The Gentleman & The Rake

Day Five Continued

Cross-Examination 

 Judge Hardcastle interrupted: "Is all this necessary? I have to tell you, Mr. B, I don't care for domestic quarrels." 

Mr. B's face shuttered. 

Bewildered, Dr. Matchel said, "But the entire novel is a domestic quarrel." 

"It's been rather action-oriented up to now," the judge said. "This is--" The Twisted Tale of Bleak Expectations "--rather modern," he concluded grumpily. 

"The sibling quarrel is there in the original text." 

Lonquist said, "I don't think Mr. B can leave this part out, Judge." 

"Hmm." The judge was beginning to appreciate the restraint and good taste of Golden Age murder mysteries. He'd take a clean murder--or clean kidnapping--any day over screeching siblings. He flapped a hand. "Go on." 

Week 1 (continued) 

Barbara and Pamela cornered me near the pond. 

"Stop," Barbara called, rushing towards me, "I have asked Pamela to be my advocate. That should pacify you." 

It didn't. She had co-opted Pamela like she tried to co-opt everything in my life. And Pamela had agreed. Pamela was urging her on. 

"If you'll forgive me, I'll forgive you," Barbara said. 

Typical. Typical of my sister to cause an upheaval and then try to pass around the blame. 

"I'm going to Bedfordshire." 

"Without me?" Pamela said uncertainly, and there were tears in her eyes. 

"You'll break her spirit," Barbara said, shaking her head. 

She was ranging herself on Pamela's side--as she will do when I quarrel with anyone other than herself. I wish I could say I deliberately pushed her to take Pamela's side. I didn't. I was furious with both of them, more so since I knew my anger at Pamela was irrational. 

Barbara threw up her hands. "I only said what I did because I love you." 

"It was spite," I told her. 

"Very well. I own it. And now I will go." She turned to Pamela. "God bless you," she said and kissed her. 

She'd gone from "creaturing" to "God blessing" Pamela in less than twenty-four hours. I groaned. 

"Women are the devil," I said. I looked at Pamela's white, stunned face. I thought: Welcome to the family, Pamela. 

I went and put my arms around her and Barbara's waists. 

"You see how he behaves when offended," Barbara said to Pamela. "Though I've never known him make up so soon." 

"I'll take care how I behave in the future," Pamela said shakily. 

Cross-Examination 

Judge Hardcastle had abandoned grumpiness for outrage. He hunched across the desk and scowled at Mr. B. "A difficult upbringing does not excuse unkindness towards one's wife." He glanced towards the CLF table. "This behavior doesn't bother you?" 

The CLF team looked surprised. "Of course, of course," Dr. Matchel said quickly. 

Leslie Quinn started to say, "Physical and verbal abuse were more common in the eighteenth--" but stopped when Mr. B jerked his head in a negative. 

Mr. Hatch broke the silence. "In all honesty, Judge, the release of emotion between estranged parties is necessary to the healing process. Mr. B obviously comes from a dysfunctional background."