Page 58 of A Baron's Disguised Lady
“My Lord, I sympathize with you for your loss, and the evidence as it stands does show your sister was poisoned—if DoctorAirdale’s analysis of the dental powder is correct. But Lord Bath’s a powerful man, with many friends in the high offices of the land. I can’t simply accuse him of murder without something more substantial,” the magistrate replied, shaking his head.
“But… can’t you… question him? At the very least, there’s something to be suspicious of. My sister rejected his advances,” Archie exclaimed, but the magistrate shook his head.
“And is every man who finds himself refused capable of committing murder? Nothing in the diary suggests your sister was scared of Lord Bath, and he makes no threats against her person, either. No, My Lord, it’s not enough,” the magistrate replied.
Archie cursed under his breath, but it was just as Lavinia had suspected it to be—there was simply not enough evidence, and no court would convict a man like Lord Bath on such scant assumptions.
“But the cherry laurel! Can’t a search be made for it? Isn’t there some means by which… oh, I don’t know… he might still have it, the poison,” Archie said.
The magistrate glanced at the two constables and sighed.
“Circumstantially, the letter offers motive. It’s enough to raise suspicion, and I could ask for a search to be made of Lord Bath’slodgings. He’s staying in Salisbury, I understand, though his home is in London,” he said.
Archie nodded, a glimmer of hope now appearing in his eyes.
“Yes, that’s right, and that’s where he and my sister met. In Salisbury. Search his lodgings. I know you’ll find what you’re looking for,” he said, and the magistrate thought for a moment, examining the letter again, his eyes narrowing as he spoke.
“I’m willing to conduct a search, but to do so will mean alerting Lord Bath to your suspicions. I can’t be responsible if he decides to take matters further. He may accuse you of slander, My Lord. You need to be prepared for that.
I’m doing this because you have my sympathies over the death of your sister. But if the search reveals nothing… well, I’ll expect you to drop the matter, and make it clear you made no accusation against Lord Bath,” he said.
Lavinia glanced at Archie, willing him to agree to the terms. There was nothing else to be said. The burden of proof lay with them, and they needed something more than the letter to be taken seriously in court. There was no point in arguing further. This was the best offer they would receive.
“Very well. I’m grateful to you for your time,” Archie said, nodding his head curtly.
The magistrate returned the letter to him, giving them all a sympathetic look as he prepared to depart.
“You have my sympathies, as I say, and I’ll do all I can, but I fear the evidence won’t be enough,” he replied.
“Thank you, Sir Andrew. We’re in your debt,” Archie’s mother said, and Archie shook hands with the magistrate, expressing a similar sentiment.
After the officials had left, the previously somber mood descended. If Archie had expected action on the part of the magistrate, he was to be disappointed. It had been just as Lavinia had expected it to be, and now, to her surprise, Archie glared at her.
“Why didn’t you speak up for Gwendolene? I thought you cared about her. Am I the only one who wants to see justice done?” he exclaimed.
Lavinia was quite taken aback by his words. She wanted nothing more than to see justice done for Gwendolene, but it would be no justice at all if an innocent man was to be charged for a murder he did not commit.
Lavinia had no love for Lord Bath, and she was glad to think the suspicion over his involvement in Gwendolene’s death wouldbe enough to ensure her mother and grandfather would no longer pursue a match. But the truth was more important than satisfying Archie’s desire for revenge.
“I did… but… if there’s no proof, how can he be brought before the court? They’d throw the case out. He’d have his lawyer dismiss the whole thing out of hand, and then where would we be?” Lavinia asked.
She said “we” and not “you,” wanting Archie to realize she was still entirely on his side when it came to the matter of discovering the truth about Gwendolene’s death. She did not want him to think she had abandoned the cause—abandoned him. But now, he shook his head, his face flushed with anger.
“Because you want to defend him? Lord Bath? You don’t want him to be guilty. The two of you… yes, that’s why he came here, isn’t it? You’re leading him on… you can’t bear to think of him as a murderer, can you?” Archie said, but Lavinia shook her head.
Tears welled up in her eyes. She could not believe he suspected her of such a terrible thing.
“No… it’s not true. I don’t have any feelings for him,” she exclaimed, glancing at her mother and Horatia, who were watching the unfolding drama in dumbstruck silence.
“My sister denied it, too… she always told me about her suitors. But not him. He cast a spell over her. He prevented her fromtelling anyone. He wanted to possess her. Is it the same with you, Lavinia?” he demanded.
It was as though a red mist had descended. There could be no reasoning with him. Lavinia had never seen him so angry before, and it seemed he was now just as convinced of this as he was of Lord Bath’s involvement in his sister’s death.
“No, how can you say that? I hate him. The things he’s said about me, the way he thinks he can make me his own… I detest him. What I am saying is—”
Archie dismissed her with a wave of his hand.
“I don’t care what you’re saying, Lavinia. I’ve heard enough,” Archie exclaimed, as tears rolled down his cheeks.
