The crowd fell silent, and everyone rose when the bell rang for the first round and the referee entered the ring. If Mrs. Justice Lane was surprised to find the press and public galleries of her courtroom packed on a Monday morning, she didn’t show it. She bowed, and everyone in the well of the court returned the compliment. Once they’d all settled back into their seats, with only Sir Edward still standing, she invited the eminent silk to call his first witness.

Virginia walked slowly up to the witness box, and when she took the oath, she could barely be heard. She wore a black tailored suit that emphasized her slim figure, a black pillbox hat, no jewelery, and little makeup, clearly wanting to remind all those present of Major Fisher’s untimely death. Had the jury retired there and then to deliver their verdict, the result would have been unanimous, and Sir Edward would happily have settled for that.

“For the record, would you tell the court your name and where you live,” asked Sir Edward, as he adjusted his wig.

“Virginia Fenwick. I live alone in a modest flat in Cadogan Gardens, SW3.”

Giles smiled. My name is Lady Virginia Alice Sarah Lucinda Fenwick, only daughter of the ninth Earl of Fenwick, and I have homes in Scotland and Tuscany, and a large apartment on three floors in Knightsbridge, with a butler, maid, and chauffeur, would have been more accurate.

“Can I confirm that you were formerly married to Sir Giles Barrington, from whom you are now divorced?”

“Sadly yes,” said Virginia, turning toward the jury. “Giles was the love of my life, but his family never considered me good enough for him.”

Giles would have happily throttled the woman, while Emma wanted to jump up and protest. Mr. Trelford crossed out four of his well-prepared questions.

“But despite that, and all you’ve been put through, you still don’t bear a grudge against Mrs. Clifton?”

“No, I do not. In truth, it was with a heavy heart that I finally issued this writ, because Mrs. Clifton has many admirable qualities, and has unquestionably been an outstanding chairman of a public company, making her a role model for aspiring professional women.”

Mr. Trelford began to write out some new questions.

“Then why did you issue the writ?”

“Because she accused me of wilfully attempting to destroy her family company. Nothing could be further from the truth. I simply wanted to know on behalf of ordinary shareholders, like myself, if one of her directors had disposed of all his stock the weekend before the AGM, because in my opinion that would have greatly harmed the company. But rather than answer my question, she chose to belittle me, giving everyone in that crowded hall the impression that I didn’t know what I was talking about.”