Part 12
Hoss and Joe walked into the Red Griffin and Hoss scanned the room; this early in the morning, the place was practically empty but he did recognize one man with whom Adam had been friends or as close to friends as he could have been considering the difference in their social status. But he remembered that Adam had told him that the man had also been in Afghanistan, not that they had met there, but that the man bore wounds from his time fighting.
The man had his head down on the table sleeping, his snores betraying his drunkenness but there were still two empty mugs of ale on the table and Hoss guessed that there had been many more earlier in the evening.
"Hey," Hoss said, shaking the man's shoulders. The man looked up and then sat up.
"Your name be Mac, correct?"
"Aye, and you be the Cap'n's big bloke of a brother, be you not?" The man's eyes were red and he stank of cheap ale.
Hoss pulled up a chair and sat while Joe stood beside him. "Aye. Adam didn't come home last night. What do you know, if anything at all? There be some coins in it for you."
"No coins, no pay," Mac said. "I would pay out myself to take back last night. The last I saw of the Cap'n was him takin' a…an acquaintance to the surgeon. I feared that they would be found. I know not what became of them. I fear that the Cap'n be mistaken for a highwayman and arrested-or worse, shot." And Mac dropped his head back on the table.
Hoss stood up. "We have to check the surgeon's offices-let's go." Hoss and Joe left the pub and starting making the rounds of the surgeon's offices until finally they came upon the one that Adam had been to. When asked if a tall, dark man had brought in a wounded man late last night, the surgeon willingly told them that the sheriff's men had taken him away in manacles and wanted the wounded man but that he was too near death to be removed; the man had died only a few hours ago. Other than that, he didn't know.
"What are we going to do?" Joe asked Hoss after they were back on their horses.
"Get home and tell Pa."
"But we don't know that it was Adam." Joe said. Hoss looked at him and Joe added, "I guess we do, don't we?"
They returned and told their father the knowledge they had acquired that Adam, more than likely it was Adam, had been arrested for highway robbery. Ben refused to believe it but then he thought that at least, if it were true, Adam was still alive. Hop Sing told him about the man who was shot and killed at Hounslow Heath that night—shot through the heart-and to have Adam sitting in a cell, even if accused of murder, was far preferable to the alternative.
Ben had his horse saddled and rode to town, declining Hoss' and Joe's support. He set off to visit one of his long-held acquaintances, Judge Brunson; perhaps, if Adam was to be tried as a highwayman and if he was found guilty, Judge Brunson would grant leniency-or perhaps, Ben hoped, the charges could be dropped. After all, Adam had been knighted for his valor in the Dragoons at the Battle of Kabul and was the son of Lord Cartwright. And Ben also had enough silver to grease many palms if it was necessary.
Judge Brunson confirmed that it was indeed Adam who was sitting in the cell waiting to be taken before a sitting judge-he had a messenger at this very moment riding to the Cartwright's to deliver the news to Ben. Sadly, Brunson said, it was not to be he who would hear the charges and take the plea but he promised that he would use any influence he could to guarantee the best outcome. Judge Brunson also wrote a note demanding that Ben be given access to his son. And then Ben went to engage a barrister, his old friend, Lord Lancaster.
Julia sat at midday meal when her father came bursting in the room; he had been in London at the bank and had heard that Adam Cartwright was in jail charged as a highwayman. Julia dropped her fork.
"What?" Julia asked. Her mind wouldn't accept the news-it must be a mistake. Not Adam-it couldn't be Adam.
"It seems, from what I have gathered from the talk in town, that he was arrested last night. It seems that the under sheriffs were looking for a big, black horse. Two men, one the son of Duke of Bolin, were stopped by highwaymen last night; Duke Bolin's son was shot and killed, but the other man arrived safely in London, reported the crime and said that one of the three men, a dark-haired man on a large black stallion, was the one who killed his friend. It was the horse that marked him as the murderer and he rightly claimed the horse as his. One has to admire a man whose states the truth under such circumstances."
"Papa," Julia said, rising from her seat, "please take me to see him. Please. I need to see him."
"My child, my darling girl, I am afraid that will be impossible. He is waiting for his appearance before the judge. If they keep him, I will see what I can do, but not now."
"But you don't understand," Julia said, "I must see him-I have…feelings for him."
"Child," Sir Gosling said sitting down, "feelings or no, you cannot see him; it is not allowed. I doubt that even his own father can see him yet. But besides that, I forbid it. No daughter of mine is going to haunt the halls of the Old Bailey for any reason. And if…and I do say if, Sir Adam is guilty of the charges, I do not want you to be associated with him, do you understand?"
"I understand, Father," Julia said. She sat back down but her mind was racing; there had to be something she could do.
"Your father knows what is best, Julia," her mother said. "Besides, it appeared that Sir Adam was interested in Millicent Wentworth. Granted, she is not a beauty but money makes every woman more attractive-sad but true." And Mrs. Gosling continued delicately eating her meal.
~ 0 ~
"I thank you, Father," Adam said, "but I have a feeling it will be for naught-the law works independently of barristers in my experience and the people's justice must be served-at least aristocracy's justice. From what little news I received, it appears that Duke Bolin's son was killed last night and they claim that I have done it." Adam sighed. "I have removed the scarf around my neck-it is too similar to a noose."
"Adam," Ben said, "I will see that you are freed."
"Well, I am glad that one of us is confident that it can be done," Adam said with a small chuckle. "But you know, Father, I have only one regret and that is Miss Gosling."
"Miss Gosling? What regret?"
"I regret that I have not had the pleasure of enjoying Julia's…delights, of not taking advantage of her when I had a chance. When we believe that we have time enough, we tend to defer joys waiting for their proper time but if I am granted freedom, I will indulge in all pleasures that come my way and one of them would be Julia. She is an appetizing piece indeed."
"Adam, I would think that you would have more to concern yourself with than carnal pleasures."
Adam laughed. "What better time, Father? What else should a man who will face the hangman's noose think of but fine wine, delicious food and sumptuous women.
A jailer came to Adam's dank cell; little light came from the high, narrow window and the stone walls prevented any of the day's warmth from entering.
"Lord Cartwright, I'm afraid that your time is up. Ye must be leavin'. And the barrister is waitin' to come to ye," he said to Adam.
"Good, good," Ben said. "Lancaster said that he would arrive as soon as he could. I'm glad he's here." Ben placed a hand on Adam's shoulder. He looked down at his son and wanted more than anything to question him about the accusation but held himself back. He knew that should he ask, Adam would tell him the truth and he didn't care to know; he was certain anyway what Adam's response would be and he didn't want to hear it.
"Goodbye, Father," Adam said, rising from the uncomfortable pallet on which he had spent the sleepless night. "I thank you for your efforts on my behalf."
"Son, I…" Ben felt himself choke with unshed tears. Adam reached out and hugged his father and Ben returned the embrace. They had not hugged one another since Adam had returned safely from war. Ben sniffed and left the cell, the jailer locking the door behind him. Ben quietly went on his way but determined to free his son; he just didn't know how.
~ 0 ~
Julia saddled her white mare. She had quietly left the house while her mother did her needlework and her father read the newspaper he had bought while in London. Julia was determined to go to London and be at Adam's arraignment. She knew that the hearings were open to the public and she had arrived at a course of action.
Julia pushed her way in the crowded courtroom once she arrived. She had to stand in the back with the commoners since the rows of seats were filled with important people who were intrigued that Lord Cartwright's son was being accused of murder and of being a common highwayman. Finally, Adam was brought out, still manacled and stood before the judge. Julia held her breath. He hadn't shaved and his clothes were wrinkled and Julia's heart went out to him but despite the way he looked, his innate nobility came through. Adam did not hang his head in shame or slump as a way of appearing pitiful but stood tall and Julia noticed that he had an amused expression on his face.
The charges were read and Adam's barrister, Lord Lancaster, asked for the charges to be dropped; the evidence was circumstantial at the most and ridiculous in the least, he said. But the judge refused to drop them and as they began to lead Adam away, Julia raised up a hand. Her heart was pounding so strongly that she feared it would kill her.
"He is innocent!" Julia cried out. The whole courtroom hushed and turned to look at her.
"Come here, young woman," the judge said and the people parted to let her through. Then the buzzing among the onlookers began and Julia felt herself flush with fear. She kept her eyes on the judge as she walked to the front.
The judge pounded his gavel and demanded silence. Adam looked confused; he had no idea why Julia was standing there and what she was going to say.
"Who are you, young lady?" the judge asked.
"I am Miss Julia Gosling. My father is Sir Gosling." Her voice shook.
"And what do you have to offer as proof of this man's innocence?"
"He was with me for most of the night," Julia said, her chin high.
"Julia, do not…" Adam tried to stop her.
"Do not tell me to conceal the truth, Adam. I must say even that which is shameful if it will free you from this false charge." She turned back to the judge. "Sir Cartwright spent the major part of the evening with me-in my bedroom. I let him in through the window."
"Julia," Adam cried, "do not say such things. You are a woman of virtue and would not allow me such liberties."
"Do not listen to his protestations," she said to the judge. "Even now at such a crucial moment in his destiny, Sir Cartwright is a gentleman. But I must tell that which will prove his innocence even knowing that my reputation is ruined and my parents shamed." Julia looked down.
The judge considered the woman before him. "Will you swear to that, my child? That he had been secreted into your chamber for the majority of the night?"
"I would swear on my virtue but it is no more. Nevertheless, I will swear on my life." Julia looked evenly at the judge and he thought about her green eyes and what a lucky man Sir Adam Cartwright was to have enjoyed Julia Gosling's favors.
"Very well, the charges against Sir Adam Cartwright have been dropped." The judge slammed his gavel and the crowd in the courtroom cheered. The judge pounded his gavel demanding silence but no one paid any mind. One of the jailers removed Adam's manacles and Adam rubbed his wrists. Ben, Hoss and Joe who had been sitting in the front row came forward and shook his hand and clapped him on the back.
The barrister walked over to Julia. "Is what you have said true?" he asked her.
"Do you doubt my word?" she asked. And then she heard Adam's deep voice.
"Do not doubt the word of a lady…and my future wife." The barrister stepped back so that Adam stood in front of Julia.
"Julia, I will be forever grateful for the sacrifice you made for me today. And if you will do me the honor of becoming my wife, I will be indebted to you even more. So, my dear, will you agree to a marriage?"
Julia smiled broadly. "Well, since it is you who has "ruined" me, I see no other alternative as no other man will have me."
Adam laughed and bent Julia over his arm and kissed her. She put her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him, enjoying the warmth of his embrace.
"Adam," Ben said. "Let us return home now that you are free."
Adam turned his head, still holding Julia. "Give me a few moments with Julia and we shall all return together. She and I have things to discuss."
"Please do not be long," Ben said and he and Joe and Hoss left the courthouse which was clearing as the next hearing was merely for a pickpocket who had been caught red-handed—too pedestrian to attract an audience.
"Miss Julia Gosling, have ye still a yen for excitement?" Adam asked in his best brogue.
"More than ever," she responded.
Adam put his arm about her waist and began to escort her out of the courtroom. "What say ye then to a journey to America-you and I-and begin a life together there?"
"I would go with you anywhere," Julia responded. "Even though the journey end in hell, I will be by your side and we will both face down Satan himself."
"Ah, Julia," Adam said. "I have indeed found the helpmate I need in you, the wife I desire to begin a life in the new world. It will not be an easy life, girl."
Julia laughed. "Any life with you would not be easy, Adam, but I feel that I can step up to it."
"Yes," he said, "I'm certain you can, Julia. Quite certain." Adam kissed her hair and the two walked out into the sunlight of the beautiful day ahead.
~ Finis ~
Note: According to British law, when the father died, everything went to the eldest son or the eldest male relative. Also, thy, thou, thee were used interchangeably sometimes, in the same sentence. I was reading part of Congeve's "The Way of the World," and he doesn't use thee, etc, just you, your, mine-contemporary pronouns. Yet, his contemporary, Prior, does use thee, thou, thine and also you, your, etc. It a toss-up.
Note: Catholics were shunned in England during this time and until 1778, were limited in owning property and no Catholic could own property within ten miles of London.
At this time, poker was called "bluff" but I figured that if I called it that, no one would know what the game was. Also, a "window" sometimes was very similar to French doors. That way, one could walk onto the balcony.