Katie looked at Lowden. His dark eyes bored into hers, and she suddenly realized why the first time she had seen him, his face had reminded her of a death’s head. There was no life in his eyes. They were flat, black, and cold. Like death.
Katie smiled into that dead face. “Be damned to you.”
“I have no doubt I will be damned soon enough,” he answered. “But you will pass through the gates of hell long before I do, my girl. I am certain of that.”
She was certain of it, too, but that didn’t matter. Nothing mattered except that Ethan had not been arrested.
The viscount leaned closer to her. “We will talk again as you are led to the gallows. Perhaps then you will be more willing to tell me what you know.”
Lowden and Weston walked away, and the moment they were gone, she bent her head and prayed with all her heart to a God she had never believed in that Ethan was safely out of the city.
22
Trials of mere street thieves were simple, straightforward, and far more concerned with expediency than justice. Katie expected to stand before the magistrate only a few short minutes, long enough to hear Weston’s condemning testimony, before sentence would be handed down. Since this was her second offense, she knew she would be immediately dispatched to the hangman.
She stood in the dock as Weston was sworn to tell the truth, and she could have told the bailiff not to bother. After all, she had stolen the money, and Weston didn’t have to lie in order to see her hanged. She did not turn around, but she knew Lowden was seated somewhere behind her, waiting to tell how he had seen her take the officer’s money. She imagined he would have some plausible tale for how he acquired Weston’s purse from her, and then he would present that evidence to the magistrate. She would be asked if she had any last words, she would swear up and down she was innocent, the magistrate would not believe her, and that would be the end of it.
Though Katie was resigned to her fate, that did not mean she intended to go to the gallows on her belly. She kept her shoulders back and her head high as Weston launched into his tale, but he had barely said half a dozen words when a stir began at the back of the room.
The magistrate held up one hand to halt Weston’s testimony and frowned at the two young bailiffs who stood guard by the doors.
Katie turned her head and saw that one of the bailiffs had opened the door leading out of the courtroom. He was speaking in a low voice to someone outside the room.
“What is this commotion?” the magistrate demanded impatiently.
The young man turned from the open doorway to the bench. “Sir, there is a gentleman here who says he knows the accused and has information important to this trial. He requests permission to speak to this court.”
Katie stiffened at those words, suddenly afraid. The bailiff must be referring to Ethan. But if he knew of her trial and had come to speak on her behalf, he must also know Weston was here and would recognize him. Would he walk right into the lion’s den? Surely not.
But he did. When the magistrate gave permission, the bailiffs stepped aside, and Ethan sauntered into the room, dressed in his finest walking suit and linen, looking for all the world like a man being presented to the king.
Katie looked at him in despair as he came forward to face the magistrate. She slowly shook her head as he passed by, silently pleading with him to leave before it was too late, but he barely spared her a glance.
She saw Lowden rise to his feet, she saw the satisfaction in his face and the smile on his lips. When she turned around, she found that Weston was subjecting Ethan to a hard stare, and she knew it would be only a moment before he confirmed this was the man he had seen in that dark alley with her outside the White Swan and at the dim tavern near Concord. Her despair deepened into agony.
Mother of God, what was Ethan thinking to come here in an attempt to save her? He would only succeed in dying with her.
“Mr. Harding,” the magistrate greeted him in a pleased tone of voice, and she realized the two men knew each other. “It is a pleasure to see you, sir.”
“And you as well.” Ethan bowed. “I hope you are in good health, Jonathan?”
“I am, Ethan. And you?”
Honestly, was there anyone in Boston Ethan did not know? Katie pressed the knuckles of her clenched fist to her mouth as the two men exchanged pleasantries. They could be the dearest of friends, and it wouldn’t matter. Ethan could not possibly think his acquaintanceship with the magistrate would save her, and by making the attempt, he was forfeiting his own life.
“You have information bearing on the matter before my court?” the magistrate asked him.
“I do,” Ethan answered, and gestured to her. “This girl is indentured to me.”
“Indeed? I was unaware of this. What do you know of her crime?”
“I know she did not commit it.”
A stir rippled through the few spectators present.
Lieutenant Weston leaned forward in his chair beside the magistrate. “She stole my money. As for you, sir, I know who you are.”
Katie held her breath, waiting, but Ethan ignored the interruption as if good breeding forbade any reply. “I witnessed the entire incident in North Square,” he told the magistrate, “and I saw nothing to indicate this young woman stole from this officer. They—”
“I said, I know who you are.” Weston stood up, fists clenched at his sides. “You are a Whig traitor.”
Ethan stiffened. “Be careful what you say, sir,” he warned in a bored voice. “You are becoming offensive.”
“Indeed,” the magistrate said, frowning at the officer. “If you have an accusation of sedition to make, Lieutenant Weston, I hope you are prepared to present evidence of it to another court. For now, you will be silent.”
“Wait.” Lowden spoke for the first time as he strode forward. “If the lieutenant can prove his claim, then I have the authority to take Harding into custody. Do you have evidence, Lieutenant?”
“I do, my lord.”
As if Lowden didn’t already know about that evidence, Katie thought in disgust. She felt as if she were watching a play on the stage, with every man before her acting out his particular part. Ethan acting the innocent gentleman accused of an appalling crime, Weston acting the outraged officer only trying to do his duty, and Lowden acting the peer of the realm who had the right to take over the entire show.
Lowden faced the magistrate. “I believe this officer has the evidence to prove his claim, and I would like to hear it.”
“Would you, indeed?” The magistrate frowned. “My lord, you may be a viscount, you may indeed have the authority to take this man into custody, but that is not the purview of my court. I am here to preside over the trial of this girl for theft. Any other matter should be taken to Governor Gage. Now, step back and be silent.”
“How dare you speak to me in such a way?” Lowden said, his voice shaking with fury. “I am a representative of the king’s chief minister and a peer of the realm, and I will not be told to be silent by some colonial magistrate! Harding is a traitor. As for the girl, she is not only a thief, she is also a spy for him, and I will see them both hanged before the day is out.”
“Heavens,” Ethan drawled carelessly. “First the girl’s a thief, then she’s a spy. I am a traitor. What is this man’s next accusation? Are the bailiffs now secret informants for the French?”
Several chuckles from the observers behind her caused Katie to feel a faint hint of hope. Ethan was attempting to make the whole thing seem rather ridiculous, and he was beginning to succeed.
Lowden sensed it as well. “Laugh if you like, Harding,” he said between clenched teeth. “I will take this matter before the governor, Weston shall prove his claim, and I will be the one laughing when you dance on the end of a rope. And your mistress will hang with you.”
Ethan shrugged. “If the magistrate is amenable to the idea, I would be pleased to accompany you to the governor’s office.” He turned to the man at the bench. “Jonathan, with all t
hese silly accusations of sedition and spying and such flying about, perhaps this entire matter should be put before the governor. What is your opinion?”
“I believe you have the right of it,” the magistrate agreed with a sigh. “If this girl is somehow involved in Whig chicanery, it is beyond my jurisdiction. I shall send a message to Province House at once, notifying Governor Gage that you require an audience with him forthwith. The bailiffs will escort you.”
Katie saw Ethan’s shoulders relax slightly, and she realized an audience before the governor had been his intention all along. What she could not understand was why.
Governor Gage was not in the mood for long, drawn-out stories. Ethan could tell that the moment the four of them were ushered into his office. Given tonight’s mission, that was not surprising.
As Lowden launched into his tale of how Ethan Harding was the rebel spy John Smith, of how Harding’s mistress, Katie Armstrong, had assisted Harding in seditious activities, of how he knew this because he had originally hired the girl to spy for him, and half a dozen assurances that Lieutenant Weston was prepared to confirm all this, Ethan saw the governor’s frown etch deeper and deeper into his forehead. Ethan also knew Gage did not like Lowden. He did not like him at all.
“Do you mean to tell me, my lord,” he said, cutting off the viscount’s diatribe in midsentence, “that you are accusing Mr. Harding and Mrs. Armstrong of sedition?”
“I am.”
Gage turned to Lieutenant Weston. “I see you have finally returned to duty, Lieutenant. What is your part in all this?”
Weston explained the events leading to this moment, from the theft of his purse by Katie to the pistol shot he had fired at Harding outside Concord.
“That will be all. Step back, Lieutenant.” He turned to Ethan. “This is a serious accusation, sir. What have you to say?”
Ethan lifted his hands in a gesture of bewilderment. “I am at a loss. I was a witness to the incident in North Square between Weston and Mrs. Armstrong, but I saw nothing to indicate she stole anything from him. He seemed to be making ungentlemanly advances toward her, and she clearly rebuffed him. As for the incident at the White Swan, he contends I wear one of those ridiculous medals, and I can assure you, I do not. However, the fight between us did take place. What the lieutenant has failed to tell you is that he was once again making unwelcome advances toward Mrs. Armstrong, and I came to her aid. He was, to put it bluntly, attempting to assault her person. He tore her dress.”
The governor’s frown got even deeper. He turned to Katie. “Is this true?” he demanded. “Were you subjected to assault at the hands of my officer?”
Katie played her part with all the skill of a true actress. She nodded, then immediately ducked her head in shame. “It is true,” she confessed in an agonized whisper. “Lieutenant Weston attempted to take advantage of me, and Mr. Harding came to my aid.”
“This is preposterous!” Lowden cried. “What does this matter? They are traitors, and I want them hanged for their crimes.”
“What you want, my lord, does not concern me overmuch,” Gage responded dryly. “Be silent.” He returned his attention to Ethan. “And what of the viscount’s contention that you are the rebel spy John Smith? What say you to that, Mr. Harding? My officer swears he saw you in Lincoln and contends that you were there to move munitions and powder out of my reach.”
“I?” Ethan looked utterly appalled. “Gad about the countryside in the cold spring air moving gunpowder?” He straightened the lace of his cuffs and sniffed with disdain. “What an idea!”
“You wear no Liberty medal?”
Ethan spread his arms wide. “I will submit to a search, sir,” he said with dignity, “if you feel it necessary.”
“Of course he’s willing to be searched,” Lowden said with mounting irritation. “He probably isn’t wearing it now. He’d be a fool to do so. That proves nothing.”
“Since Harding is the accused, I believe the burden of proof is on you, my lord,” Gage reminded him. “And I will not tell you again to be silent.”
He returned his attention to Katie. “Mrs. Armstrong, I am not quite clear how you came to be hired by the viscount. Please explain.”
“I didn’t want to be a spy, sir,” Katie said with a sniff. “I mean, I’m only a woman, and all this talk of Whigs and Tories bewilders me, I must confess. But the viscount—” She broke off and bit her lip. “The viscount forced me to become a spy. He told me he had seen me stealing in North Square, and he threatened to have me arrested. But I swear, I am innocent of that crime.”
“Innocent?” Lowden stepped forward. “This girl wasn’t innocent the day she was born. If you don’t believe me, pull off her glove. She bears the brand of a thief and was sent here on indenture.”
“Indeed?” The governor looked at her with a new light in his eyes, as if reconsidering his opinion of her given this information. Ethan caught his breath, wondering how Katie would respond.
She drew herself up with such injured dignity Ethan wanted to laugh. No matter what the lie, trust Katie to be convincing. “I admit, Governor Gage, that I have done wrong in my life,” she said softly. “I did steal once in London a year ago, bread from a baker’s stall.” She spread her hands in an appealing gesture reminiscent of an innocent child. “I was destitute, I had no home, no family, no friends to aid me. And I was hungry.”
“Oh, heavens,” Lowden groaned, “let us all pity the poor, destitute child.”
Gage turned on him, his face turning brick red with anger. “Viscount Lowden, I will not tell you again to be silent. Now, step back, and keep your mouth closed.”
Fuming, the viscount obeyed, but his tightly pressed lips caused Ethan to wonder how long his silence would last. Ethan knew if Lowden continued to interrupt, Gage would have him removed, and that could only help Ethan and Katie.
“To continue,” Katie said, “I felt I had no choice but to do what the viscount demanded of me. I agreed to spy for him, even though I knew if the rebels found me out, they were likely to kill me. But I found no evidence against Mr. Harding at all.”
Gage subjected her to a long, hard stare. “But you are his mistress, are you not? You might be compelled to lie for him.”
“So I might,” she agreed. “For his kindness to me has known no bounds. He bought my indenture and freed me. However, I am not lying, and I believe the viscount’s failure to provide anything but accusations proves I am telling the truth in this affair.”
“I have had enough of this!” Lowden burst out. Stepping forward, he shoved Katie out of his way and faced the governor across his desk. “I will not listen to this traitorous witch a moment longer. I am a representative of Lord North, the king’s chief minister, and I will not be told again to be silent.” He pointed a finger at Gage, and Ethan noted his hand shaking with rage. “You have avoided taking action against these Whig rebels long enough. I demand that you arrest both of these traitors and sentence them to hang for their crimes.”
“By God, sir, you will make no demands on me!” Gage slammed his fist against the desk. “I am a general of His Majesty’s Army, I am a gentleman, and I am governor of this colony. It is I who wield the power here, not you.”
He gave Lowden no chance to respond. Instead, he swept on. “Don’t think I don’t know your purpose here. Spying on me for North, sending dispatches to him filled with lies. I know your ambition is to usurp me and take my place. I have known that from the moment you arrived. I have also formed an opinion of your character, and it is not a flattering one. You may be a peer of the realm, but you are no gentleman, sir.”
“How dare you speak to me in such a fashion?”
“I do dare, sir. Viscount or no, your conduct in this affair has been appalling. Making accusations against British citizens without any proof and using fabricated accusations to force young women into becoming informants only confirm my opinion of you. It also gives me the excuse I have needed ever since your arrival to have you removed and sent back
to England. There is a ship sailing for Liverpool in the morning, and you will be on it.” He turned to the two soldiers who stood at the doors into his office. “Sergeant Field and Sergeant Ellison, escort the viscount out of Province House, and see that tomorrow morning when the Westminster sails for England, he is on board.”
“I will have you court-martialed for this,” Lowden told him in a fury as one sergeant appeared on either side of him and began pulling him toward the doors. “When I have made my report to Lord North,” he shouted over his shoulder as he was hauled away, “you will be fortunate if you do not face a firing squad.”
“I have no doubt you’ll try, my lord,” Gage muttered. He turned to Lieutenant Weston, who was still standing by the window as he had been commanded. “As for you, Lieutenant, I have as poor an opinion of your conduct as I do of the viscount’s. Officers under my command do not assault young women, regardless of their circumstances and station. They do not fire pistols at citizens not proven to have committed a crime. I have given express orders to all my officers not to use force or intimidation on the local populace, and you have disobeyed those orders in both these instances. You are dangerously close to court-martial.”
Weston set his jaw and did not answer, clearly feeling that silence was preferable to court-martial. “You will spend one month in the barracks with both your pay and your duties suspended. You may go.”
Weston bowed and turned away, stiff and silent as he walked out of Gage’s office.
Gage then turned his attention to Ethan. “As for you, sir, I have always been of the opinion that you are not as foolish as you pretend to be, Mr. Harding. Given that, I have no doubt—no doubt at all—that you have done at least some of the things of which the viscount accuses you.”
Ethan had no idea if he would be freed or sent to Castle William. All he could hope for was that Katie would be free to go.
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