“That is a lie.” Joan banged her hand on the rail. “She never asked for any of them. She invited Ian for tea and snatched him. Finetta she didn’t ask to see at all.”

“My Lord, Miss Enid Campbell will be called to speak under oath. She will tell the court that she did not give custody to her husband in the matter of their divorce. In point of fact, custody was given to her. It was when she asked to see them that she learnt they had already been given to their aunt. Following on from this shock, she demanded that at least her son be sent for tea. Her actions, although wholly regrettable, must be seen in context.”

“In context of a total fabrication,” exclaimed Joan.

“Then can you explain why you went on to send her daughter after him? I also understand you notified the headmistress of your eldest nephew’s school—” Crowther paused to address Lord Merrivale. “The eldest nephew is the cripple, my Lord.”

Lord Merrivale nodded.

Crowther continued, “—that Miss Enid Campbell would now be paying the bills. In other words, although you claim she didn’t want them, you allowed them all to go.”

“I believed she should have some responsibility for her offspring.”

“But not all,” said Crowther. “Only the ones you didn’t want.” He smiled again. “Let us return to the subject of your fine speech. I must say that it is somewhat unusual to hear a spinster aunt divulge the secrets of motherhood. Do tell me more, Miss Campbell. Childbirth, for example. Does social standing make a difference to how that is conducted? I have shocked you, madam. I do apologise, but this is a court of law and questions must be asked.”

“I’m perfectly aware of what this is,” said Joan.

Crowther rubbed his palms together. “Jolly good. Excellent. We are off to a flying start, are we not? Then do tell me, as we are all aware of where we are, why your youngest nephew deserves your superior care while your crippled eldest nephew and his sister do not?”

“Neither of them are my heir.”

“Is this all a question of money, madam? Have you not said that your sister is unfit to be a mother?”

“It was never my intention to strip her of her children. Fagus and Finetta were old enough to know her when she left and remember her when she came back. Ian was not. He had no memory of her at all. As far as he was concerned, I was his mother.”

“But you are not, and nor shall you ever be. Your sister, Miss Enid Campbell, is. Now, either she is fit to be a mother to all her children, or she is not. Fortunately, we have our learned judge—” he waved his hand at Lord Merrivale, who scowled into his ermine collar, “—to answer that most perplexing of questions. I understand you have never married, Miss Campbell.”