Ernest turned his back on me, trembling with anger. “You are defending a murderess. She killed my brother. She might have killed me, too.”

“Ernest!” Justine called. He ran from the room. Justine’s sobbing intensified. “Ernest, please! He is so upset. Where is William? William needs me. Elizabeth, please. Where is William? I will take care of William while you go and help Ernest. Please bring me William. He is fine, I know he is. He has to be.”

I shook my head, covering my mouth so I would not cry.

“Elizabeth.” Her eyes were wild and feverish. “Please. Help me. Tell me where William is. Tell me why they are saying— Tell me it is not true.”

I could only stare at her. I saw the moment the truth finally broke through her haze. The moment she finally grasped that William was beyond her care, forever. The light in her eyes, so frantic, died. She dropped her head and fell to the marble floor.

“Let me help her!” I shouted. Judge Frankenstein took my elbow in a tight grip, and I could only watch as the men lifted Justine and carried her out the door. “Let me help her! She is innocent!”

I turned to my captor, glaring up at him as my tears cooled on my cheeks. “You know she is innocent.”

Judge Frankenstein shook his head. “There is evidence both for and against her guilt. We must trust the courts to rule justly and fairly. It is all we can do. If she is innocent, they will discover it. And if she is not…” He raised his free hand and then lowered it. It could have been a shrug, but it looked like the motion of the terrible lever that operated the gallows trapdoor. “Then they and God will see to her punishment.”

I shoved my arm forward and then ripped it back, breaking his grip. I ran outside, but I was too late. They had already bundled Justine into a boat and were out of my reach.

I needed to get to her. I ran to the dock, but the only boat left was occupied by a man we sometimes hired to row us across. “My apologies,” he said, and he did look sorry. “They said not to let you cross right now.”

I let out an animal scream, shocking him. Then I ran into the trees. I knew what Justine would want. She would want me to go to Ernest, to take care of him.

What did I care for him? He had believed her guilt with the barest of evidence! How could he? How could any of them!