by Lucy Langton
“I can assure you I’m horrible at it. But if there’s anything else I can do, in terms of making plans.”
“Thank you for offering,” Sophia replied, turning to him again.
They looked into each other’s eyes and Philip felt his chest expand with hope.
The pretty reunion would not last long, as Philip heard a great commotion out front on the roundabout. Two rather large coaches pulled up and he saw two servants run to the window to see who it might be. From what Philip knew, they were not expecting anyone at the estate, and it was uncommon for someone to pay a call unexpectedly in the country.
Philip opened the front door, and there he saw General Reginald Highbrow descending from his carriage, a small team of men in uniform accompanying him. In the second carriage, another team of men alighted.
“What the devil?” Philip said under his breath.
“What is it?” Sophia asked, coming up behind him.
“Bloody hell.”
“What’s the meaning of this?” Timothy asked from the top of the winding staircase.
Before he could receive an answer, the large team of men had collected inside of the foyer. Philip felt a shudder of fear. Were they there to take Sophia? He’d fight them off with his own hands.
“Are you the Duke of Clumber?” the general called up to Lord Timothy, where he was still standing at the top of the stairs.
“I am,” Timothy replied, slowly descending step by step.
“The prince regent has ordered that you be arrested for treason.”
Philip looked at his brother in wonder, thinking that were it true, it was perhaps the greatest lie that Timothy had ever pulled off.
“Is that so?” Timothy asked, coming to the bottom of the stairs. “And what proof have you?”
“You arrived back in England on the SS Duchess of Gloucester some months ago, and several gentlemen on that ship have come forward as being accomplices of yours. They stated that you’ve been sharing information with America for some time.”
Sophia brought her hands to her mouth, and Philip wished to take her hand to comfort her.
The smug expression on Timothy’s face turned into pure guilt. “Very well,” he said, relenting. “I shall answer any questions that you might have.”
As Timothy was led out of Willow Grange, all the servants stood frozen as they watched. Philip was frozen as well. Once the duke was cleared from the home, he looked over to Sophia who was shedding a frightened tear. Although Philip was relieved that the coast was clear for her, to his great dismay, the general re-entered the estate, and motioned for Sophia to follow him.
Chapter 19
The situation went from bad to worse. Sophia not only found herself brought into town for questioning, she was also housed in the Tower of London whilst she was under investigation. Although often prone to tears, Sophia found that she had none. She knew that more than ever in her life, she would need to be strong in order to endure the battle ahead.
The Tower of London was a cold, terrifying, dank place, steeped with a bloody history that Sophia found palpable at every turn. Her own living quarters were nothing that one could recommend, but Sophia decided that instead of succumbing to her fear, she would take delight in the little things that she could.
There was a narrow window in her room that looked out over the Thames, the very river where she wished to throw herself but days before. However, from her room, Sophia regarded the river’s beauty, the way the sun cast a gentle gold upon it in the morning, and how it would turn pink as the sun came down. She did not wish to throw herself in the Thames any longer. Sophia was prepared to fight for her life.
The questioning was mild at first, with a few brief meetings in a secluded room with the general and a small team. These were preliminary questions, regarding her reasons for coming to England, her father’s ties to business and the United Kingdom, as well as her knowledge of her husband’s behaviour. Sophia answered all these questions with utmost honesty and sincerity, and did not flinch when they asked her if she was guilty or no.
The more terrifying prospect was the questioning that lay ahead. There would be a grand court case that Sophia would stand in front of, and there the judge would give his final say as to Sophia’s fate. The possible repercussions if she were found guilty were dire. The least offensive result would be that Sophia would be sent back to America. Although this seemed tame, and Sophia would be able to return to her former life, it pained her to think that Philip would stay behind in England and she would never see his handsome face again.
The other possibility was much more dire. Although all her assets would be seized if she returned to America, it was better than being executed. It was a very real possibility that Sophia could hang if she were found guilty. She wished more than anything not to lose her life. If sent back to America, there was still the possibility that Philip would go with her and they could begin a new life together. But if she were to die, Sophia would never taste that love again, which was greater than anything she had ever know.
She resolved herself not to think of it any further. In two days’ time she would face her fate and do so with a dry eye. As she had done previously, Sophia would be utterly honest when answering the judge’s questions, and she desperately hoped that that honesty would be palpable for all.
Sophia was informed that Timothy would receive questioning at the very same hearing. It comforted her to think that he would be there, even though she secretly harboured the belief that he was, indeed, guilty. It made a great deal of sense. Looking back on things, Sophia could tell that he had been very secretive with his business dealings. He would never inform her what he was doing nor did she ask. How was it possible that her husband was so full of lies? Lies about his mistress, lies about his business. What other tricks did Lord Timothy have up his sleeve?
Still, it was a comfort to have someone at the hearing that she knew and, more importantly, she hoped that Philip would attend as well. Although the prison guards were loath to allow anyone to visit Sophia, Arabella was allowed to pay a call once a day. These brief periods were another amazing comfort for Sophia.
One particular afternoon when Arabella was allowed inside, Sophia could see that her maid was visibly shaking.
“How do you endure this place?” Arabella asked.
“It is not something that I will have to endure for long,” Sophia assured her. “I will either be sent home or sent to the noose. Either way, my time in the tower will be short.”
“Oh, don’t say such things!” Arabella protested. “I can’t bear to hear it.”
“It is the truth. We must be strong during this time.”
“I have never been very strong,” Arabella admitted, clutching herself.
“That’s not true, Arabella. You’ve always been strong for me. You’ve always been by my side.”
“I do appreciate you saying that,” Arabella said, gratitude in her eyes.
Just then, the monstrous guard put a key in the lock and opened the door yet again, this time bringing stale scones and tepid tea, two things Sophia had been living on for days. The guard didn’t say a word but merely placed the little wooden tray on Sophia’s bed and exited, locking the gate behind him again.
“A terrifying fellow,” Arabella said, shaking her head.
“You’d be surprised,” Sophia replied. “Although he’s silent, he has not harmed me in any way. Yesterday, he brought me a little pat of butter with my scone.”
“I don’t know how you can be in such good cheer,” Arabella said, getting up to serve her lady the tea.
“In times like this, it’s important to take heart. I’m learning that with each passing day,” Sophia replied.
In truth, Sophia’s courage was mounting, so that by the time the fateful day was upon her, she was ready for what lay ahead. There was still fear in her heart, that was beyond question. But Sophia found that as long as she could feel breath in her lungs then she would endure.
The massive hall was quite statel
y and sombre, with a great deal of spectators in attendance. The judge wore a white wig, just as Sophia imagined that he would, and on either side of him sat various other judiciary members that wore wigs as well. The general was in attendance, along with his team of men, and there were also several guards. Sophia was seated on the far right of the hall, Arabella directly behind her, and Lord Timothy was on the opposite side. There were shackles around his wrists, but Sophia did not receive the same humiliation, for which she was grateful.
Turning to look at the many spectators seated behind her, Sophia looked up onto the balcony and saw Philip sitting in the first row, looking directly at her. Sophia’s heart leapt in her chest and she wished to run to him, to feel his strong arms around her, and beg him to protect her. Sadly, all they could have in that moment was a look. There was pain and sadness in Philip’s eyes, and it was the first time since the whole nightmare began that Sophia wished to shed a tear.
She gently smiled to him, informing him that she was being strong, and he had no reason to fear. But that smile did not dissolve the look of anguish on Philip’s face.
Timothy took to the stand and Sophia turned around, her heart pounding in her chest. Would her husband come clean? Would he tell the truth?
“I present the Duke of Clumber!” the announcer called out, his voice reverberating throughout the hall. The room went silent as the judge inspected some documents that lay before him.
“You have already endured questioning,” the judge began, his voice equally as booming so that all could hear. “And I’m given to understand that you have proclaimed yourself innocent in these affairs.”
“That is true,” Timothy said, standing erect, despite the shackles around his wrists.
“Tell me, sir,” the judge went on, refusing to acknowledge Lord Timothy’s title. “In what line of business are you?”
“My duty is to manage the Clumber dukedom,” Timothy explained. “I am not in need of funds. But by way of amusement, I dapple in shipping and trade.”
“Is that so?” the judge asked.
Sophia felt her heart sink in her chest. She knew full well that Timothy was very much in need of funds. It was the reason he had married her.
“And what is the nature of this shipping and trade?”
“For some time, I have managed the export of various goods to America,” Timothy said, his head held high.
The crowd began to whisper to one another, and the judge banged a gavel to bring the room back to order.
“What other dealings have you with America?”
“My wife comes from America,” Timothy went on, and he turned to Sophia in that moment with a smug look on his face. She marvelled at how he could be so above-brow on that occasion.
“We will question her next,” the judge said. “But tell me, sir, what access do you have to information about Britain’s military and trade secrets?”
The crowd hushed as Timothy paused before choosing his words.
“I am in the House of Lords,” he replied plainly.
“Yes, but only recently,” the judge replied, looking down at the documents again. “And your father was in that position before you were.”
“That is correct,” he replied.
“How much of his knowledge of military and trade did your late father share with you, sir?”
“Nothing,” Timothy replied.
“Is that so?” the judge asked. “Questioning of fellow House members has revealed that you began your duty with already a great deal of information, secret information that only other House members were privy to.”
“That’s untrue!” Timothy proclaimed, dangerously raising his voice.
The crowd began to heckle again and the judge once more had to yield the gavel.
“Bring me the wife,” the judge said dismissively, and Timothy was returned to his seat while Sophia was escorted by a guard to the stand. From where she stood, looking up, she could see Philip leaning over the banister. Sophia took a deep breath and received courage from his eyes.
“Lady, did you know the Duke of Clumber before your marriage?” the judge asked. A sudden wave of fear hit her as she felt so many countless eyes upon her.
“I did not,” Sophia replied softly.
“Speak up,” the judge said.
“I did not!” Sophia said once more.
“What was the nature of the arrangement?”
“I was told by my father, Henry Barberry, that I was to marry the future Duke of Clumber.”
“Why was this marriage arranged?” the judge asked.
“Because the Clumber name was in need of funds.”
The crowd went loud with chatter once more and the judge threw up his hands in order to silence them.
“I shall have to make these matters private if today’s audience cannot hold their tongues,” the judge threatened. The crowd went silent once more. “The arrangement was for money,” the judge went on.
“That is correct,” Sophia replied.
“Were you aware of your husband’s business dealings?”
“I was not. He kept it private.”
“And were you aware of your future husband meeting with various businessmen on the SS Duchess of Gloucester?”
“I was not,” Sophia replied. “We did not interact much on the ship.”
Sophia held her chin high, speaking the truth as best she could. She daren’t look to the side where Timothy was seated.
“Lady, do you have any knowledge of British politics, military, or trade?” the judge asked.
“I do not,” Sophia replied.
“Does your father know of any of these matters?”
“He is a successful merchant,” Sophia explained, “I do not think he cares much for the politics of this country.”
There were boos from the crowd and Sophia’s heart sank yet again. She did not wish to be rude, but merely to explain that her father was not the kind of man to be interested in such things. Money was his only passion, not secret intelligence from another county.
“There are more matters to discuss,” the judge said, “But for the time being we will adjourn on this day in order to investigate matters further. We shall return at the same time on the morrow,” the judge said, yielding the gavel to signify that the meeting was over.
Sophia was quickly escorted out of the hall, but not before looking up at Philip one last time.
***
Philip was inclined to be despondent, but instead of lingering in fear he chose action. After the proceedings, he made his way directly to the Tower of London. He was still in awe of Sophia’s courage, how she stood before the court and spoke what Philip knew to be the truth. He felt terrible for having even doubted her for a second. He could also see right through his brother. He was lying through his teeth. The only way that Sophia could be free would be if Timothy spoke the truth.
Philip had been to the Tower of London before and he did not fear it. Could he change places with Sophia then he would. He was quite certain that he would not gain access upon his first request, but Philip was going to make sure that he did gain access nonetheless.
“I am here to see Sophia Barberry,” Philip said to the head guard.
“She’s only allowed to see her maid,” the guard replied, not even looking into Philip’s eyes.
“You’re going to have to change that,” Philip said.
