“And did you recognize the name, ‘Leonard’?”
“Of course,” Hobsworth said.
“Were you surprised to hear that Lord Craventhorp was engaged to be married?”
“Extremely, and especially to a woman with such a sizable settlement on her.”
“Did he mention that settlement amount?”
“Eighty thousand pounds.”
A murmur rumbled through the courtroom.
“And is it true that Lord Hudsyn became agitated after hearing this and instigated the fight?”
“I don’t know that he instigated a fight…”
The Attorney General strolled to his bench and picked up a paper. “According to your earlier statement, he became agitated and accused Lord Craventhorp of having ‘no decency,’ correct?”
“Well, he…yes, but—”
“Yes, will suffice. Thank you. Nothing further, sir.” The Attorney General sat down.
Henry clenched his jaw. This was outrageous.
The Clerk of the Crown called for Mr. Upwey to cross-examine the witness, and the barrister stood and stepped forward. “Mr. Hobsworth, how long have you known the accused?”
“Twelve years. We attended Eton and Cambridge together.”
“And do you think this man,” he gestured to Henry, “whom you’ve known since boyhood, capable of murder?”
“Definitely not, sir,”
“Thank you, Mr. Hobsworth. That will be all.”
That will be all?Henry gritted his teeth.Is my barrister incompetent, or is he trying to get me hanged?
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ashes denote that Firewas—
Revere the GrayestPile
For the Departed Creature’ssake
That hovered thereawhile—
—Emily Dickenson,Ashes denote that Firewas
November 16, 1869
Whitstable, Kent
The back ofAnnabel’s head ached. She frowned into the darkness, trying to remember what had happened. They were walking on the beach—her and Nate. She’d recalled the delicious salty air and icy wind on her face. Had it all been a dream that she’d just awoken from? Was it, in fact, only morning now? And was she, then, to face another day locked indoors?
She listened for Nate stoking the fire and making his morning tea and smelled smoke. Her heart sank. She’d been right, it had all been a dream. Struggling out of bed, her head throbbing, she got to her feet and staggered to the door.
The smell of smoke grew thicker; she coughed and reached for the doorknob. It seared her palm. She jerked her hand away. Smoke filled her lungs. She coughed again, staggering away from the door. She fell to her knees, now coughing so hard that it made her retch. Only she had nothing in her stomach to bring up. She coughed until her throat was raw. Her head whirled and she collapsed to the floor.
