learned friend has any questions to ask you." He bowed very slightly and turned to Rathbone.
Rathbone rose, acknowledged him with a nod, and moved forward towards the witness box. His manner was cautious, but there was no deference in it and he looked up at Louisa very directly.
"Thank you for a most clear description of the events of that tragic evening, Mrs. Furnival," he began, his voice smooth and beautifully modulated. As soon as she smiled he continued gravely. "But I think perhaps you have omitted one or two events which may turn out to be relevant. We can hardly overlook anything, can we?" He smiled back at her, but there was no lightness in the gesture, and it died instantly, leaving no trace in his eyes. "Did anyone else go up to see your son, Valentine?"
"I. . ." She stopped, as if uncertain.
"Mrs. Erskine, for example?"
Lovat-Smith stirred, half rose as if to interrupt, then changed his mind.
"I believe so," Louisa conceded, her expression making it plain she thought it irrelevant.
"And how was her manner when she came down?" Rathbone said softly.
Louisa hesitated. "She seemed . . . upset."
"Just upset?" Rathbone sounded surprised. "Not distressed, unable to keep her mind on a conversation, distracted by some inner pain?"
"Well ..." Louisa lifted her shoulder delicately. "She was in a very strange mood, yes. I thought perhaps she was not entirely well."
"Did she give any explanation for the sudden change from her usual manner to such a distracted, offensive, near-frenzied mood?"
Lovat-Smith rose to his feet.
"Objection, my lord! The witness did not say Mrs. Erskine was offensive or near frenzied, only that she was distressed and unable to command her attention to the conversation."
The judge looked at Rathbone. "Mr. Lovat-Smith is correct. What is your point, Mr. Rathbone? I confess, I fail to see it."
"It will emerge later, my lord," Rathbone said, and Hester had a strong feeling he was bluffing, hoping that by the time Damaris was called, they would have learned precisely what it was that she had discovered. Surely it must have to do with the general.
"Very well. Proceed," thejudge directed.
"Did you find the cause of Mrs. Erskine's distress, Mrs. Furnival?" Rathbone resumed.
"No."
"Nor of Mrs. Carlyon's distress either? Is it an assumption that it had to do with you, and your relationship with the general?"
Louisa frowned.
"Is that not so, Mrs. Furnival? Did Mrs. Carlyon ever say anything either to you, or in your hearing, to suggest that she was distressed because of a jealousy of you and your friendship with her husband? Please be exact."
Louisa drew in her breath deeply, her face shadowed, but still she did not glance towards the dock or the motionless woman in it.
"No."
Rathbone smiled, showing his teeth.
"Indeed, you have testified that she had nothing of which to be jealous. Your friendship with the general was perfectly proper, and a sensible woman might conceivably have regarded it as enviable that you could have such a comfortable regard, perhaps, but not cause for distress, let alone a passionate jealousy or hatred. Indeed there seems no reason for it at all. Is that not so?"
"Yes." It was not a flattering description, and certainly not glamorous, or the image Hester had seen Louisa project. Hester smiled to herself and glanced at Monk, but Monk had not caught the inflection. He was watching the jury.
"And this friendship between yourself and the general had existed for many years, some thirteen or fourteen years, in fact?"
"Yes."
"With the full knowledge and consent of your husband?"
"Of course."
"And of Mrs. Carlyon?"
"Yes."
"Did she at any time at all approach you on the matter, or let you know that she was displeased about it?"
"No." Louisa raised her eyebrows. "This came without any warning at all."
"What came, Mrs. Furnival?"
"Why the . . .the murder, of course." She looked a little disconcerted, not entirely sure whether he was very simple or very clever.
He smiled blandly, a slight curling of the lips. "Then on what evidence do you suppose that jealousy of you was the cause?"
She breathed in slowly, giving herself time, and her expression hardened.
"I - I did not think it, until she herself claimed it to be so. But I have experienced unreasonable jealousies before, and it was not hard to believe. Why should she lie about it? It is not a quality one would wish to claim - it is hardly attractive."
"A profound question, Mrs. Furnival, which in time I will answer. Thank you." He half turned away. "That is all I have to ask you. Please