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.“That’s a wombat,” she explained, pointing.“These are sloths, that one with the big ears is a fennec fox, the monkeys are Capuchin and those fist sized creatures with what looks like a shell, are Armadillos.”“How do you know all that?” he asked.“Etchings in nature books mostly,” she explained.“Although I have seen an adult wombat before, preserved and displayed in a museum.”“Do people really keep wild animals as pets?”“They do,” she assured him, although her tone said that she disapproved of the practice.“Most of these aren’t large enough to cause much injury but keeping big cats is madness.”They continued shopping and Damaris bought a few trinkets, while Nathaniel picked up a few items he thought his mother and sister would like.They returned to the modiste to collect Annabelle, then browsed a little longer, stopping into a tea shop for refreshments and a snack, then Damaris spotted a bookseller and spent a while choosing some books.As well as factual titles, which were all she had been reading recently, she also browsed the fiction section, choosing a few novels that she liked the sound of.They returned home mid-afternoon and were surprised to realise that they had visitors.Not expecting to entertain while in London, they hadn’t brought the butler, hence it was a rather flustered footman who told them that His Grace, the Duke of Wellington; the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, Baron Tenterden, Lord Abbott, and the Lord Chancellor, Lord Scott, Earl of Eldon, were awaiting them in the parlour.Annabelle took Damaris’ purchases for her and after sharing a worried look, Damaris and Nathaniel headed into the parlour.Wellington stepped forward as they entered and made the introductions.“Do not look so fearful,” he said, taking her hands and guiding her to a sofa.“I confess that last night, I was ready to bay for blood but after conferring with these esteemed gentlemen, we are unable to pursue charges of treason at this time.“Unable to?” she asked.“Charges for High Treason must be brought within three years,” Lord Baron Tenterden explained.“We have discussed all the exceptions to this but unless we uncover a plot to assassinate the King, it is hopeless.Even supposing that we were able to bring charges, the law states that we must have two witnesses at trial and unfortunately, we are only sure of one traitor.If he gave us the names of those involved, we may possibly be able to ‘turn’ another one of them to act at witness for the King but given the three year rule, it is a moot point.”From being fearful of torture and a brutal death sentence for her brother, Damaris now felt rather worried that they would escape justice completely.“Have you discussed how to proceed?” Nathaniel asked.“We have,” Wellington assured her.“There is of course the murder to be prosecuted, and no doubt other crimes were committed while they were engaged in espionage.Depending on the role each man played, we believe that we can ensure justice, albeit limited.To that end, we have arrested your brother and detained his wife,”“You arrested Christopher!”“Yes.Runners were dispatched a few hours ago and your brother is likely in the Tower as we speak.”“The Tower of London!” Given its rather gruesome history and the fact that her brother hadn’t been taken to a normal prison, she felt that the trace of hysteria in her voice was not untoward.“Rest assured, your brother will be fine.We ordered him to be detained there so that we could best keep his imprisonment a secret; we don’t want his accomplices fleeing before we have their names.”“Can I see him?” she asked, not believing that he wouldn’t be harmed.“I’m afraid not, and I must ask you not to tell anyone of his detainment.”“And if he gives you a confession?” Nathaniel asked.“We will arrest those he names and they will proceed to trial.”As they discussed the legal proceedings, Damaris felt as if she was listening to the conversation from a great distance, and her mind was assaulted with images of her brother being beaten (if not tortured) for a confession.Yes, he had been involved with the murder of her father but no matter what he had done, Charles Howard was not a punitive man.He believed in reform and would not wish to see his son suffer, under any circumstances.There were 220 crimes that were punishable by death and no matter how minor the crimes with which Christopher might be charged, given that he was a traitor, he would likely not be shown the leniency that many were.His only chance was to be tried by his peers, who were usually lenient with other aristocrats.“Can he be tried in the House of Lords?” she asked, unknowingly interrupting Wellington.Wellington looked to Lord Abbott, who answered her question.“Unfortunately not.While of noble ancestry, neither your father nor your brother is a peer of the realm.He must be tried by the Court of Assizes.”As Lord Chief Justice, Abbott was head of that court.“Can I beg you to show leniency to him? Flog him, banish him, imprison him if you must but please, do not kill him
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