A Most Delicate Pursuit (24 page)

Bea watched her leave the room, and swore she hissed at Michael as she passed him.

Fisk turned to his opponent. “Next witness, Lord Kendall?”

“I call Lady Bladen, sir.”

The next thing she knew, Bea was escorted to the witness box and sworn in. Her stomach in knots, it was all she could do to keep herself calm.

“Lady Bladen, is it true that you had been compelled to marry Mr. Bainbridge by your legal guardian?”

“My mother's cousin had arranged for me to marry him, yes.”

“And you disobeyed him and refused to do so?”

“I didn't love him. And, His Grace, the Duke of Summerton, had been appointed my guardian for two years. He felt that Mr. Bainbridge was unsuitable for marriage and asked Lord Bladen to take me to a safer place until he could challenge Mr. Bainbridge's claim on me.”

“So you ran away.”

“I did.”

“And then you married Lord Bladen?”

“Yes.”

“Do you love Lord Bladen?”

“I've been fond of him since we first met, but now that I know him better, I have fallen deeply in love with him.”

“That wasn't the question. Did you agree to marry Lord Bladen in order to avoid marriage to the deceased?”

“I told you. I loved him.”

“Lady Bladen, beg pardon, but I don't think you're telling the truth. Had you refused Lord Bladen's proposal of marriage at any time since you've known him?”

“Yes. I've refused many others as well.”

“But it seems that you only married him to avoid the lawful marriage to Mr. Bainbridge.”

“That's not true…”

“No more questions, Your Honor.”

Curryington turned to Mr. Fisk. “Have you any questions for this witness?”

“Only one, Your Honor.”

“Then proceed.”

“Very good, sir.” Fisk sat back in his seat, crossed his arms, and smiled at her. “Lady Bladen, I ask, do you love your husband?”

“With all my heart.”

“And, to the best of your knowledge, does he love you?”

“Yes. I believe he does.”

Fisk's smile widened. “No more questions, Your Honor.”

Worn to the very last of his patience, it was all Michael could do to remain calm. After seeing first Constance and then Beatrice testify, he wanted nothing more than to rage at everyone in the room.

The rear door opened and three men entered. His stomach sank like a stone when he realized who they were.

They were the blackguards who'd stood with Bainbridge during the duel.

“Gentlemen.” Kendall motioned the first one forward.

“State your name and occupation.”

A tall, thin man, who looked to have had more than his share of rough drink, sat hunched over in the tiny chair. “Name's Bradly Togger, sir. I was in Mr. Bainbridge's employ until the night that bugger took his life.”

The room exploded around them and Michael sat stunned, for the first time realizing what sort of trouble he was really in.

The judge quieted the room once again and then motioned for the man to continue.

“He ambushed Mr. Bainbridge, right enough. And then, when it was clear he was trapped, that blighter challenged him to a duel. But it was murder, I tell you, murder. His nibs is a better shot than Mr. Bainbridge.”

He went on to detail the duel and Michael's threat to all others who might cross him. And how Bea, who had willingly come with Sir Richard, laughed at the man's death and left with the earl.

The next two men's testimony was no different.

When Ash was called to testify, Kendall stated he had no questions.

Michael applauded him for that. To cross a duke could be a dangerous thing. It could be his downright ruination to question one who was as highly decorated a war hero as Ash was.

Mr. Fisk rose to speak.

“Your Grace, how long have you known Lord Bladen?”

“Since we were children.”

“And you served with him in the army, didn't you? During the Spanish campaign?”

“I did.”

“How would you describe Lord Bladen?”

Ash took a deep breath and looked across the courtroom before speaking. “He's a true and loyal friend. He risked his life for king and country in Spain. Then, when he came home, he's led a straight, upstanding life. He's had a few dalliances, but none more than many of the young bucks about town. A most sensitive man, he can't tolerate dishonor, whether involving a fellow soldier or a helpless young woman. It matters little to him. He will defend those in need to his last breath.”

“And, in this altercation, he was risking his life once again?”

“He was indeed. On their trip south, their carriage was set upon and Lord Bladen and his wife barely escaped with their lives.”

“Your Grace, what is your relationship to Lady Bladen?”

“She's my sister-in-law. After my marriage, her mother's cousin, Lord Alfred Danbury, and I had an arrangement. Because of his own limited financial stability, I convinced him to sign over her guardianship to me. It had remained so for two years.”

“What happened then?”

“Mr. Bainbridge arrived at Summerton wielding documents stating that Danbury had reclaimed his niece's guardianship and had subsequently arranged a marriage between Lady Bladen, then Miss Hawkins, and Mr. Bainbridge.”

“An arrangement to which you and Lord Bladen both objected?”

“We did. He threatened me, of course, saying that he was going to take me to court and force us to allow him to marry her.”

“So you acted first.”

Ash nodded. “I did. I asked Lord Bladen to take my sister-in-law to Hampshire until I could challenge Bainbridge's claim. Since the two of them had been friends for years, during their time together, they fell in love and were most anxious to be married right away. With the help of my aunt, the Dowager Duchess of Summerton, I obtained a special license and we held a ceremony shortly thereafter.”

“And what happened after the wedding?”

“My wife and I returned to London, only to be summoned a short time later. Lady Bladen had been abducted and his lordship attacked. I immediately returned to Hampshire and, with the help of two of my friends, managed to find Lord Bladen. We attempted to rescue Lady Bladen, but Mr. Bainbridge and his men took up arms against us and managed to escape. From there, Lord Bladen and I followed them to the cove where he later confronted Bainbridge.”

“You didn't stay with Lord Bladen to help him rescue Lady Bladen. Why not?”

“Because in our search for Lady Bladen, we learned that Mr. Bainbridge was operating a smuggling operation. We both felt it was my duty to return to London and inform the authorities at once. Which I did.”

“And the smugglers?”

Ash smiled. “I believe they have been caught and are now awaiting prosecution. In fact, several of them have given signed statements that implicate Mr. Bainbridge's involvement and subsequent plans to sell a shipment of stolen firearms on the open market.”

“So, Mr. Bainbridge was not the sort of man you'd want forcing a beloved family member into marriage.”

“He was a liar, a thief, a smuggler, and a traitor. He was also implicated in the deaths of his former wives. No, sir, I most certainly did not want to see him married to my sister-in-law.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

At long last, Michael was called to speak. He could have refused, but after all the testimony he'd heard, he knew he had to plead his case.

After the swearing in, he stood facing the barrister. The man had been positively rude and Michael meant to chastise him for it.

“Lord Bladen, it's been said that you've been involved with four duels prior to the one for which you are being tried, have you not?”

“I have. But it was more a challenge of one's shooting expertise, as rarely did anyone suffer more than a scratch.”

“Sir, I implore you to only answer the questions asked, without further embellishment.”

“That's very nice of you to implore.”

The other man clamped his jaw and turned a bit red-faced. “The question, my lord, is regarding your illegal dueling.”

“Yes, of course. I've done so, but only on the field of honor.”

“And was anyone severely injured or killed?”

Michael paused a moment. There was no way he could answer that question without damaging his case.

“Yes.”

“Please name the injuries.”

“The worst was, of course, the death of Mr. Bainbridge, not that he didn't deserve it.”

Several people spoke at once, there were gales of laughter and it took a full five minutes before the barrister could be heard again.

“My lord, please answer the question without further remarks.”

Michael gave him a smirk. “Of course.” Michael decided to play the fool. “What was the question again?”

“What other injuries have you caused. Surely you're a superior marksman.”

“I am. But there are a lot of things that can determine success of one's shot. The wind, for instance, the time of day…”

“The question, sir,” the other man demanded.

“I believe one gentleman suffered injuries to his arm and shoulder, another one his leg.”

“My lord, aren't you forgetting something?”

Michael did not want to take this further. “Am I?”

The other man clearly was beyond his patience. “Your eye, Lord Bladen. You lost your eye.”

“Ah, yes. Now, that was an accident. My challenger had very little skill at dueling, a fact that I regret very much. He fired and his shot went awry. A piece of shrapnel struck my eye.”

“In summation, Lord Bladen, you have killed, maimed, and even injured yourself in the course of your illegal activities.”

“Yes, I have.”

“Now, in regards to your involvement with Mr. Bainbridge…”

“I beg your pardon, but I only had one involvement with that blackguard. When I'd rescued my wife and he meant to kill me to get her back. Then, and only then, did I challenge him to a duel, the outcome of which everyone here is aware of.”

“You had no business dealings with him?”

“None.”

“You did not take part in his smuggling operations?”

Michael leaned forward, suddenly seeing where this line of questioning was going. “I had nothing whatsoever to do with that man, except for the rescue of my wife.”

The barrister turned to address the peers. “No further questions.”

Fisk jumped to his feet. “Just a few more questions, my lord, though I know you detest having legal counsel.”

“I do, but go on.”

“Thank you, sir. Now, for every one of the aforementioned duels, did you have good reasons for engaging in these contests?”

“I thought so at the time.”

“Would you please share them with the court?”

“I'd rather not.”

Another bout of laughter went around the room.

Fisk smiled and nodded. “I understand, but since you are paying me quite a sum to represent you, perhaps you should follow my advice and do so.”

Michael sighed. There really was no getting around it. “The fact is, sir, that I'm a soldier. As such, I feel it my duty to protect those who can't defend themselves. So, every time I was at a function and a young lady's honor was maligned, I felt it was my duty to defend them. I did so with as much caution as I could spare, but when you are the target of a pistol, you do your best to avoid getting shot. So, minimizing my attack on others meant that they may have been scratched, but not mortally so.”

“So, is that your explanation for engaging Mr. Bainbridge?”

“It is not. I proposed a duel because I knew he was quite arrogant about his superior abilities and because I knew I could best him.”

“Were you defending someone's honor that time?”

“As I've said, I was defending my wife. Her life was in danger.”

“Please explain.”

“He was a widower three times over. I'd heard reports that he treated his wives terribly and that they all died under suspicious circumstances.”

“So it wasn't merely jealousy you had for Mr. Bainbridge?”

“No, it was not. I love my wife and I meant to save her, even if it meant sacrificing my life in the balance.”

Fisk leaned forward. “My lord, do you love your wife?”

“With every draw of my breath and with every beat of my heart.”

Michael heard a quiet sob and looked to see Beatrice's head bent; she was holding her handkerchief to her face.

“Thank you, my lord.”

And that had been the whole of it. Both attorneys argued their case, one accusing him, the other praising him.

The following morning, Michael was brought back to the courtroom for the judgment to be read. Once again the room was filled beyond capacity with excited onlookers. He paid them no mind, instead his attention going only to where Beatrice sat. Leaning forward, hands clenched, she was clearly distraught.

He meant to send her a reassuring look, but he knew it would do no good to offer her false hope. Instead, he only nodded in her direction and decided to look on her no more until the verdict was read.

Once everyone was in place, the bailiff called everyone to order. Excited whispers whirred around the room, accusations and explanation tossed about.

“Lord Bladen,” the duke of Curryington shouted above the din, “the following has been decided by a jury of your peers. In the first charge, you are judged guilty of unlawful dueling. To that the court sentences you to a fine to be disclosed at a later time and recognizes your imprisonment in the Tower. To the charge of murder, you have been judged not guilty.”

In turn, each member of the peerage stood and echoed the verdict. Every one of them had judged him not guilty of murder.

Michael let out a breath and heard Ash's cheer behind him.

Curryington sat back and crossed his arms. “Lord Bladen, I don't want to ever see you brought before us again with the complaint of dueling, or I will have no choice but to see you prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Is that understood?”

“I promise, Your Honor. My days of dueling are at an end.”

“See that they are, sir. See that they are.”

The room burst into cheers around him.

Michael turned to face the gallery. In the next moment, Ash was beside him grasping his hand and shaking it with vigor. Beatrice ran into his arms. Pulling her close, he kissed her, deeply and passionately. Her touch was like heaven, her embrace a calm to his stormy life; her kiss was a balm to his soul.

“Let's go home,” she said when they'd broken their kiss.

He could see delicate tears sliding down her face and the slight trembling of her chin. It cut him to the marrow because of what he now intended to do.

Ash cleared his throat. “I want you both to come to Summerton for a few days. Amelia and Caro insist on spoiling you.”

Michael barely heard his words. “Of course”—he kissed Beatrice again—“that is, if my lady approves.”

“I do approve,” she told him. “The sooner, the better. I hope to never see this place again.”

“Nor do I, my love. Nor do I.”

Bea and Michael shared a carriage back to Summerton with Ash and Caro, laughing and enjoying each other's company. In spite of his good cheer, Bea couldn't help but feel that something was still bothering her husband. He seemed a bit subdued, and at first she thought it might have been the results of his imprisonment and the trial, for when the conversation veered away from him, Bea saw his expression cloud his eye and a hint of sadness in the set of his mouth. Or perhaps all he needed was feeding up and a few nights' rest.

“So, my friend,” Ash asked, “are the two of you still set on traveling abroad?”

Michael looked at Bea and his heart swelled in his chest. He'd pledged to love, honor, and care for her and he would do so to his very last breath.

“Whatever my lady wishes.”