Page 58 of Reforming Lord Neil

Lord Inglewood actually chuckled, though there was not much humor in the sound. “Poor woman. Out of one hardship and into another. Whatever could a man like you offer her, Lord Neil?”

The earl’s disdain made Neil wince.

“Silas,” his wife said sharply, a reprimand in the name.

Raising a hand to forestall her protests, Neil looked Inglewood directly in the eye. “I know I am not worthy of her, and she has made it clear she is uninterested in anything outside of our friendship. I intend to remain near her—as a friend—so long as she may have need of me. I have been a pair of hands to work her farm. That is all I will continue to be.”

With the shrug of one shoulder, Inglewood took out a pocket watch. “It is nearly time for dinner. I suggest we leave the subject for now. Though I will say”—the earl walked toward Neil, causing him to tense—“I am surprised by your apology. I have seen your behavior shift these past two years and accepted your part in my brother-in-law’s happiness with some reluctance. Perhaps I will reconsider my opinion of you.”

Neil nodded once. “I understand.”

Lady Inglewood approached, her hands folded before her. “Thank you for speaking with us, Lord Neil. We will see you at dinner.” She took her husband’s arm and they left the room.

Neil did not immediately follow. Inglewood’s cold question reverberated in his thoughts. Whatever could a man like you offer her…? Nothing. Neil was poorer than Teresa had ever been, even with his banknotes in his pocket.

He went to the window, made certain no one lingered upon the street to watch the house, then went to his room.

Having never offered an apology of such magnitude before, Neil could not be certain he had done the thing correctly. But despite the earl’s lukewarm response, a weight had lifted from Neil’s chest at last.

He had done the right thing. Perhaps he could at last make a habit of that.

Chapter Twenty-Four

The court proceedings were not at all what Teresa expected. Not that she had any prior experience to base such things upon, but she had thought to witness more of an argument from her brother-in-law’s solicitor. But given that the man was taken to task by a barrister who seemed on good terms with both Lord Inglewood and the judge, and that he had an entire pile of documents to support the claims of what the solicitor and Mr. Clapham had done to Teresa, there seemed little anyone could say in their defense.

Neil had sat beside her the entire time, his steady presence a true comfort to her. He had surprised her that morning, meeting her at breakfast wearing new clothing. Though a closer inspection of his coat revealed it had not been tailored perfectly to him, he had appeared handsome and gentlemanly, and his perfect behavior marked him as a man of rank. She felt rather like a plain country mouse beside him. She wore her second-best dress. It was gray, and had been a mourning gown she wore with a black lace collar. Without the collar, it was still a somber gown. But the color would remind anyone present that she was a suffering widow.

If she had not been distracted by what she knew she had to face that day, Teresa would have spent more time wondering over Neil’s change in clothing. When had he procured new clothing?

In the courtroom, her mind was fully taken up by the presented facts. Two hours of discussion, of details, and statements made by all concerned, at last led to the judge’s quiet contemplation.

The judge leaned back some in his chair and mused aloud. “I am not usually in this courtroom. It is more common for a magistrate to sit in this chair and make decisions upon the cases presented. I cannot see how any man could listen to this, however, as I have today, and rule any differently than I am about to rule.”

Teresa held her breath and reached for Neil’s hand upon the bench between them. He turned his hand palm up, lacing his fingers through hers. The confidence she gained from that simple contact made her lift her chin when the judge pointed at her.

“This woman lost her husband to a tragic accident, but it was the intention of two dishonorable men to assassinate the dead man’s character. At last we may restore the name of Henry Clapham as a man of integrity and compassion. He did not leave his wife and child destitute. But God help the men who would have done so. Mr. Frederick Clapham, by the authority of the Crown and our laws, I hereby sentence you as guilty of all accusations against you this day. You will make restitution to your sister-in-law.” The judge named the amount, and Teresa covered her mouth in shock. It was her full portion, and more for Caroline’s future. “You must pay half immediately, the rest no later than a year and one day from today.”

Then the judge looked to Teresa, his eyes softening. “Mrs. Clapham, I only wish the law would allow me to give you the whole of your late husband’s fortune. But rest assured, if this man does not do as ordered by the court, I will strip him of everything he has.”

Teresa’s eyes filled with grateful tears. “Thank you, your honor.”

The judge went on to deliver a harsher judgment to the solicitor. The man had to pay restitution to the Crown, and was stripped of his right to practice law.

By the time they left the courtroom, and walked beneath the large stone arch of the fortress-like courthouse of St. Helen’s Street, Teresa’s conflicting emotions overwhelmed her. Her eyes swam with tears, and her knees weakened.

“That was most incredible,” Lady Inglewood said, coming to take Teresa’s arm. She guided Teresa forward to the carriage, away from Neil. “I knew it would be so.”

Teresa shook her head, somewhat woodenly. “I did not even hope for so much. But yes. This is such a miracle. Everything in my life will change.”

She wanted to look back, to see Neil’s face again. But he walked with head bowed, not looking at her. He had remained calm throughout the proceedings, allowing Teresa to do the same. Without him, out in the air at last, her mind and heart raced with all the new possibilities before her.

They climbed into the carriage with the assistance of a groom, then Lord Inglewood came in and sat across from his wife. He was smiling, almost in a self-satisfied way. “Congratulations, Mrs. Clapham. Justice has been served this day.”

Neil entered and took his seat, folding his arms across his chest. He met her eyes, offered one quick wink, then turned his attention to the window. He appeared much more somber than she expected, given that victory was theirs. Or, she supposed, hers.

“I thank you, Lord Inglewood, Lady Inglewood, for all your help and support. I cannot understand how it all came to pass, but I know I would never have had the courage to take Mr. Clapham to court without you. And it all has happened so quickly.”

“That is what happens when you know the right people,” Neil murmured.