A Breach of Promise - Anne Perry [56]
“How do you do, Lieutenant Sheldon,” Rathbone said gravely. “It is very good of you to allow me to call upon Miss Latterly in your home and without the slightest warning. I would not have taken such a liberty were it not a matter of urgency to me, and to my present client, who may face ruin if I cannot defend him successfully.”
Gabriel was still overcoming his self-consciousness and sense of vulnerability. This was the first time since his return that he had been faced with a stranger.
“You are welcome,” he said a little hoarsely, then coughed and cleared his throat. “It sounds a most serious matter.” It was not a question. He would not have been so inquisitive.
“I am a barrister,” Rathbone replied, determined to keep a normal conversation going. “And in this have a present case of which I should like a woman’s view. I admit I am utterly confused.”
Gabriel was interested. His eyes were intelligent and direct and Rathbone found himself meeting them very easily, without having to make a deliberate effort to avoid staring at the appalling scar and the lips pulled awry by it.
“Is it a capital case?” Gabriel asked, then instantly apologized. “I’m sorry; I have no business to intrude. Forgive me.”
“Not at all,” Rathbone replied quite spontaneously. “It is serious only in the damages if my client loses, but the offense is relatively slight. It is a suit for breach of promise.”
“Oh!” Gabriel looked surprised and Rathbone felt as if he had disappointed him by dealing with anything so trivial. In comparison with what Gabriel had experienced, which Rathbone had read about only in newspapers, no doubt robbed of much of its horror and detail, a broken romance seemed an insult even to mention. It was certainly painful, but a common affliction of mankind. Surely everyone suffered such disappointment, in some degree or another, if they were capable of love at all?
He looked at Hester to see what she might feel. Would she consider it absurd too?
“Breach of promise?” she said slowly, staring back at him.
Suddenly he was aware of how much of her he did not know. Why had she gone to the Crimea in the beginning? Had someone let her down, just as Melville had Zillah Lambert? Had she felt that humiliation, the laughter of friends, the sense of utter rejection, the whole of her certain and happy world shattered at a blow?
Now, instead of with Melville, his whole sympathy was with Zillah. He saw Hester in her place, and burned with anger for her and with shame for his own clumsiness.
“Yes …” He fumbled for the words to try to mend things. “I think it arises out of misunderstanding rather than intentional callousness. He swears that he did not even ask her to marry him. It was merely assumed. That is the reason I was prepared to accept the case. Now I find I cannot comprehend his motive at all, and I cannot help believing that he is concealing something of the utmost importance, but I have no idea what.”
Athol shook his head. “A man of no honor,” he said, speaking for the first time since they had entered the room. “Once you have given your word you must abide by it, regardless of what you may then wish. A man’s word should bind him for life … even to death, if need be.” He glanced at his brother. “Of course, if circumstances change, then you say so, and offer to set a woman free. That is a different thing.” He frowned at Rathbone. “Was she changed, this woman? Has she had to lie about something? You said she was virtuous, didn’t you? Or did I assume it?”
“So far as I know she is perfectly virtuous,” Rathbone replied. “She seems in every way all that one could wish. And my client swears she has no faults that he is aware of.”
“Then he is a bounder, sir, a complete outsider,” Athol pronounced. “You cannot defend him; he is indefensible. Your clearest duty is to persuade him to honor his promise, with the utmost apology.”
“She would be unlikely to want him now,” Hester pointed out. “I certainly shouldn’t. It might make me feel better to have him offer, but I would most certainly decline.”
“I suggested that,” Rathbone explained.