The Sapphire Brooch by Katherine Logan (reading eggs books .TXT) 📗

did ye care whether she intended to marry or not?”

“Because I considered…” Henly paused before starting again. “I didn’t care. Considering how strong-willed she is, it’s best she doesn’t impose her will on any suitable gentleman.”

“Like yerself?” Braham asked.

“I will not tolerate such behavior.”

“Who do ye blame for not squelching her strong will?”

“Her brother, of course.”

Braham paused a moment to let the comment sink in. It did. The female spectators were chatting behind open fans covering the lower portions of their faces. Several commission members took deep breaths and eyed General Holt.

“Did ye speak to Mr. Mallory about his sister’s behavior?” Braham asked.

“I did. The same night, as a matter of fact.” Henly’s voice was unnaturally loud and angry. “I told him he should exercise more control over her.”

“When did this conversation take place?”

“In the carriage.” Henly wiped perspiration from his forehead. “I misspoke. It was later when I ran into him at the Willard.”

Braham steepled his fingers and tapped them together. “So ye returned to the Willard after ye left Doctor Mallory? If ye didn’t ride in the carriage with him back to the Willard, where did ye find him? In what room?”

Perspiration popped up on every inch of skin on Henly’s face. “In the billiard room.”

“Going back to earlier in the evening, was there any time during yer dinner with Doctor Mallory when ye left the table?”

He barked a laugh. “I don’t recall.”

“Isn’t it true ye had to restrain Doctor Mallory from going into the billiard room?”

Henly slammed his fist on the railing. “I told her brother she was out of line and should be punished.”

Braham turned toward the commissioners with a hint of a smile. “What did ye expect Mr. Mallory to do? Turn her over his knee and give her a whooping?”

“Of course not.”

The women in the courtroom giggled.

“Isn’t it true, Colonel Henly, ye said to Mr. Mallory, and I quote, ‘A slap never hurt any woman; it keeps her in line’?”

“No, I did not.”

The commissioners had all turned in their seats to face the witness stand, riveted to the testimony, even those members whose attention usually wandered. Braham raised his eyebrows but said nothing. It was a planned maneuver to keep Henly in an anxious state.

“Why did Doctor Mallory want to go into the billiard room?”

Henly roared, full of indignation. “To see you.”

“Why did ye object to Doctor Mallory seeing her cousin?”

“Ha. You’re not cousins. You’re…lovers.”

Cullen’s heart was thudding at a breakneck pace. The testimony was proceeding exactly as they planned. The next few questions and answers were critical.

“Why would ye think we’re lovers? Have ye spied on Doctor Mallory’s bedroom?”

“Certainly not.” He punctuated his comment with a wild gesture.

Braham walked over to the defense table and Cullen handed him a small bag. “If ye have no interest in Doctor Mallory, why do ye care who she takes as a lover?”

There was an audible intake of breath around the room. Braham was besmirching Charlotte’s reputation, but it couldn’t be helped. Cullen prayed she’d forgive them.

“I don’t care.” Henly’s voice was tight with suppressed rage.

“Between yer command position and when ye began yer assignment to the War Department, were ye offered other opportunities?”

Henly’s nostrils flared. “No.”

“Was there a position working for President Lincoln which ye applied for and were passed over in favor of another candidate whom ye outranked?”

“I wasn’t interested in the position.”

“I’m sorry.” Braham turned toward the commissioners. “Did ye say ye weren’t interested in a special assignment working directly for the president of the United States? Did ye tell him ye weren’t interested?”

Henly snarled. “Of course not.”

Braham twisted to look at the witness. “What did ye tell Mr. Lincoln?”

“That I’d be honored to accept the position if offered.”

Braham turned back to the commissioners. “So ye lied to the president of the United States. Is this what ye’re saying?”

“No, it’s not what I’m saying.”

“The court would be interested in yer explanation, Colonel. And after ye explain why ye lied to the president”—Braham then turned back to the witness—“maybe ye’ll explain why ye’ve lied to this court.”

“I haven’t lied.”

“Then tell the court when ye last saw the person wearing this.” Braham opened the small bag, pulled out Charlotte’s wig, and tossed it to Henly.

He fumbled, gasped, and then let it fall to the ground. “How dare you?”

Braham picked up the wig and nonchalantly straightened the hairs. “How dare I what?”

Henly’s rage was back now, rising, smoldering behind his eyes. “Insult me.”

“How much laudanum do ye take a day for the pain in yer back? I believe ye said ye were wounded at Cedar Creek. Is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“Is that why ye needed a henchman to grab Doctor Mallory from Lafayette Park yesterday? Because ye’re too impotent to do it yerself?”

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

Braham approached the witness stand, still holding the wig. “Isn’t it true, Colonel, ye hated Jack Mallory for having no control over his sister, because ye had intended to propose to her on the night in question?” Braham paused, allowing his question to thoroughly penetrate the observers’ consciousness.

“Isn’t it also true, Colonel, ye hated me for getting the job ye wanted, working for the president of the United States?

“Isn’t it true, Colonel, ye kidnapped Doctor Mallory yesterday afternoon and dumped her badly beaten body in a rat-infested cellar so I would have to choose between looking for her”—Braham paused and pointed toward Jack—“or representing her innocent brother?

“Isn’t it true, Colonel, ye framed Jack Mallory?”

The spectators in the courtroom erupted, and General Hunter banged his gavel. “Order. Order in the courtroom.”

Henly snatched his revolver from its holster, pointed it at Braham, and pulled the trigger.

92

Washington City, 1865

Charlotte waited quietly on the sofa in the parlor, reading an article in an old issue of Annals of Surgery. She’d read it five times and, while she didn’t remember much about the article, she did remember the first few words of the objective: “To evaluate the effect of implementing a multidisciplinary…” Well, okay, she didn’t remember it either.

She