Never Land the First Fish

Chapter Twenty-Four, Part 1

As soon as the first toe stepped out of the crested carriage, Jewel sunk into the deepest curtsy she could. She only glared at Gills, leaning against the door jamb, one eyebrow raised at the full complement of servants lined up on both sides of the door.

"It's only Toad and Sal," Gills had said at least three times that morning, as Julia all but tore her hair out to make certain their first stay in their own manor house was exemplary. "They may own the place, but they aren't so fussy as all this."

"They are a duke and duchess come to stay, and they are bringing any number of barristers and enquiry agents who must be convinced of our innocence. We will be as formal as they will allow. And that means you, too, Joseph Gildeforte."

"Pssst, Gills." She tried one last time to force him by will alone, but it had no effect. He inspected his fingernails until Toad jumped out of the carriage and handed out Sally. Once their guests were standing on the drive, he called out, "Ho, there, Wellbridge, come in and have a drink while the women sort out the baggage."

"Gills. Well met. A drink would be welcome but let me get Sally settled and get the duking out of the way. Give me half an hour."

"I can't believe you are so rude as to not even greet me, Joseph Gildeforte," Sally complained.

Crossing to meet them with Julia, kissing Sally's hand, he answered, "Come now, Sal, I just didn't want to get caught up in all the ceremony. I told Julia not to make a production of things." Sally's indulgent smile was all the proof Julia needed that there was something indecent in the way Gills kissed hands. She hadn't imagined it.

Toad was bowing over Lady Coventon's hand and exchanging greetings with Gills' brother. "I'm sure I am delighted to know Brickdale is in capable hands," Toad said. Whether he meant the Coventons, Julia, the dozen servants, or the two dozen armed guards, Julia didn't know. Gesturing at the second carriage turning in the drive, Toad added, "You'll want to meet your barristers, I expect, and the enquiry agents we've engaged. They certainly have questions for you."

At that, Gills turned a little green, and Julia just met his gaze with a smug smile. Sally looked on with an air of sympathy, while Toad inspected his fingernails, one eyebrow raised.

Five men emerged from the second carriage and came forward to be presented. First was a middle-aged gentleman dressed in all in black but for his white shirt and flashes of silver in his tie pin and the embroidery on his waistcoat. "I give you Sir Thomas Bennett, Lady Julia, your barrister," Toad said.

"Charmed," said Sir Thomas, with a shallow bow. The slightly younger man also in black, but with touches of flamboyant scarlet in his waistcoat and jewellery, was introduced as Gills' barrister, Mr Simon Rutledge.

Next came the solicitor, a skinny fellow in brown, who took one searching look at Julia and muttered, "Oh, dear. You did not tell me she was a beauty. Oh, dear. This is not good at all."

"Calm yourself, my dear Mr Williams," Sir Thomas soothed. "Grieving widow, beautiful and young. I will turn it to good account, I assure you."

The fourth man was from Wakefield and Wakefield and was presented as David Wakefield. The fifth man was not introduced. From his clothing, the lap desk he carried, and the hunted expression he cast at Williams, he was the solicitor's clerk.

"Let the Inquisition begin," Gills said, flippantly. "Have you brought thumbscrews?" Julia glared at him.

In the event, they were questioned separately and then together, neither with thumbscrews: Gills alone with his barrister and Mr Wakefield, Julia with her barrister, the solicitor, and his clerk, and then the rooms exchanged so that Julia faced an interrogation from Wakefield and a barrage of hostile questions from Mr Rutledge.