Chapter 8
"Please take a seat," the judge said, after he entered the courtroom. "Now, Count Williamson is accused of lechery. How does he plead?"
Marius stood from his seat. Behind him was Eponine, who had gone to every case he had ever been on, except when she had been pregnant. Cosette sat a few seats away right behind her husband. The Count looked up at his lawyer as Marius drew breath to speak.
"Your Honor, we plead not guilty."
"Very well. Does the prosecution have a witness?"
"We do," said the lawyer who was defending the young woman. "We call Cynthia Rye to the stand."
As the pregnant woman approached the stand and placed her hand over the bible, Marius turned to the Count. "What was her job at the hotel?"
"She was working in the restaurant. She brought me a cup of coffee, and I never saw her again."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive."
"Mademoiselle Rye, you claim that the defendant, Count Williamson, committed the crime of adultery, and as a result, you became pregnant. Is all this true?"
"Yes."
"What was your job in the hotel?"
"I cleaned the rooms while the guests were out."
"Did you clean the Count's room?"
"Yes, everyday around 12 PM when he left the hotel."
"Now, the Count stayed at the hotel from Sunday the 4 of February until the following Sunday morning, is that correct?"
"Yes, it is."
"You claim that on the night of February 9, the Count and yourself committed the act of lechery."
The girl began to cry. "Yes, we did."
"And then you didn't come to work for the next two days."
"Yes, I took two personal days."
"Why is that?"
"I couldn't face him again."
"When did you find out that you were carrying a child?"
"About a month later. And that's when I filed my claim."
"Mademoiselle, is it possible that any other man could have been the father?"
"No."
"You have no husband? No fiance?"
"No."
"Thank you. No further questions."
Marius stood to cross-examine the woman. "Mademoiselle, is it true that you worked in the hotel restaurant?"
"Yes."
"Then why were you cleaning the rooms the week Count Williamson stayed at the hotel?"
"One of the other workers was sick that week, and I took over for her."
"No further questions."
The Judge turned to the lawyer defending Mademoiselle Rye. "Do you have any other witnesses?"
"No, your Honor. No further witnesses."
"Monsieur Pontmercy, are there any witnesses for the defense?"
"Yes, your Honor. The defense calls Count Arthur Williamson to the stand." After the Count had sworn on the Bible, Marius approached. "Count Williamson, how long have you been married to the Countess?"
"For ten years," said the Count, looking at Cosette.
"And, would you ever have any reason to commit the crime you are accused of?"
"No."
"What was your purpose in Paris from the 4th to the 11th of February, Count Williamson?"
"A factory I own was being built, and I was there to oversee the construction."
"And during that entire week, you went only to the construction site, the hotel, and the short distance it took to get from the one to the other."
"Correct."
"Now, when you saw Mademoiselle Rye, what was she doing?"
"She was serving me a cup of coffee in the restaurant."
"And when was this?"
"Mid-morning on February..."
Suddenly, Mademoiselle Rye screamed in pain and dropped to the floor. Instantly, Eponine ran to her side and Marius came up next to her.
"What's wrong?"
"She's going to deliver."
"The baby? Now?"
"Yes, Marius, right now."
"Your Honor, this woman is going to have her child."
"Court is adjourned until tomorrow morning at 9 AM. Everyone out now! Please take Count Williamson back. Madame Pontmercy, you may take her into my chambers. The rest of you are to stay here."
************************************************************************
Three hours later, Eponine came out of the Judge's chambers. Both lawyers, the Judge, and Cosette came up to her.
"She delivered a baby boy. He's healthy and there's nothing wrong with him."
"I'll call a cab to take her to the hospital. I'm afraid we'll have to continue the case tomorrow, regardless of whether or not she'll be able to make it."
The lawyer and the Judge left the room, and Marius turned to Eponine. "Is the baby premature?"
"No. He's one of the biggest babies I've ever delivered."
Marius kissed his wife on the forehead. "'Ponine, you just solved my case."
************************************************************************
"Your Honor, the defense calls Serge Case to the stand." A tall, blond, middle-aged man approached the stand.
"Who's this?" asked the Count.
"You'll thank me later," whispered Marius. "Monsieur Case, could you tell the court your profession?"
"I work as a chef."
"Where?"
"In a restaurant."
"The hotel restaurant which Cynthia Rye also works at?"
"Yes."
"What does Mademoiselle Rye do in the restaurant?"
"She served the orders."
"How do you know Mademoiselle Rye?"
"We were married."
"You and Cynthia Rye were married. When?"
"From August 1849 until this past December."
"Did you have any children together?"
"The one she had just yesterday is my son."
The court exploded with murmurs, and the lawyer from the prosecution shot up from his chair. "Objection! This man has no proof that the child is his."
"Actually, he does," said Marius.
"Overruled. Proceed, Monsieur Pontmercy."
"Thank you, your Honor. Monsieur Case, how do you know that the child Mademoiselle Rye had is in fact your son?"
"She told me as we were in the process of divorce that she was with child."
"And what was your response to that?"
"She said that she wanted no part of me, so when the child was born, I would raise it."
"Why, then, did she charge this man, Count Williamson, with lechery?"
"I told her that I refused to raise the child because I never wanted to be near her again. She thought that she could pin the blame on someone else."
"Someone with a title, perhaps?"
"She told me she had a plan to accuse someone with a title. Count Williamson was the first title she came across."
"Are you telling us, the court, that every claim Mademoiselle Rye made about lechery and having a child out of wedlock is false?"
"Yes, it is."
"No further questions."
************************************************************************
The next morning, Mademoiselle Rye was back in court to testify once more before the Judge entered a verdict. She denied everything once more and stuck to the same story she had plead previously. The Judge asked for closing arguments before he made his decision.
"Your Honor," started the lawyer for the prosecution. "Mademoiselle Rye is not perfect. None of us are perfect. She made a wrong decision to have an affair with Count Williamson, which resulted in a child. This man who claims to have been her husband has no proof of their marriage or divorce. The Count is unwilling to accept that he created another life. The evidence and the testimonies are clear that Count Williamson is guilty."
Marius stood as the other lawyer took a seat. "Your Honor, it is true that none of us are perfect. In fact, some of us are so imperfect, that we seem to get our stories caught in lies. There is actual proof that Mademoiselle Rye and Monsieur Case were married and divorced. I have their marriage certificate here, as well as their divorce agreement. Mademoiselle Rye conceived Monsieur Case's child in October, divorced her husband in December, and then claimed to be having a child by the defendant in March. The midwife who delivered Mademoiselle Rye's child said that the child was completely healthy and born right on time. Therefore, for a child to be born in June, it would have to be conceived in October, making the father of Mademoiselle Rye's child Monsieur Case. My client is innocent of the charge of lechery, being that he only saw this already pregnant woman in passing one morning." Marius took a seat, extremely pleased with himself.
The Judge looked over all of his papers before he looked at Count Williamson. "Will the defense please rise?" Marius and the Count slowly stood up. "Count Arthur Williamson. Your are accused of lechery, to which you pleaded not guilty. The court today finds that you are also not guilty."
Cosette sprang from her chair and her husband caught her in an embrace. Marius looked back at his wife, who nodded her head with a smile on her face.
After everyone had left, just Marius, Eponine, Cosette, and the Count were left.
"I can't thank you enough. Really, I can't."
"You were innocent all along, I just had to defend you," said Marius shaking the Count's hand.
"We'd invite you back to Rouen," said Eponine, "but we do have a wedding planned for Saturday afternoon."
"Thank you very much, but I think we should get back to England before we cause any more problems," Cosette laughed.
"I took the liberty of buying you tickets for tomorrow morning's passage to London."
"Thank you, Marius. For everything."
"Arthur?" said Marius before the two couples left. "Don't spend the night in any hotels."
************************************************************************
A/N - I know, I know. A happy ending for Cosette from the Cosette/Marius basher. Well, Marius has Eponine, and Eponine is happy, so I figured, whatever, Cosette should be a little happy, too. Don't worry! This story is far from over! We have a wedding and a lot of unexpected surprises still. Wait and see, you'll kill me!
Thanks to some of the reviewers:
Sweet775 - Thank you for all the reviews on all my stories.
The Grey Lady - For a while, I seriously thought that you were my beta reviewing because the comments you made are almost exactly the same time that my beta said while editing the first chapter. Please review more!
Sandra Athrenael - Rachel! I swear, as soon as this chapter is over, I'm writing the first chapter for "our" story. Thank you so, so, so, so, so much! I love you sooooo much, and thank you for dedicating your POTC story to me. 13 is your lucky number? Mine is 7.
TTP - I hope you figured out that you have to read "Meant to Be" first to completely understand everything in "Troubled Times." I'm just kidding. I hope to see more reviews from you!
EVERYONE PLEASE REVIEW! I MAKES ME SAD WHEN I WRITE AND WRITE AND GET NO REVIEWS SO REVIEW!!!!!
"Please take a seat," the judge said, after he entered the courtroom. "Now, Count Williamson is accused of lechery. How does he plead?"
Marius stood from his seat. Behind him was Eponine, who had gone to every case he had ever been on, except when she had been pregnant. Cosette sat a few seats away right behind her husband. The Count looked up at his lawyer as Marius drew breath to speak.
"Your Honor, we plead not guilty."
"Very well. Does the prosecution have a witness?"
"We do," said the lawyer who was defending the young woman. "We call Cynthia Rye to the stand."
As the pregnant woman approached the stand and placed her hand over the bible, Marius turned to the Count. "What was her job at the hotel?"
"She was working in the restaurant. She brought me a cup of coffee, and I never saw her again."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive."
"Mademoiselle Rye, you claim that the defendant, Count Williamson, committed the crime of adultery, and as a result, you became pregnant. Is all this true?"
"Yes."
"What was your job in the hotel?"
"I cleaned the rooms while the guests were out."
"Did you clean the Count's room?"
"Yes, everyday around 12 PM when he left the hotel."
"Now, the Count stayed at the hotel from Sunday the 4 of February until the following Sunday morning, is that correct?"
"Yes, it is."
"You claim that on the night of February 9, the Count and yourself committed the act of lechery."
The girl began to cry. "Yes, we did."
"And then you didn't come to work for the next two days."
"Yes, I took two personal days."
"Why is that?"
"I couldn't face him again."
"When did you find out that you were carrying a child?"
"About a month later. And that's when I filed my claim."
"Mademoiselle, is it possible that any other man could have been the father?"
"No."
"You have no husband? No fiance?"
"No."
"Thank you. No further questions."
Marius stood to cross-examine the woman. "Mademoiselle, is it true that you worked in the hotel restaurant?"
"Yes."
"Then why were you cleaning the rooms the week Count Williamson stayed at the hotel?"
"One of the other workers was sick that week, and I took over for her."
"No further questions."
The Judge turned to the lawyer defending Mademoiselle Rye. "Do you have any other witnesses?"
"No, your Honor. No further witnesses."
"Monsieur Pontmercy, are there any witnesses for the defense?"
"Yes, your Honor. The defense calls Count Arthur Williamson to the stand." After the Count had sworn on the Bible, Marius approached. "Count Williamson, how long have you been married to the Countess?"
"For ten years," said the Count, looking at Cosette.
"And, would you ever have any reason to commit the crime you are accused of?"
"No."
"What was your purpose in Paris from the 4th to the 11th of February, Count Williamson?"
"A factory I own was being built, and I was there to oversee the construction."
"And during that entire week, you went only to the construction site, the hotel, and the short distance it took to get from the one to the other."
"Correct."
"Now, when you saw Mademoiselle Rye, what was she doing?"
"She was serving me a cup of coffee in the restaurant."
"And when was this?"
"Mid-morning on February..."
Suddenly, Mademoiselle Rye screamed in pain and dropped to the floor. Instantly, Eponine ran to her side and Marius came up next to her.
"What's wrong?"
"She's going to deliver."
"The baby? Now?"
"Yes, Marius, right now."
"Your Honor, this woman is going to have her child."
"Court is adjourned until tomorrow morning at 9 AM. Everyone out now! Please take Count Williamson back. Madame Pontmercy, you may take her into my chambers. The rest of you are to stay here."
************************************************************************
Three hours later, Eponine came out of the Judge's chambers. Both lawyers, the Judge, and Cosette came up to her.
"She delivered a baby boy. He's healthy and there's nothing wrong with him."
"I'll call a cab to take her to the hospital. I'm afraid we'll have to continue the case tomorrow, regardless of whether or not she'll be able to make it."
The lawyer and the Judge left the room, and Marius turned to Eponine. "Is the baby premature?"
"No. He's one of the biggest babies I've ever delivered."
Marius kissed his wife on the forehead. "'Ponine, you just solved my case."
************************************************************************
"Your Honor, the defense calls Serge Case to the stand." A tall, blond, middle-aged man approached the stand.
"Who's this?" asked the Count.
"You'll thank me later," whispered Marius. "Monsieur Case, could you tell the court your profession?"
"I work as a chef."
"Where?"
"In a restaurant."
"The hotel restaurant which Cynthia Rye also works at?"
"Yes."
"What does Mademoiselle Rye do in the restaurant?"
"She served the orders."
"How do you know Mademoiselle Rye?"
"We were married."
"You and Cynthia Rye were married. When?"
"From August 1849 until this past December."
"Did you have any children together?"
"The one she had just yesterday is my son."
The court exploded with murmurs, and the lawyer from the prosecution shot up from his chair. "Objection! This man has no proof that the child is his."
"Actually, he does," said Marius.
"Overruled. Proceed, Monsieur Pontmercy."
"Thank you, your Honor. Monsieur Case, how do you know that the child Mademoiselle Rye had is in fact your son?"
"She told me as we were in the process of divorce that she was with child."
"And what was your response to that?"
"She said that she wanted no part of me, so when the child was born, I would raise it."
"Why, then, did she charge this man, Count Williamson, with lechery?"
"I told her that I refused to raise the child because I never wanted to be near her again. She thought that she could pin the blame on someone else."
"Someone with a title, perhaps?"
"She told me she had a plan to accuse someone with a title. Count Williamson was the first title she came across."
"Are you telling us, the court, that every claim Mademoiselle Rye made about lechery and having a child out of wedlock is false?"
"Yes, it is."
"No further questions."
************************************************************************
The next morning, Mademoiselle Rye was back in court to testify once more before the Judge entered a verdict. She denied everything once more and stuck to the same story she had plead previously. The Judge asked for closing arguments before he made his decision.
"Your Honor," started the lawyer for the prosecution. "Mademoiselle Rye is not perfect. None of us are perfect. She made a wrong decision to have an affair with Count Williamson, which resulted in a child. This man who claims to have been her husband has no proof of their marriage or divorce. The Count is unwilling to accept that he created another life. The evidence and the testimonies are clear that Count Williamson is guilty."
Marius stood as the other lawyer took a seat. "Your Honor, it is true that none of us are perfect. In fact, some of us are so imperfect, that we seem to get our stories caught in lies. There is actual proof that Mademoiselle Rye and Monsieur Case were married and divorced. I have their marriage certificate here, as well as their divorce agreement. Mademoiselle Rye conceived Monsieur Case's child in October, divorced her husband in December, and then claimed to be having a child by the defendant in March. The midwife who delivered Mademoiselle Rye's child said that the child was completely healthy and born right on time. Therefore, for a child to be born in June, it would have to be conceived in October, making the father of Mademoiselle Rye's child Monsieur Case. My client is innocent of the charge of lechery, being that he only saw this already pregnant woman in passing one morning." Marius took a seat, extremely pleased with himself.
The Judge looked over all of his papers before he looked at Count Williamson. "Will the defense please rise?" Marius and the Count slowly stood up. "Count Arthur Williamson. Your are accused of lechery, to which you pleaded not guilty. The court today finds that you are also not guilty."
Cosette sprang from her chair and her husband caught her in an embrace. Marius looked back at his wife, who nodded her head with a smile on her face.
After everyone had left, just Marius, Eponine, Cosette, and the Count were left.
"I can't thank you enough. Really, I can't."
"You were innocent all along, I just had to defend you," said Marius shaking the Count's hand.
"We'd invite you back to Rouen," said Eponine, "but we do have a wedding planned for Saturday afternoon."
"Thank you very much, but I think we should get back to England before we cause any more problems," Cosette laughed.
"I took the liberty of buying you tickets for tomorrow morning's passage to London."
"Thank you, Marius. For everything."
"Arthur?" said Marius before the two couples left. "Don't spend the night in any hotels."
************************************************************************
A/N - I know, I know. A happy ending for Cosette from the Cosette/Marius basher. Well, Marius has Eponine, and Eponine is happy, so I figured, whatever, Cosette should be a little happy, too. Don't worry! This story is far from over! We have a wedding and a lot of unexpected surprises still. Wait and see, you'll kill me!
Thanks to some of the reviewers:
Sweet775 - Thank you for all the reviews on all my stories.
The Grey Lady - For a while, I seriously thought that you were my beta reviewing because the comments you made are almost exactly the same time that my beta said while editing the first chapter. Please review more!
Sandra Athrenael - Rachel! I swear, as soon as this chapter is over, I'm writing the first chapter for "our" story. Thank you so, so, so, so, so much! I love you sooooo much, and thank you for dedicating your POTC story to me. 13 is your lucky number? Mine is 7.
TTP - I hope you figured out that you have to read "Meant to Be" first to completely understand everything in "Troubled Times." I'm just kidding. I hope to see more reviews from you!
EVERYONE PLEASE REVIEW! I MAKES ME SAD WHEN I WRITE AND WRITE AND GET NO REVIEWS SO REVIEW!!!!!