Chapter 16
April 25, 1814
London, Old Bailey Courthouse
Honorable Harvey Lessard, presiding
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There is no justice for the weak and poor.
At least, that's what Evelyn had always believed.
Two broad-shouldered guards brought the woman into the courtroom. Their viselike hold on her arms was entirely unnecessary, a pathetic show of barbarism.
Chained at the wrists and the ankles, the iron shackles dragged and clanked as she shuffled forward to stand before the judge. Her dress was torn and patched, her hem too short, her shoes pitiful pieces of leather that were held together with butcher's string. Whispers among the spectators placed her age around thirty, but the crow's-feet around her eyes, sagging skin of her neck, and gray in her hair, made her look twenty years older.
Six children and no husband, the whispers around Evelyn said.
Evelyn shifted on the wooden bench in the spectators' gallery.
The woman's crime: Guilty of theft of goods worth thirty-five shillings from a dwelling house.
Why ever else but to feed her six children?
Evelyn thought. Life in the St. Giles rookeries was harsh on married women with a working husband, let alone a widow with half a dozen young children to feed.
Dear Lord, she could be sentenced to death for such a trivial crime. And what would become of her children then?
She'd heard enough from her father to know the answer: Pickpockets in training in order to survive.
“Hannah Ware,” Judge Lessard began in a droll tone as he sat high up on his bench, “You have been found guilty of theft of goods from a dwelling house. Do you have anything to say for yourself before you are sentenced?”
The woman's mouth opened and closed. A raspy sound came forth, barely audible in the cavernous courtroom.
Evelyn decided right then and there to leave. She refused to watch such injustice. This was not the reason she was here today. She was here to meet . . .
Just then the doors in the rear of the courtroom opened and thumped against the wall. All heads turned to see Jack Harding striding forward, his black barrister's gown flowing behind him like a specter.
“If it may please the court, my lord,” Jack said as he reached the woman's side, “I am the barrister for Miss Hannah Ware for her sentencing.”
Judge Lessard straightened as if stuck with a pin between his shoulder blades. “You're late, Mr. Harding.”
“Pardon my tardiness, my lord. I was in Lord Townsend's courtroom on a different matter.”
“You're a busy barrister, Mr. Harding.” The judge waved his meaty hand toward Hannah Ware. “I had asked the guilty party if she had anything to say before her sentencing. You may proceed on her behalf.”
“Miss Ware is terribly sorry for her crime, my lord,” Jack said. “She succumbed to a moment of weakness, stealing to feed her children when her eldest became ill. She agrees to pay full restitution for the amount taken. And she respectfully begs the court the benefit of clergy.”
The spectators began rumbling. Evelyn clenched her fists in her lap. She knew enough of the law to understand that requesting the “benefit of clergy” meant sparing a guilty defendant the death penalty. Rather than the court issuing a punishment, it would send the defendant to the church for its own penalty.
“Benefit of clergy does not apply since the defendant committed theft from a dwelling house,” Judge Lessard said.
“I beg to differ, my lord. Miss Ware was found guilty of theft of goods of thirty-five shillings. According to the new statutes, only those crimes of theft of
forty
shillings and more from a dwelling house are not eligible for benefit of clergy.”
Evelyn held her breath.
The judge hesitated and made a show of sorting through papers on his immaculate desk before he finally raised his head. “In order to prove the defendant's affiliation with the church before benefit of clergy can be considered, the court requires she read the first and second verses from the 51st Psalm.”
Judge Lessard turned to his court clerk who immediately brought forth a Bible and handed it to Hannah Ware.
Hannah's hands shook as she held the leather-bound book.
Jack took it from her, opened it to the correct page, and returned it to her. “Go ahead, Hannah. Do the best you can.”
Hannah's voice wavered as she stumbled over the verse familiarly known as “the neck verse” for sparing many the death penalty. “âHave mercy on me, O God, accordin' to yer unfailin' love; accordin' to yer great compassion blot out me transgressions. Wash away all me iniquity and cleanse me from me sin.'”
Judge Lessard nodded. “The court allows benefit of clergy in this case, Mr. Harding.” The judge pointed to Hannah Ware and glowered at her above the rim of his thick spectacles. “You are fortunate indeed that branding was abolished.”
Evelyn was aware that in the past guilty defendants who pled benefit of clergy were branded on the thumb so that they could not receive the benefit again should they commit more crimes in the future. Branding had been abolished thirty-five years agoâbefore Hannah Ware had even been bornâbut if it had still remained a regular practice, Hannah would have been branded immediately after her sentencing in front of the spectators.
“As promised by your barrister, I expect full restitution of the thirty-five shillings before you are released, Miss Ware,” the judge said.
Hannah Ware paled and looked to Jack.
“The amount shall be paid immediately,” Jack said.
“As the sentence is accepted, court is adjourned.” Judge Lessard pounded his gavel.
Hannah Ware's shackles were removed and the judge rose. Spectators filed out of the courtroom.
Evelyn watched as Hannah Ware threw her arms around Jack and sobbed, repeatedly thanking him.
An elderly woman came forth with six children in tow. Their ages ranged from several months to eight years old. They embraced their mother, joy and happinessâand most of all, reliefâwritten all over their tearstained cheeks. The children must have been in the rear of the room and Evelyn hadn't even noticed. What a travesty that they could have been witness to their mother being sentenced to death.
That is, if not for Jack.
She felt uncomfortable watching them, like an intruder stealing glances into a private home.
She stood and quietly left the courtroom.
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“Well, well, what have we here?”
Evelyn whirled around to see a tall, dark-haired man standing behind her. His broad shoulders seemed a mile wide. Unfathomable eyes, sinfully dark, looked down at her. They held an ominous gleam that made her uneasy.
“Pardon?” she asked.
The stranger's mouth spread into a thin-lipped smile. “I was told about you, but I really didn't believe it until now.”
Her discomfort increased. “Do I know you?”
Dressed in a telling black robe, he was clearly a barrister. He wasn't wearing a wig, and his dark hair was cropped short and emphasized his square chin and bold features.
He shrugged one big shoulder and again she was struck by his massive size. Even through the robe, he had the build of a boxer, all hard muscle and bulk.
“My name is Anthony Stevens,” he said.
Realization dawned. “You're one of the barristers who shares chambers with Mr. Harding.”
“I assume you are Lady Evelyn Darlington, then? Jack Harding's newest client?”
She nodded. “I'm here to meet Mr. Harding. I was told by a clerk he would be in Judge Lessard's courtroom today. Mr. Harding was late, and I had begun to believe I was in the wrong courtroom.”
“Ah, you must have just seen Hannah Ware's sentencing.”
She frowned. “Yes.”
“Was Jack able to avoid the death penalty, then?”
“Yes, thank the good Lord. The judge allowed Miss Ware to plead benefit of clergy.”
Anthony smirked. “Brilliant, really, that Jack was able to successfully obtain it. Judge Lessard is known for his harsh sentences.”
“The judge did threaten Miss Ware with branding. I believe he would have carried it out, too, had branding not been abolished.”
“Ah, yes. The delightful art of branding,” Anthony drawled, his voice heavy with sarcasm. “Did you know it was not unheard of for some criminals to bribe the official to apply a cold iron? That way, they could effectively continue to steal repeatedly with no fear of a big fat letter “T” for theft so obviously imprinted on their thumbs. It was a big sham, really. Some officials were in on it too and received their cut from the stolen goods. Quite a lucrative business. Were I reborn a member of the lower classes, I would surely participate in such a cunning scheme.”
“I hardly believe such was the case for Hannah Ware. She meant only to feed her offspring,” Evelyn argued.
“The woman hasn't a shilling to her name. Did Jack promise restitution?”
The question struck her. Evelyn had heard Jack offer restitution for the thirty-five shillings. Hannah Ware had looked stricken when the judge insisted the amount be immediately paid in full.
So where would the money come from? And more to the point, how could such a client pay for Jack Harding's services?
“You look confused, Lady Evelyn. Let me guess. You are wondering why such a prestigious and expensive criminal barrister like Jack Harding would represent an impoverished thief such as Hannah Ware.”
His careless words unleashed her fury. “I'd hardly call an unfortunate widow with six starving children a thief !”
“Sympathetic to the lower classes, are you, Lady Evelyn?”
“What would you know of a woman's plight?”
“Nothing. But from the looks of your expensive gown, neither would you.”
For a heart-stopping moment, she wondered about Anthony Stevens's true intent, and then she realized he was baiting her, judging her reaction to his inflammatory speech. She had seen it before. Opposing solicitors and barristers who had strode into her father's chambers with belligerent attitudes, twisted facts, and misinterpreted statutes all in an attempt to throw their adversary off balance and tip the scales in their favor.
She lifted her chin, meeting those hard, dark eyes straight on. “Are you always this confrontational, Mr. Stevens?”
“If I'm having a good day.”
She couldn't help herself. She burst out laughing.
A glimpse of astonishment touched Anthony's expression before it was replaced with its familiar mocking indifference. “I'm beginning to understand why Jack agreed to help you. A lady with a sense of humor is hard to find.”
“I've seen your kind before, Mr. Stevens. You should know that I'm not easily intimidated.”
“In that case, I'll satisfy your curiosity. Hannah Ware is one of Jack's
pro bono publico
cases.”
“
Pro bono?
He represents her for free?”
“You sound very surprised.”
“I just thought . . . I mean I believed . . . barristers of Jack's caliber could name their price.”
He shot her a penetrating look. “He can. But unlike me, Jack Harding still has a soul and a conscience.”
Evelyn didn't know how to respond, but she was saved from having to answer by the approach of another man.
“Anthony! Are you bothering the lady?”
Evelyn turned toward a masculine voice. Her breath caught as a gentleman strode forward.
She stared at his face, unable to tear her gaze away.
Sweet Lord, this was a handsome man.
Thick, light-colored hair and piercing blue eyes met her stare. Smooth bronzed skin stretched over high cheekbones. His chiseled features looked as if his creator had taken extra time to craft his visage. He wasn't garbed in a barrister's gown, but rather wore a tailored navy suit that revealed a sinewy frame.
The man stopped before her and eyed Anthony Stevens. “Leave her alone, Anthony.”
Anthony faced his accuser with a mocking look. “What makes you think I was harassing the lady?”
“I know better.” The handsome man turned his gaze upon her and smiled.
Her heart skipped a beat at the devastating effect.
“Please pardon my colleague, my lady. His manners can be abominable,” the man said.
“No apologies are necessary. Mr. Stevens was quite enlightening,” Evelyn said.
Again, surprise crossed Anthony's expression, and he swept into a mockingly low bow, as if Evelyn were the Queen of England herself. “A true lady.” Anthony rose and turned to his accuser. “May I introduce Mr. Brent Stone. He is a fellow barrister in our chambers. Brent, this is Lady Evelyn Darlington.”