For Myself Alone: A Jane Austen Inspired Novel (15 page)

…Could you have imagined that it would come to this? I could not. It is inconceivable to me that I should be put in this compromised position by the scheming of persons whom we called our friends, by the collusion of the man who still claims to be in love with me. Papa soon leaves for London to seek out a solicitor who can advise us in the matter, and I hope to persuade him to take me along. We shall not be away more than a few days, however, so do come as soon as you can, Susan. I need my true friends about me now more than ever.

26

In London

My father at first objects to the idea that I should accompany him on his London undertaking, sighting the difficulties of travel and the disagreeable nature of the mission as reasons to spare me that inconvenience. “You had much better stay at home and let me handle this,” he says.

“No, sir, I strongly disagree. I got myself into this muddle; it is my responsibility to discover the best way out. As you said before, it is my decision to make since I am of age. And you cannot dispute the fact that I am the only person in a position to give the solicitor a full account of what transpired in Bath. Besides, I had much rather be doing something useful than idly waiting at home. I am quite determined to go, Papa, and I promise I can bear whatever unpleasantness it entails.”

Allowing the justice of my arguments, Papa ultimately relents.

I have been to London several times before to see my great aunt Augusta, a very formidable woman. This trip promises to be no more a pleasure scheme than those visits. It will be strictly business – no social calls, shopping, or excursions. We are to consult on our legal affairs with Mr. Gerber in Freeman Court, and then return home directly, which suits me perfectly well. I am in no humor for frivolity, and I do not care to be very long away from Agnes, whose spirits are still occasionally depressed. Fred’s offer to look in on her whilst I am gone has relieved my mind considerably on that score, however.

It is my father’s idea that Mr. Pittman should accompany us, in the hope that our solicitor might be able to help him as well, or recommend someone else who can. So we three travel together, and it is a comfortable if not lively party.

We arrive in London quite late and are met by Mr. Ramsey, to whom we sent word of our plans. Due to his familiarity with the part of town which concerns us, he engaged to arrange suitable lodgings for us there. After being introduced to Mr. Pittman and escorting us to the inn, he joins us for a light repast. It is very good to see him again, and I say so.

“I only wish we could have been brought together by more pleasant circumstances,” he tells us in response. “The need for legal services is rarely a happy event, but you will be in good hands with Mr. Gerber.”

“You know the man, then?” I ask.

“Oh, yes. He was my father’s solicitor briefly, and he has proved himself a great friend and mentor to me since I began my study of the law. I believe you will find him an honorable as well as a clever man.”

“Excellent. Yes, this is most encouraging,” says my father. “Two recommendations are always more reassuring than one, especially where matters of consequence are concerned.”

“I venture to say that Mr. Gerber will be able to advise you on any manner of problem.”

“You have come to our aid as well, Mr. Ramsey,” I say. “We are so grateful.”

Papa adds, “Yes, do allow me to show my appreciation, Mr. Ramsey. Join us here for dinner tomorrow, if you will.”

“Thank you, sir. You are very kind, but regrettably, I must decline. I keep terms at Lincoln’s Inn, and I am required to dine there nearly every day. My holiday in Bath has put me somewhat in arrears with my studies as it is. I must keep my shoulder to the wheel from now on, for I am determined to make a success of it – for myself and for the sake of another who depends on me.”

Before he takes leave, Mr. Ramsey wishes us success in our discussions with Mr. Gerber and promises to look in on us again in a day or two.

That night in my bed, as I wait for sleep to overtake me, I consider what the morrow may bring. From what we have been told, I have no doubt that Mr. Gerber is a highly competent man. But will he be sympathetic to my cause? My father has cautioned that there may be unpleasantness involved in the interview. Yet, in an odd sort of way, I look forward to the meeting since it will offer me the first chance to take a positive step in my own defense. The novel prospect of having a look inside the legal system appeals to me as well, although I believe I would much rather learn about judicial process in a less personal way.

~~*~~

Freeman Court stands not far from our temporary lodgings. When Papa, Mr. Pittman, and I present ourselves at the offices of Messrs. Gerber and Cobb the next morning at the appointed time, the clerk ushers us into Mr. Gerber’s chamber.

“Thaddeus James Gerber at your service,” announces the well-dressed gentleman rising from behind a desk piled with musty books of every description.

As introductions and opening pleasantries are passed all round, I eye the solicitor with uncommon interest. He is a spare man not yet in the prime of life – in his early thirties, I estimate – with a premature hint of silver distinguishing his temples. In contrast to my nervousness, he is completely at his ease, which immediately inspires confidence. His manner bespeaks a serious, business-like attitude, yet his face is not devoid of warmth, I note. Watching him, I soon believe that if I must reveal my most personal thoughts and actions to a stranger, I can trust them to Mr. Gerber with more security than to most anyone else.

“Now, Mr. Pittman, follow me next door and allow me to introduce you to my associate, Mr. Cobb,” he says. “I have arranged for you to meet with him whilst I confer with the Walkers. He is a capital fellow and precisely the one to best advise a man in your situation. Will you excuse me a moment, Mr. Walker, Miss Walker?”

Once by ourselves, Papa whispers, “Well, what do you think of Mr. Gerber, my dear?”

“Not that first impressions are always reliable, but I am already disposed to think well of him. There is a certain wisdom and dignity in his countenance, and he speaks with appealing straightforwardness.”

“Just so. I believe we are in good hands, as Mr. Ramsey said.”

Mr. Gerber returns. “Now then, your friend is settled with Mr. Cobb, so let us begin. I understand this concerns a threatened breach-of-marriage-contract suit, an area of the law in which I have considerable experience. Miss Walker, if you are comfortable, I should like to hear your story from the beginning. Tell me how you met your betrothed, how your engagement was formed, and why you wish to break it off. I also need to know about your financial situation, which has apparently made you an attractive target for a lawsuit. Please make your account as complete and accurate as possible – no editorializing or demurrers. If I am to help you, I must know all the facts.”

After a few moments to collect my thoughts, I start by telling him about my inheritance, which seems both the most logical and least perilous place to begin, since I know I can speak on that topic without excessive emotion. My father then presses my hand as if to give me courage to move on to the more sensitive subject of Richard. As I do so, Mr. Gerber listens attentively but unobtrusively, jotting down a few notes, nodding in understanding, and only occasionally asking for a point of clarification before bidding me to continue. When I am at last finished, I blot the dampness from my eyes and look up. “I believe that is all, sir, except that I think it grossly unfair that the law may choose to punish me when I am not the one who behaved dishonorably in this business. Pardon me if I am too blunt.”

“You must forgive my daughter’s outspokenness, Mr. Gerber. Naturally, she is a little overwrought by circumstances.”

“No apology is necessary. I like the fact that you speak your mind, Miss Walker; you may certainly feel free to do so with me. I quite agree with you, by the way. The law can be an ill-mannered beast at times, but we must do the best we can with it. It is my job to see that, in the end, it does you no harm.”

“Then, sir, you do agree to advise us?” my father inquires.

“Yes, for as long as you desire of my services. I must tell you, though, my style is very direct. I find it saves time, and it is the only way I know to go about my business. I hope that will be agreeable to you, Miss Walker.” I nod. “Good. I felt sure that you would neither appreciate nor require coddling. I suggest we continue our discussion here tomorrow at this same time. I wish to give the matter more thorough study before I render an opinion on how we should proceed.”

“Very good, sir. Until tomorrow, then,” says Papa.

We take our leave of Mr. Gerber and find our friend waiting in the outer office, his business with Mr. Cobb already concluded. Mr. Pittman looks more cheerful than he has since his financial woes began. On the ride back to the lodging house, he speaks with guarded optimism about what the solicitor said of the possibility of recovering his property.

“…The upshot is that Mr. Cobb has promised to look into the matter for me. He says I must not let my hopes soar too high, but he thinks there is a reasonable chance that the villains who cheated me can be forced to make some restitution.”

“That is good news indeed, old friend,” Papa agrees. “I was sure there must be some legal recourse available to you. The culprits should not be allowed to get away with their booty uncontested. Let us hope Mr. Cobb is the man to give them a proper run for their money.”

~~*~~

The next day, my father and I return to Freeman Court to hear Mr. Gerber’s considered opinion. He wastes very little time coming to the point.

“To begin, Miss Walker, I must say that I believe sufficient grounds exist for bringing a suit of non-performance of a marriage contract against you. Or, I should say, they will exist if you fail to appear for your wedding on the appointed date. There is abundant evidence to show that a valid engagement was established between you and Mr. Richard Pierce, so that aspect of the case cannot reasonably be contested.”

This comes as no surprise to me. I nod and he continues.

“However, there are mitigating circumstances which your barrister will argue should the suit ever come to court. For example, the brief duration of the affair weighs in your favor; Mr. Pierce can claim neither excessive monetary investment to be reimbursed, nor substantial hardship for a protracted restriction of his ability to find affection elsewhere. We can also assert that Mr. Pierce committed a fraud by deliberately concealing the true state of his finances from you, which goes to his presumed responsibility to provide for you and your future children.

“In my view, the plaintiff’s barrister will have a ticklish situation on his hands. Should he argue that Mr. Pierce deserves compensation for being disappointed in his expectation of benefiting financially by his marriage to you, then he runs the risk of his client being deemed an unchivalrous cad at best and a calculating fortune hunter at worst. On the other hand, should he claim that the damage is primarily emotional in nature, the danger is that the jury will judge his client weak and unmanly, and a large financial settlement inappropriate. Neither strategy alone guarantees meeting the burden of proof, and the two can hardly be argued together since they tend to contradict each other, if you see what I mean.”

“That makes a deal of sense,” I eagerly agree. “Surely any reasonable person would see the weakness of either argument, as you described.”

“Yes, any
reasonable
person,” Mr. Gerber says. “No doubt Mr. Pierce’s solicitor, if he be a competent man, will acquaint his client with these facts. In addition, it behooves him to remind Mr. Pierce, as I do you,” he says with particular emphasis and a solemn look, “that going to court is to be avoided for two very good reasons.

“First, juries are notoriously unpredictable. They are as likely as not to wholly disregard the logic of the arguments presented, ignore the judge’s directions, and side with the barrister who puts on the best show, awarding either nothing or an excessively large judgment according to their collective whim.” He pauses a moment for that news to make its impression. “And second, win or lose, one who is a party to this sort of suit may well come away dissatisfied. It can be a long, grueling process with costs counted not only in pounds, but in a heavy toll on one’s dignity and peace of mind.”

I shudder at the thought of such a dismal outlook. Seeing my distress, my father takes upon himself the trouble of responding. “Thank you for being so very direct on this point, Mr. Gerber, just as you promised you would be. It is for our benefit that we know these harsh realities in advance, I’m sure. Yet, that being the situation, what can we do about it, sir?”

“I did not say these things to discourage you. On the contrary, these ‘harsh realities,’ as you so aptly termed them, Mr. Walker, may be your strongest allies since they apply in at least equal measure to your adversary. He has as much to lose by a court trial as you do – less in monetary terms, perhaps, but more risk of damaging his family name. Consequently, I am convinced that, should Mr. Pierce continue to pursue the matter, his true goal will be to achieve an acceptable settlement without the pain, expense, and publicity of a trial. Our advantage is that we know it and can plan accordingly.

“At this point, I would advise you against making any response to the threatening letter you have shown me. It would seem that the senior Mr. Pierce is the driving force behind the idea of taking legal action. Yet you are free to ignore his tirades. He has no legal standing in the case. Only his son, as the allegedly injured party, has the right to file a suit. Should he refuse to do so, it will all come to nothing.”

“If only that were possible,” I interject, “but I cannot be so optimistic. I find it difficult to imagine that Richard will have the fortitude to oppose his father in this.”