The Ruby in the Storm

Chapter 39: The Art of Silence

Chapter 39: The Art of Silence

"A confession is not proof of the act itself."

"He had the motive!"

"Where is the proof?!"

"He loved the girl, that is proof enough."

"Are you sure of it? Did he say it to you?"

"No, but it was clear to me the night they met during that ball at Dawn-Bridge. They had a... Connection."

"Give a man enough wine, he will have a connection to his own mother! That proves nothing!"

"I am telling you, the motive was there."

"And I am telling you that your word is circumstantial at best!"

"And I am telling both of you that I stand by my confession," Ross roared, rising to his feet. "Stop arguing it already."

"Captain Beauchamp," Jacob Ashe, the barrister that had attended the Lucas's dinner, held his hands up, "be careful, you do not know what you're saying."

"Of course he does," Harold Stone, James Boatwright's former barrister and close friend, snorted. "He openly confessed and he has no plans on contesting. This case is closed. I suggest he be sent to prison until he can appear before the Magistrate."

"That's fine with me," Ross replied. In prison, he didn't have to deal with Robert Quincy's reaction to what he had done.

"No, I will not allow it," Jacob Ashe shook his head. "I do not believe for a minute that Captain Beauchamp killed James Boatwright, they were friends."

"Why are you defending him?" Stone asked, raising an eyebrow. "You are John Quincy's associate, God rest his soul. You did not hear the name Beauchamp before last night, and by defending him, you further condemn his daughter."

"Word about Lanfore is that she is no daughter of John Quincy's to begin with," Ashe replied stiffly.

Ross cut in again. "That's enough," he snarled. "If you do not believe that I do not wish this to be contested then I will provide you with motive."

"Capt—"

"I fell in love with Lucy Quincy during a ball held at Dawn-Bridge and openly courted her during her time in Belmoran. I even gave her a ring that she still has with her, with a promise that we would be married when this dilemma was over. I murdered James Boatwright when I caught him attempting to violate Lucy on the docks on Belmoran. I shot him dead right there, not her, so my confession holds, and there is your motive."

Jacob Ashe cursed and shook his head. Clearly he had seen in Ross an easy case to defend, and he thought nothing of condemning the illegitimate child of John Quincy in the process. Successfully defending a respect naval officer from a respected family was a ticket the man had clearly set his eyes on with great intent, but that was his agenda, not Ross's.

"I wish to expose myself with the hope that James Boatwright's crime does not go unheard of," he continued. "He was a monster and his actions against Lucy Quincy must be condemned. If I hang for this, I do not want that to be forgotten."

"You will not hang because this conversation will not leave this room," Ashe insisted. "Captain Beauchamp, there are other ways to expose James Boatwright's actions without condemning yourself."

"So you will condemn the woman I love for a crime that I committed instead?" Ross asked, rounding on him. "I'd rather hang."

"The fact is," Ashe continued, "you are a man of great means and unquestionable respect. Ms. Quincy is..."