“Correct.”
“And is it true that the accused was a guest at your home in Kent during September and October of this year?”
“Yes.”
“Why is that, sir? It is my understanding that Lord Hudsyn has an estate in Sevenoaks.”
“Lord Hudsyn has a close relationship with my wife, his cousin, and enjoys spending time with our daughter.”
“Before September, when had you last seen Lord Hudsyn?”
Bastin shifted in his seat. “It had been several months. The visit was overdue.”
“So you didn’t have to coerce him into staying with you?”
“Of course not. Why would I?”
“Because you were concerned that his behavior had become self-destructive. Isn’t that why you traveled to his estate on the tenth of September and brought him back to your estate that same day?”
“I told him my wife wanted to see him, but she wasn’t able to travel due to health concerns if that is what you mean.”
“Did you or your wife have any concerns about Lord Hudsyn’s health—or more specifically—his drinking and anger?”
Bastin hesitated.
“May I remind you that you are under oath, sir,” the Lord High Steward said.
He nodded. “Yes, we had a letter from Mr. Hobsworth, telling us Henry had gone to Sevenoaks and asking if we’d heard from him. We had not, so I went to check on him.”
“In fact, Lord Hudsyn had been in Sevenoaks for six weeks, yet he had not yet contacted you or his cousin with whom you profess he has such a close relationship. True?”
Henry bit the inside of his lip.God forgive me. I behaved like such a fool.
Bastin cleared his throat. “Yes.”
“And when you arrived at Sevenoaks, did you feel your concerns were well-founded?”
“It was clear that he’d been drinking heavily, and he seemed depressed.”
“Did he tell you why he was depressed, sir?”
“No,” Bastin said decisively.
Henry exhaled, thankful that Bastin had omitted the truth to protect Ottilie.
“During his stay at your estate, did you have any conversations with the accused about Lord Craventhorp or Miss Leonard?”
“Only concerning what we’d seen reported in the papers. He said that Craventhorp treated women poorly and he was not surprised that the young lady in question ran off with someone else.”
Whispers erupted amongst the spectators, and the Serjeant at Arms called for silence.
“I think His Grace and my lords will see that Lord Hudsyn had an ongoing rivalry with Lord Craventhorp and that his jealousy turned deadly when he learned of his nemesis making such a good match,” the Attorney General turned to the lords.
“That isn’t what I said,” Bastin exclaimed. “You’re twisting my words!”
“You will remain silent unless asked a question, or face imprisonment, sir,” the Lord High Steward ordered.
“I have nothing further, Your Grace.” The Attorney General said.
