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Cecil’s legal counsel stood as well. “It is our belief that compulsive lying is part of a more complicated mental state. Her ability to convince those around her that she is sweet and innocent when she is likely plotting them out of their life savings as we speak.”

“We are not here for you to suppose what she may or may not do in the future. You have no such proof,” the magistrate stated.

“Let me assure the court that Lady Rose has not once asked for a penny from this family. If anything, she has added to their happiness,” Barlow stated.

“This is all very strange, Lord Brookhaven,” the judge said. “If the lady is independent of you and under the protection of the Duke of Warrington, why do you not simply cut her loose?”

“She is my sister. And whether or not she believes it, I love her and just want what is best for her.”

“It does not sound that way. It sounds like you wish to have control of her money and have her committed. Yet there is no proof that she has either lied or taken money, her finances seem in good shape, and there is no record of reckless spending that I can see from the evidence presented to me in this court today. My daughter has spent more on ribbons this season than Lady Rose has.” This made the crowd laugh.

“That is because she is taking money from the duke. Why should she spend her own coin when she can spend his?” The crowd gasped.

Barlow stood. “Your Honor, this defamation of the lady’s character is becoming detestable.”

“I agree.” The magistrate turned to Cecil, then. “Lord Brookhaven, you have twenty-four hours to come up with some credible evidence as to the lady’s crimes or else I will throw out this case.”

“I have statements from the servants at Brookhaven,” he yelled in desperation.

“Then let me see them.”

“They are here.” His slimy barrister trotted forward and gave them to the magistrate.

“I will look these over and your evidence too,” he said toward Barlow.

“I have it all right here, Your Honor.” Barlow stepped forward and handed over the package. “As soon as the house ledger is delivered, I will send it straight over.”

The magistrate nodded curtly. “I will look these over and we will adjourn until nine a.m. tomorrow.” He banged his gavel again and disappeared through the door behind him.

“You will pay for this, sister dear,” Cecil snarled.

“The truth always comes out, dear brother,” Rose replied.

He stalked away, and Rose took a deep breath before turning towards her entourage, her heart still hammering in her chest. “That was awful. And everyone is looking at me. Do you think they believe Cecil’s lies?”

“Certainly not. I do not think the magistrate does either.” Edward took her hand and helped her from her chair. She felt weak and unsteady, but Edward’s presence was reassuring. “Thank you for all being here.” Tears burned her eyes again, and her heart had not yet come back to a normal beat.

Marianne gathered Rose into an embrace. “We will always support you.”

“I am interested in how he got those statements,” Barlow said. “When we went to Brookhaven, they said he had not been there in months and that, in fact, he had left the day after you did. He dismissed half the staff and did not give them references. Thankfully, your father had organized for them to be done before his death,” Barlow said.

“Yes. I wrote them out myself. He had threatened so many times that we thought it prudent to do so, just in case.”

Barlow removed his wig. “We were able to track them down and get their statements, but it begs the question: Did he do the same and simply coerce them to write other statements? If he has, then it would cancel both statements and we could not use them as evidence. We know all the staff’s names from the household accounts. That is how we knew he had not paid the remaining staff. So, if he has made up staff names, at least the judge will notice. We should have taken the house ledger then, but I had not thought it necessary at the time.”

“I’m surprised they were still there considering they had not been paid in months,” Marianne said.

Barlow nodded. “I believe most of them were preparing to leave.”

Marianne took Rose’s arm as they left the courtroom, and she was glad of the support, as her stomach was still churning with anxiety and embarrassment.

“That would be a surprise to come home to, I’m sure, but perhaps he does not care and simply wants to stay in London from now on,” Tony put in.

“If he does, he will find the off season to be very dull,” Edward put in.

“If you will excuse me, everyone, I will leave you here,” Mr. Barlow said with a bow.

“Thank you, Mr. Barlow. I am so happy to have you on my side.”