He received a message that Lord Gordon had pressed the church court to convene Stefan’s guardianship hearing on that very day. He had no choice but to rush immediately to the hearing only to discover he had been outmaneuvered by the man. Nessie had warned him that her father had spies in the village. It wasn’t until now that he realized how thoroughly Lord Gordon had prepared.
He watched as Bob Mellin testified that he was unfit to be Stefan’s guardian because he lusted after Anne.
He listened in horror as the vicar supported that statement by saying Daniel had pressed the vicar to immorally annul the union.
He sat in fury as the doctor claimed that he harbored a foreign witch in his home. One that had bespelled him with her lies. As proof he offered the summer cold that he’d suffered and then recovered from due to unnatural means.
Mr. Treglown came last, his jaw swollen purple as he bellowed accusations of witchcraft and ensorcellment.
All while Lord Gordon sat like a fat pig at the trough. The bastard didn’t even try to hide his glee. He was about to have complete control of Stefan and all the boy’s wealth. Because—as everyone said—Daniel was no fit guardian to anyone, much less an earl.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“So you justcame back here?” Bessie’s voice was shrill with shock. She even went so far as to set her teacup back in its saucer.
Li-Na didn’t dare touch her own tea. Her stomach was tight with pain from the last few days. But at Bessie’s hard look, she gave her best answer.
“The steward’s threat was real. The church court was called to determine guardianship of his nephew. Lord Daniel had to go.”
“And he couldn’t protect you while he sat in church court?”
She shook his head. “Mrs. Hocking told me who was called as witnesses. Bob Mellin, the drunkard. He said Lord Daniel suggested his wife do unnatural things. Said he’d learned of them from his travels to China.”
“But he’s never been to China.”
Li-Na nodded. Logic had not appeared to make a difference. “The next witness was the vicar who agreed that Lord Daniel believed women should be able to throw their men out of their homes at will.”
“Some men deserve to be tossed away.”
“The steward said he’d been trusted by Stefan’s father and Daniel until I arrived. He said witchcraft was the only explanation.”
“You’re not a witch. You’ve never even lied! Not once.”
“They do not know that.”
Bessie dipped her chin. “Who else testified?”
“The doctor who said I cursed Lord Daniel. He claimed to have cured his lordship by being immune to me.”
“I don’t trust doctors who won’t listen to a woman. They act as if they’d just invented tending to the sick.”
Li-Na couldn’t argue, but the rationalizations of men had never made sense.
Mrs. Dove-Lyon poured herself more tea. “What other evidence do they have?”
“I am supposed to have cursed the younger child Joseph.”
“You didn’t even know the boy!”
“I’ve met him and played with him. They say I charmed him with my magical powers.”
“Poppycock. I assume you were nice to the boy.”
“He’s a sweet boy. Most of the time.”
Meanwhile, Mrs. Dove-Lyon pursed her lips in disgust. “So, you are to blame for every ill in Cornwall. What has that to do with the guardianship of the boy?”
“A man who has been charmed by a witch cannot be guardian to an earl. That’s what Mrs. Hocking said as she put me on the post.”
