The judge leaned forward. “Is this leading somewhere, Mr. Rathbone? So far your questions have seemed to elicit only the obvious.”

“Yes, my lord. I am about to ask Lord Ravensbrook about the relationship between the two brothers, as he observed it from childhood. I am merely seeking to establish that he is an expert in this field.”

“You have done so. Please proceed.”

Rathbone bowed, and turned back to Ravensbrook.

“When you first knew them, my lord, were they fond of each other?”

Ravensbrook hesitated only a moment. His face held a curious look of puzzlement and distaste, as if he found it distressing to answer the question.

“Yes, they were extremely . . . close. At that time there was no division between them.”

“When did you first notice a division?”

Ravensbrook did not reply. His face reflected a pain and a distaste which was hardly surprising. To remember that time when Angus and Caleb had loved one another was a peculiarly bitter contrast with the present. The sympathy for him was palpable in the room.

“My lord,” Rathbone pressed, “when did you first notice the beginnings of a division between the two brothers? We need to know, and you are the only one who can tell us.”

“Of course,” Ravensbrook said grin-fly. “It was almost three years after their arrival. Angus was always a . . . a quiet child, studious, obedient.

Caleb appeared to resent it. He was far less easy to discipline. He would take correction very poorly. He had an unfortunate temper.”

In the dock, Caleb jerked his head up, and the movement caught the eye of several of the jurors. They looked at him with a new interest.

“Was this division between them on both sides?” Rathbone inquired. Again Ravensbrook hesitated for so long Rathbone was obliged to repeat the question.

“It did not appear so,” Ravensbrook answered at last. “Certainly as time passed, Angus became more . . . diligent in his studies, more of an agreeable companion-”

Caleb let out a snort which was almost a cry. There was rage in it, but an undertone of pain as well, and Rathbone suddenly felt the weight of rejection in it, even all those years after, the confusion and realization of the less favored son. He thought of his own father, and the bond between them. He could not recall ever feeling it threatened. Jealousy was unknown to him.

“And Caleb was not?” he prompted.

Ravensbrook's jaw tightened and his face was very pale.

“No,” he said flatly. “He was rebellious, argumentative, a perverse child.”