Chapter 188

Moments later, the front door opened again.

A portly man stepped outside and paused at the top of the steps, glancing in either direction before descending. His furtive movements showed that he was anxious to avoid being seen.

He hurried towards the carriage, exchanged a few words with the coachman, then stopped beside the door and knocked.

"Let him in," she instructed.

Sebastian reached over and pushed the door open.

The butler hastily climbed inside.

"Your Grace." He greeted politely with a respectful dip of his head before taking a seat beside Henshaw.

He remained outwardly calm, though the wary glances he cast through the carriage window suggested he was well aware of the risk he was taking.

Ignoring the confusion on Henshaw’s face, Cassandra looked at the butler expectantly.

"Well, sir, I trust you have not kept us waiting merely to tell us nothing of consequence."

The butler shook his head. "What I have to tell you will be of considerable consequence, Your Grace."

She gestured for him to carry on. "Then please, do go on."

He drew a breath and began to recount the conversation he had overheard between Nathaniel and Harland.

He described how the magistrate intended to continue delaying the proceedings until Cassandra became frustrated enough to abandon the case entirely.

He recounted how Nathaniel intended to ruin Cassandra’s credibility so no one believed a word she said.

The butler was describing a deliberate effort to obstruct the case and undermine her efforts. The first was a crime in itself.

If her father’s purpose in all this had been to prevent her from bringing his misdeeds before the public, then she would do precisely what he had sought to prevent. She would ensure that the scrutiny he so desperately wished to avoid became impossible to escape.

She would not content herself with spreading rumours he could dismiss as spiteful gossip, but would take her accusations to a quarter where they could not be so easily disregarded. She would bring the matter before the press, ensuring that his conduct was laid bare for the public to judge and that even those inclined to doubt her would find it difficult to turn a blind eye to the scandal.

In the end, his biggest mistake would be underestimating her.

"And did you hear anything else?" Sebastian asked.

"Yes, sir." The Butler nodded. "Lord Ashford spoke of compensating the magistrate for his assistance. I cannot tell you how he intends to do that, but his words gave me reason to believe that Harland expected something in return for what he was doing."

Since the magistrate was already a man of considerable means, his reward would likely come in the form of favors he could call upon whenever the need arose.

Mr. Henshaw leaned forward slightly, mind working to process all this new information. "You heard this conversation yourself?" His question was directed at the butler.

"I did," came the butler’s calm reply. "I was close enough to hear them clearly."

"Would you be willing to give a formal account of what you heard?"

The butler hesitated briefly before nodding. "Yes, sir. I understand the risks, but I am willing to testify to what I heard."

Mr. Henshaw was pleased by the man’s response, his earlier caution and skepticism melting. "Your testimony will need to be documented properly. We must distinguish what you heard directly from what you inferred, and your account will need to withstand scrutiny. But if you are prepared to testify, this gives us grounds to request a formal inquiry into Harland’s conduct."

Nothing in the world could compare to the feeling of satisfaction Cassandra felt right then.

The visit yielded more fruits than she anticipated. It had provided a credible account of the very misconduct Cassandra had been trying to expose.

"What happens next?" she asked Henshaw.

"I will report what we have learned and seek a review of Harland’s handling of the case," Mr. Henshaw replied. "Given the circumstances, I shall recommend that the case be placed before another magistrate while his conduct is examined. The appropriate authority will have to determine the next steps."

"What of his previous cases? We already have grounds to question his impartiality. Who is to say that his judgment was not similarly influenced in those matters?"

"That will depend upon the findings of the inquiry. If there is reason to believe his poor conduct extends beyond this matter, then those cases may warrant reexamination as well." He explained. "We must proceed carefully, Your Grace, but I see no reason to ignore evidence of deliberate interference. Rest assured that justice will be served."

Cassandra inclined her head. "That is all I ask." To the butler, she said, "you have my gratitude, sir. I understand that coming forward was not a simple decision."

"I could not remain silent after hearing the injustice being done, Your Grace."

"I shall ensure that your testimony is handled with the care it deserves."

***

The moment Nathaniel returned to Ashford House, he headed straight for his study. He went directly to the hidden compartment, which remained locked at all times, and unlocked it before rummaging through the documents stored within.

He sifted through stacks of papers and bundles of correspondence, searching for the records he had kept hidden from prying eyes.

It was only after several minutes of searching that he realised some of the documents were missing.

Nathaniel went unnaturally still as the realization dawned on him. So still, he was barely breathing. His attention was fixed on the disordered contents. He had never noticed any sign that his study had been tampered with, much less that anything had been moved from its place.

It seemed that his daughter was not the only problem he had to contend with. There was also a thief in his home.

Someone had gained access to his study and stolen documents from a compartment that was supposed to be secure. Documents that could be used against him.

The question was, who did it, and where were they now?