“Oh? What?” CC struggled to keep her expression reflecting only mild interest.

“It seems that we’ve all been laboring under the wrong impression of the Kincades.”

“How so?” She lifted her cup to her lips as casually as possible, hoping that her father wouldn’t notice how badly she was trembling.

“Well, according to some new information Harley just received, the Kincade family has lost its fortune. It appears they’re in dire financial straits.”

CC pretended to be shocked by the news. “But, Father, how can that be?”

“It seems the family’s fortune was lost to gambling debts incurred by the father,” he supplied.

“That doesnt necessarily mean Noah and Matthew are doing anything illegal,” CC pointed out.

“The fact that they’ve lost their money doesn’t, it’s true; however, it would make a connection with the dissidents much more plausible. The rebels, I’m sure, would pay a fine price for war materials, and that is what Kincade’s shipping, you know. Maybe he is involved with them after all. Maybe Geoffrey was right in his accusations the other night, and maybe, just maybe, Kincade went there to silence him.”

“What’s going to happen to him?”

“I’m sure he’ll be taken before the magistrate, probably sometime today.”

“Will he be released then?”

“It’s hard to say. It will depend on what kind of evidence there is against him.”

“I see.” CC sounded blasé in her interest, but in reality, she was in a panic at the thought of Noah in jail, accused of murder.

As calmly as she could, CC changed the subject to less important matters until, at meal’s end, she excused herself from the table. Stifling the urge to race to Noah’s side, she retired to the quiet of her room to think things through. CC wondered whether she could go to the jail and visit Noah without causing even more trouble. Certainly her heart insisted that she go to him right away, but logic dictated that trouble might ensue if her presence was reported to her father. How would she ever explain to her father her need to visit Noah, a man she’d professed to dislike, while he was in jail?

CC paced the room like a caged tigress for a long time, weighing the situation, until finally she knew she could delay no longer. Though her father might grow suspect of her activities if he found out about her visit, CC knew she had to take the risk. She loved Noah, and she had to let him know of her devotion, especially now when he was embroiled in such a dangerous situation

Hoping to draw as little attention to herself as possible, CC pinned her hair up into a sedate style and changed into her most nondescript day gown. After telling her father as coolly as possible that she was off on a shopping spree, she donned a dark cloak and concealing bonnet and hurried from the house.

The Honorable Millard Prescott, magistrate and an ardent king’s man, sat on the high bench glaring down at Noah, his heavy-jowled face florid beneath his white, curled wig. “You presume too much, Lord Kincade!”

“I am an innocent man!” Noah protested furiously, feeling suddenly desperate. He had come into his arraignment believing that he would be vindicated, but he knew now that had been a foolish hope. The case against him was clear, and all the evidence indicated his guilt. “I was trying to wrestle the gun from Lord Radcliffe when it accidentally went off. The pistol belonged to Radcliffe! He was threatening me! Had I not fought him, Your Honor, I would be the dead man right now, not Lord Radcliffe!”

“We have a witness-Mr. Bartley-who, as you know, has testified to the fact that you forced your way into Lord Radcliffe’s home and threatened His Lordship’s life. This witness has declared in a sworn statement that Lord Radcliffe sent him to bring the authorities because he was afraid of you. We also have a sworn statement from the officer who returned to the house with Bartley. He states that they found Lord Radcliffe dead and you standing over him wtih the murder weapon in your hand.”

“It was self-defense!”

“Lord Radcliffe is dead, while you are most alive, sir.”

“Radcliffe was the one who introduced the gun to our argument! He-”

“Silence!” the judge’s voice cut through Noah’s attempt to explain.

Stricken, realizing that the truth was not going to come out, Noah fell silent.

“Lord Radcliffe has been murdered, and there is additional information that adds weight to the testimony already given against you. It appears that you and Lord Radcliffe had a major confrontation at a party at Major Winthrop’s home. Is that true?”

“Yes,” Noah ground out, feeling Radcliffe’s trap closing more securely about him.

“And is it also true that this argument was over a supposed connection between yourself and the dissidents who are calling for independence for the colonies?” Judge Prescott demanded, his eyes narrowing accusingly as he regarded Noah. He thought it most revolting that a nobleman of Lord Kincade’s status could possibly be involved with such rabble.

“Yes, there was an exchange of words between us regarding that subject, but-”

“Lord Kincade! I have not asked for a dissertation from you, merely an answer,” the magistrate interrupted before he could say more. “Isn’t it also true that your family is virtually penniless? That your fortunes are all but lost?”

“Yes.” Noah answered tersely as he fought down the feelings of humiliation that threatened to engulf him. He had feared that such evidence would appear, and his fears had not been unfounded. He held himself proudly, mindful of who he was, and the dignity that went with that position.

“Is it not also a fact that your brother, Lord Matthew Kincade, has recently married one Faith Hammond, whose father was a known political troublemaker?”

“The fact of my brother’s marriage is irrelevant to the case against me,” Noah stated with dignity and righteousness.

“Lord Kincade, these other things may have substantial bearing on the case, and we must give careful consideration to all possibilities,” the magistrate instructed harshly. “Your request for release is denied. From the facts I have before me, I think it would be ludicrous to even consider it. Trial will be in three weeks, and until that time, you will remain in custody.”

Noah went white-faced at his pronouncement. He glanced back into the sea of faces of the spectators who’d watched his debacle of justice and caught sight of Matthew. His brother had risen to his feet at the judge’s announcement, his fists clenched in frustrated fury, his expression anguished in his torment. Though Noah wished he could comfort and somehow reassure him, he knew it was impossible. He kept his own silver-eyed gaze inscrutable as their eyes locked in a silent exchange. At the guard’s direction, Noah turned away from Matt. With what little control he had left, he allowed himself to be led from the courtroom, maintaining his calm demeanor even now in the face of his greatest travail.

Matthew watched Noah go, and he realized how humiliated his brother had been in having his bid for freedom denied, and their losses revealed publicly. Desperate and worried, Matt knew the evidence was damning, and he wondered if Noah had even the slightest chance to prove his case.

“If he’s convicted of murder, as it seems he will be, they’ll hang him!” a man who’d been sitting near Matthew proclaimed to a companion, and Matt couldn’t help but overhear their conversation.

“You really think so? He is a nobleman…” His friend expressed his doubt.

“Of course.” The man nodded firmly. “It was Lord Radcliffe he killed, and they can’t let that go unpunished. Kincade will face the gallows.”

“But what about those other charges? Do you think he really is involved with the rebels? That would amount to treason!”

“Indeed it would, but who knows? Either way, if he’s convicted, he’s a dead man,” the man concluded almost flippantly.