“If that is the case, Lady Virginia, perhaps you could explain your father’s words at the time of the wedding, recorded in the Daily Express by William Hickey: My daughter was ready to call off the whole thing if Giles hadn’t agreed to her demands.”

“Gossip column tittle-tattle, written to sell newspapers, Mr. Trelford. Frankly, I’m surprised you feel the need to resort to such tactics.”

Sir Edward couldn’t resist a smile. His client had clearly seen that one coming.

“And later, in your evidence,” said Trelford, moving swiftly on, “you went on to blame Mrs. Clifton for your divorce.”

“She can be a very determined woman,” said Virginia, “as I’m sure you yourself have discovered.”

“But surely your divorce had nothing to do with Mrs. Clifton, but was rather caused by the quarrels you had with your husband about him being cut out of his mother’s will?”

“That is not true, Mr. Trelford. Giles’s inheritance never interested me. I married him for richer, for poorer, and frankly, since you mention it, I was richer than he was.”

This caused enough laughter in court for the judge to scowl menacingly down from her bench.

“So it wasn’t you who insisted that Sir Giles should issue a writ against his own sister, disputing the validity of his mother’s will? That was another shared decision?”

“No, that was Giles’s decision. I think I advised against it at the time.”

“Perhaps you’d like to reconsider that answer, Lady Virginia, as I can always call Sir Giles as a witness, and ask him to set the record straight.”

“Well, I admit that I felt Giles had been treated rather shabbily by his family, and that he had the right at least to question the validity of his mother’s will, as it had been rewritten while the poor lady was in hospital, only days before she died.”

“And what was the court’s decision on that occasion?”

“The judge came down in favor of Mrs. Clifton.”

“No, Lady Virginia, he did not. I have Mr. Justice Cameron’s judgement to hand. He ruled that the will was valid, and that Mrs. Clifton’s mother was of sound mind when she executed it. Which is particularly relevant, considering what she had to say about you at the time.”

Sir Edward was quickly on his feet.

“Mr. Trelford,” said the judge sharply, before Sir Edward could offer an opinion, “we have already traveled down that road and it came to a dead end. Do I make myself clear?”

“I apologize, my lady. Would you have any objection to my asking Lady Virginia if I could read out—”

“Yes, I would, Mr. Trelford. Move on,” she said sharply.