Page 32 of The Lady Who Left (The Flower Sisters #4)

A rchie Grant was a terrible divorce barrister.

Fortunately for him, Dr. Claus Brunner was a fantastic witness.

“Fascinating,” Judge Huntington said for at least the third time during the doctor’s testimony.

Dr. Brunner beamed. “It is. The harm to the mind is the same, regardless of whether physical damage has been done.”

“And the impact of Lord Croydon’s alleged cruelty would be equivalent to that of the patients you have studied?” Archie asked, sensing for a moment that he might not be the most incompetent man in Yorkshire.

“If the experiences with her husband are as you described, then yes. I would expect her to experience a similar negative impact.”

The judge sat back, then took notes. The vice around Archie’s lungs released a bit. He glanced towards Marigold; her features were still pinched, but some of the sickly pallor that had appeared after his opening statement had diminished.

Just beyond her in the gallery, he made eye contact with Nathan, who nodded his approval. His friend had slipped in after his statement, so—another thankful prayer—he’d missed Archie’s abysmal performance. With the infidelity caused weakened, their case would depend on proving cruelty, their weaker of the two arguments to begin with. But perhaps Dr. Brunner had made up for some of the damage done.

“Thank you, Dr. Brunner, for your time,” he said, ready to collapse into his seat once the doctor finished his testimony.

But Mr. Stansbury had stood up. “If I may ask a few questions of the good doctor.” Marigold’s breath caught at his side, and a sick sensation of foreboding climbed over Archie.

“Dr. Brunner,” Stansbury began, “in order to ascertain if damage has been done to the mind, as opposed to the physical person, what evidence would you consider?”

Dr. Brunner pushed his spectacles up his nose. “I would consider the accounts of the patient and any witnesses to the traumatic events.”

“And you would have to put your faith in the statements as true, correct?”

The doctor hesitated. “Yes. In the absence of any reason to discredit the account, I would consider it true.”

“You said you’ve never treated Lady Croydon, correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“But alas, none of us have heard her testify today. ”

Archie straightened, feeling the burn of Marigold’s gaze on his profile.

Stansbury hummed as he scratched his chin. “If you were to learn that several other doctors have treated her in the past for hysteria, would it cause you to question the veracity of her account?”

Marigold yelped at his side, and his hand reached out to still her, but Stansbury had already spun in her direction, looking aghast. “My lady? Did you say something?”

She shook her head, giving Archie a pleading look, and he stood. Keep her calm, don’t let them hear her panic. “No, Mr. Stansbury, your lordship. Her ladyship is merely surprised by this line of questioning, as am I.” More than surprised, sickened, terrified .

“Dr. Brunner?” Stansbury stepped closer to the doctor, whose mien had paled. “Would you answer my question?”

“Yes,” he said. “If the patient had prior signs of lunacy, I would not consider her recollections as valid evidence of cruelty.”

Stansbury shook his head as though devastated by this response. “What a pity. Thank you, doctor. I have everything I need.”

“What is g-going on?”

Marigold’s eyes were wide, desperate, while her hands fluttered at her waist. Archie had called for a recess after Dr. Brunner’s testimony, flustered as he was by the direction it had taken.

“There’s nothing to worry about,” he said, and immediately he wanted to take it back. His suspicions had been correct, and Archie was certain Stansbury would push the narrative that Marigold was mentally unwell.

“B-but I’ll still have a chance to t-t-testify, won’t I? I need t-t-to say my p-piece.”

He swallowed, almost choked. A good barrister would tell his client what she was facing, what to expect. But with Marigold, everything was different.

He couldn’t hurt her, not like this. He couldn’t fail her. Hearing her husband call her a lunatic would break her, and if she became upset and stuttered or showed her anxiety, the judge might have reason to declare her insane. She needed to stay calm, confident, and Archie needed a miracle.

“Archie!”

He stood, looked towards the voice and breathed a sigh when he saw Nathan approaching.

Archie turned back to Marigold. “Sit here, rest a moment. I need to speak with someone.”

She nodded, bit her lower lip. “I t-t-trust you, Archie.”

His stomach plummeted, but he managed a nod and a weak smile before turning his attention to Nathan. “Thank god you’re here,” he muttered, leading his friend several paces away from her. “I’m in a mess.”

“I told you this divorce business was nasty.” Nathan glanced over at the marquess’ table. “Stansbury is an old dog, but he’s clever. What do you suppose is his angle?”

He lowered his voice further. “I think he’s trying to have her declared insane and institutionalized. ”

“Damn,” Nathan hissed. “Smart, but wicked. He no longer has a wife, but will be spared the scandal and the cost of supporting her.”

“Precisely,” Archie said, then moaned as he pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes. “I can’t let her on the stand.”

“Who else can testify to the abuse? Can the son?”

Archie dropped his hands. “She’d be furious. I promised I wouldn’t do it.”

“You promised to win her case.” Nathan’s brows furrowed. “What’s going on with you? I’ve never seen you this flustered in a trial.”

He looked over at Marigold, at the woman who’d fallen asleep on his chest two nights ago, whom he’d sworn to love and fight for and was now flailing, falling apart entirely.

Nathan sucked in a breath through clenched teeth. “Good god, Arch. You’re not—” He dropped his voice to a ragged whisper. “Are you carrying on with the wife?”

“Quiet,” Archie said, and Nathan caught the lack of denial, pointing a finger at Archie’s chest.

“Get your head out of your arse and win. You need to come back to Chapin and Baines, and that won’t happen if you lose. You can’t think straight with her nearby, so remove her from the discussions. What advice would you give me if I were trying this case?”

Archie shook his head, looked at his shoes, and released a heavy sigh. “Put the boy on the stand.”

Nathan bobbed his chin. “Where is he now? In London? ”

Could he betray Marigold’s trust and ask Reggie to testify? He knew the boy would if Archie asked him, yet another betrayal of the trust he’d built with her family. But if he didn’t, she would be lost to all of them. He swallowed, then nodded. “Yes, in a hotel with the nanny.”

“Give me the direction, and I’ll have him back here in a quarter hour. Stall as long as you can. While I’m gone, ask for a private meeting with the judge. Make the case about the children and you’ll still have a chance.”

Archie’s footsteps felt like lead as he returned to the table, found a scrap of paper and scrawled out the direction for Marigold’s hotel. She looked up, her eyes wide and hopeful. “Is everything alright?”

Archie felt the contents of his stomach rebelling. If he went through with this, he might win the case, but he would lose her. “Yes,” he managed. “Everything will be just fine.”