a dumbfounded fashion, but the magistrate was not similarly affected.
