Chapter 7 #2
“I’m sure you must realize, Mrs. Blake, that the accused’s involvement in the brutal attack on Mr. Ingram and Lord and Lady Struthers completely nullifies any arrangement you may have with Governor Thomson regarding her custody.
” Constable Drummond didn’t quite smile, but Genevieve knew he derived intense satisfaction from making the statement.
“It is my understanding that Charlotte neither stole anything nor actually attacked anyone,” Genevieve argued.
“Since I have returned all the missing items and intend to fully compensate Mr. Ingram for any damages he may have suffered, I believe the matter is largely resolved. I therefore see no reason why Charlotte needs to be detained further. If you will just take me to her, I will escort her home and deal with the matter privately.”
“Unfortunately, Mrs. Blake, the situation is not quite that simple,” said Governor Thomson, who was nervously scratching his beard.
It did not reflect well upon the governor to have one of the children he had released but a year earlier into Genevieve’s care commit a serious crime against three of Inveraray’s most influential and upstanding citizens.
When this incident was combined with the recent escape of Lord Redmond from his prison, it seemed clear to Governor Thomson that he would imminently be called before the prison board to explain his extravagant failures.
It was absolutely critical, he realized soberly, that he demonstrate to all that he realized the gravity of these recent mishaps, and that he take steps to ensure that they never happen again.
“The gang of thieves who attacked Mr. Ingram’s shop stole jewelry that was extremely rare and of great value.
In the process of doing so, they attacked Lord and Lady Struthers, two of our most distinguished citizens in Inverary.
Lord Struthers has sent word that his wife is severely traumatized by the incident.
She has been examined by Dr. Hayes, who has prescribed that she be confined to absolute quiet and bed rest for at least a month, to help her overcome her hysteria and any other injury to her person. ”
Genevieve bit down hard on her lip, fighting to refrain from making any comment.
Jamie had told her how he had accidentally barreled into Lady Struthers after Lord Struthers tripped him with his walking stick.
In her opinion, any woman who could afford the luxury of taking to her bed for a month after being knocked on her backside by an eight-year-old boy did not have enough responsibilities to keep her out of it.
“There is also the matter of the accused’s unwillingness to assist me with my investigation, which clearly demonstrates the weakness of her moral fiber,” added Constable Drummond.
“She refuses to give me the names of her accomplices, despite the fact that I have indicated that the judge might view her case more leniently should she do so. Of course, we have deduced from Mr. Ingram’s descriptions that the other children involved in this attack were your wards, but it would be helpful if the girl would confirm that. ”
Genevieve regarded him in disbelief. “Are you saying that you expect Charlotte to accuse her brothers and sisters?”
His jaw tightened with contempt, as if he found Genevieve’s description of the other children as siblings both distasteful and ridiculous.
“I am saying that should this girl demonstrate even a modicum of remorse by assisting me with my case, I would be more inclined to believe that there was some hope of your rehabilitating her. As it is, however, I can only conclude that a substantial length of time spent in prison and then reformatory school will be the best course of action for all concerned. Although I have decided not to pursue the matter with the other thieves, this girl must be made an example. Society cannot afford to let dangerous criminals inspire fear and unrest without due punishment.”
“We are talking about an eleven-year-old child.” Genevieve’s outrage was tempered with her rapidly swelling fear. “She is scarcely a dangerous criminal.”
“On the contrary, we are talking about a young woman with a criminal past who, despite all that you have misguidedly offered her by way of a home and a fine moral example, cannot seem to overcome her own corrupt instincts,” Constable Drummond retaliated.
“As I have told you before, Mrs. Blake, these things are in the blood, passed down from one generation to the next. No amount of coddling or comfort will cleanse the impure souls of the children in your household. It is best to treat them with a hard hand. Your unwillingness to do so has resulted in the unfortunate incident that has occurred today, in which several innocent citizens have suffered.”
“I don’t deny that the children were wrong in what they did today, Constable Drummond,” Genevieve allowed, trying to mollify his unsparing attitude by agreeing with him.
“But they were not doing it out of greed or any inherent need to steal. They were doing it solely because they wanted to help me—”
“Whatever the accused’s reasons were can be presented at the time of her trial,” Constable Drummond interrupted.
“Her name is Charlotte,” said Genevieve, fighting to maintain a civil demeanor.
She disliked the way Constable Drummond kept referring to Charlotte as if she were bereft of an individual identity, like a dog or a pig.
“And you cannot possibly believe that anything good will come from imprisoning an eleven-year-old child in this foul place and forcing her to stand trial—”
“Unfortunately, Mrs. Blake, there is nothing more that we can do.” Governor Thomson’s voice was shadowed with regret.
“If it were the lass’s first offense, perhaps we could afford to be somewhat lenient.
Unfortunately, the girl has a well-documented history of stealing—that is what led her to be incarcerated in my prison in the first place. ”
“It was her father who was stealing,” Genevieve corrected, feeling the taut threads of her composure begin to snap.
“He was forcing Charlotte to show her crippled leg as a way of distracting a crowd while he picked their pockets—a leg that is malformed because he beat her so severely in one of his drunken outbursts that he broke it.”
“There is no question that the lass has had a difficult time of it,” Governor Thomson acknowledged.
“But as you are aware, one of the conditions of your arrangement with the prison is that once the children are released to your custody, they must not break the law again, or else you will lose custody and the child must suffer the full punishment of our justice system. It is only by enforcing this provision that I am able to provide some assurance to both the court and to the citizens of Inveraray that the children will pose no further threat to our society. Charlotte has broken the law, and I am therefore bound by our agreement to relieve you of custody and pursue the matter through the court. I’m afraid there is nothing else to be done.
” He looked as if he wished it were otherwise.
“If we were to overlook this matter, the citizens could dispute my arrangement with you and insist that all the children currently serving the remainder of their sentences under your roof be returned to the prison system immediately. I’m sure Lord and Lady Struthers would be among the first to instigate such a petition. ”
He was right, Genevieve realized. Sick despair tightened around her chest.
“The Sheriff Court will sit again in three days,” continued Governor Thomson. “At that time you will be able to plead your case on the lass’s behalf. Perhaps you can appeal to the sheriff for lenience.”
Three days. An eternity for a child to spend trapped in a prison.
But it was time enough for Genevieve to try to get Mr. Ingram and Lord and Lady Struthers to view Charlotte sympathetically, and to provide testimony on her behalf.
If the victims were willing to be compassionate, she did not see how the sheriff could not be.
She swallowed her fear and slowly rose from her chair. “I would like to see her now,” she said, forcing herself to appear calm. She must give Charlotte the impression that everything was going to work out just fine.
“Of course.” Governor Thomson rolled out of his chair and jerked the creased fabric of his black waistcoat over the swell of his belly. “I shall escort you to her myself.”
LEADEN STRIPS OF LIGHT WERE FALLING THROUGH the narrow bars of the tiny window, casting the frigid cell in a somber caul.
Charlotte sat upon her wooden bed with her back against the wall and her crippled leg stretched out stiffly before her, the foot resting upon an overturned chamber pot.
She was wearing her hat and coat, and had taken the two thin blankets that the governor’s wife had provided her with and wrapped them tightly around herself in a desperate effort to stay warm.
She knew she should try to walk around a bit to restore some heat to her flesh, but her leg was aching, so she did not think she could manage it just yet.
Her injured limb was always worse when it was cold, or damp, or when she first awoke in the morning and it had grown rigid from repose.
It also pained her badly at night after she had forced it to drag after her all day.