Prudence Read online

  An hour later, my curls still wet from a hasty washing, I sat in Julie’s bar, lapping up a large glass of wine, and talking out of the corner of my mouth like a gangster, so as not to asphyxiate Pendle with the smell of onion. He looked even rougher than Jane, his face greyish-green with tiredness, his eyes heavy-lidded and red-rimmed. I hoped it was from poring over legal documents not loose-living. When I first saw him I wondered why I’d been eating my heart out for him. Then, as the wine curled down inside me, the old magic started working again.

  ‘Have you had any exciting cases?’ I asked.

  ‘Just routine stuff, but I’ve got a big case coming up tomorrow.’ He smiled slightly. ‘Defending a rapist.’

  After the way he’d tried to pull me the night we’d met I was tempted to point out that he must have plenty of experience in that field. But it seemed a shame to rot up the evening so early on.

  ‘Will you get him off?’

  ‘The odds are against it. My client’s a man called Bobby Canfield. He’s sales manager of a small export-import firm in the City. He’s charged with raping,’ he lowered his voice slightly, ‘Fiona Graham.’

  I whistled. ‘Rick Wetherby’s girlfriend? But she’s ravishing.’

  ‘Ravished you mean,’ said Pendle.

  Rick Wetherby was a very successful racing driver, absolutely dripping with charisma and money. His affair with Fiona Graham had been well publicized in the papers.

  ‘Weren’t they about to get married?’ I said.

  Pendle nodded. ‘Bobby Canfield was her boss. She claims he asked her to work late — the day before she was due to give up work actually. Rick Wetherby turned up unexpectedly to collect her from work, and found the door locked. She claims Canfield had raped her.’

  ‘How exciting! Had he?’

  ‘Well, they definitely had it off. I’ve got to prove it wasn’t rape. The Wetherby clan are naturally out to hammer Canfield, and they’ve got the money to do it. They’ve hired Jimmy Batten to prosecute. He’s one of the best QCs in the country. Canfield should have got a QC to represent him too. I’m not really a big enough shot, but I handled his sister’s divorce a year back and I suppose he was impressed by that. He says Fiona Graham was absolutely asking for it. But it’s going to be a bugger to prove.’

  ‘Girls don’t usually “ask for it” when they’re about to marry something as luscious as Ricky Wetherby,’ I said.

  ‘Exactly,’ said Pendle, ‘And Canfield’s got a shocking reputation with women.’

  He held up his hardly touched glass of wine in the shaft of light from the table lamp, rocking it in the thick glass so it looked almost black. His eyes were just dark hollows now in a white drawn face.

  ‘It’s your big break,’ I said, wonderingly. ‘Aren’t you terrified?’

  He grinned and filled up my glass. ‘Absolutely shit-scared.’

  ‘It’ll be packed out,’ I said wistfully. ‘I wish I could come and hear you.’

  ‘You can if you like,’ Pendle said. ‘If you can get the day off I’ll save you a place in court.’

  If the onions hadn’t been making a comeback, I’d have kissed him then and there.

  There was a heavy frost that night. Next morning, smothered in Jane’s red fox fur coat, I walked to the tube. Each twig and blade of grass glittered with whiteness. The last yellow leaves covered the parked cars and crunched like frosted cornflakes beneath my feet. Outside the court the crowds shivered and stamped their feet. They were mostly motor racing fans, anxious to catch a glimpse of Ricky Wetherby and his beautiful fiancée. For the sake of procedure her name was supposed to be kept a secret, but everyone knew who she was.

  Once inside I was utterly turned on by the theatrical atmosphere of the packed courtroom, the rows of journalists lounging and exchanging gossips, the solemn beefy policemen and the array of wigs and robes. The Judge, in scarlet, was a little mole-like man with bright eyes and a twitching inquisitive nose. He looked capable of ferreting out the truth, and not likely to stand any nonsense.

  Opposite, sitting in the vast dock, was Bobby Canfield, raffish, handsome, his face slightly weak about the mouth and chin, his hair thinning and too long at the back. And there was Pendle, even paler than ever, but outwardly calm and looking sensational in a grey wig and gown.

  James Batten, QC, a sleek, dark, dapper otter of a man in his early forties, opened for the Prosecution, and for half an hour in magnificently sculptured prose had the privilege of so blackening Canfield’s character that before a word of evidence was heard there seemed no longer any doubt about his guilt.

  ‘In the dock, ladies and gentlemen of the Jury,’ he said in tones of fastidious horror, ‘is a man charged with a revolting offence, a typing pool Don Juan who took advantage of this inn-o-cent girl, so in love with her handsome fiancé that there was no other thought in her head but her marriage in a few weeks’ time.’

  Canfield’s face was expressionless, but there was a muscle going like a sledgehammer in his cheek, and he was twisting his signet ring round and round his little finger. You could see Batten had impressed the Jury. Oh poor Pendle, I thought in anguish, what chance has he got?

  ‘I shall now call my first witness, Miss Graham,’ said Batten, smoothing his sleek hair with an air of anticipation. The Press and public gallery licked their lips. Fiona Graham did not disappoint them. She came into court wearing a grey wool dress with a white collar, a Hermes scarf attached to her Gucci bag, her shoulder-length blonde hair brushed back from a smooth forehead. With her blue eyes downcast, and a slight flush on her beautiful pink and white complexion, she indeed looked the picture of inn-o-cence. I thought the white puritan collar was overdoing it a bit, but there was no doubt the Jury were impressed. As she took the oath in a whisper, you could feel the waves of approval and sympathy. Even the Judge looked more benevolent.

  Batten rose with a reassuring smile.

  ‘Do you recognize the man in the dock, Miss Graham.’

  She bit her lip, looked at Canfield, gave a shudder and said she did. Then in a clear, but occasionally quavering voice, aided by much sympathetic prompting from Batten, she told the court how Canfield had asked her to stay late, as he was going to be out of the office next day, how he waited till the building was deserted, then tried to kiss her. Running to the door she had found it locked, whereupon Canfield had ripped her dress open, forced her back on the desk and proceeded to rape her. Afterwards when she was still sobbing hysterically, there was a hammering on the door. After telling her to straighten her clothes, Canfield had opened the door and found her fiancé and Miss Cartland, the head of the typing pool, outside.

  ‘My fiancé then insisted I went to the police,’ she whispered. ‘I didn’t want to.’

  With a sob in her voice she went on to say how excited she had been about the wedding. She was so beautiful and so touching, you could see the pity on everyone’s face; two of the women jurors were surreptitiously wiping their eyes.

  In this emotionally charged atmosphere, Pendle rose to cross-examine.

  ‘Hasn’t a dog’s chance,’ muttered a fat woman on my right, offering me a glacier mint.

  Pendle, too, reassured Fiona Graham with a slight smile. His voice was quiet and gentle in direct contrast to Batten’s histrionics.

  ‘When this unfortunate event occurred, you were getting married in six weeks’ time?’

  She nodded.

  ‘I think we could all agree your fiancé is a rich man?’

  ‘Yes, he is.’

  ‘In fact, marriage to him would represent a considerable change in your circumstances?’

  It was almost indecent the caress Pendle could get into his voice. Listening to the soft unhurried syllables, Fiona began to relax, her pretty white hands with their colourless nails unclenched on the Gucci handbag.

  ‘I gather you’ve been working for Mr Canfield for three months, that you came as a temporary and stayed on? Was that because you liked Mr Canfield?’

  ‘No. Not especiall
y, but he wasn’t in the office much, and I liked the other people who worked there.’

  ‘As you were marrying such a rich man, with so much to do before the wedding, was it strictly necessary to go on working?’

  Fiona Graham’s eyes widened.

  ‘I wanted to be independent. My fiancé’s given me so much. I’m not married to him yet. My mother’s a widow and she hasn’t got much to pay for the wedding. I wanted to help out as much as I could.’

  The Jury nodded sympathetically. Pendle examined his finger nails.

  ‘If you needed money,’ he said softly, ‘why didn’t you get a job nearer your flat, where the fares would have cost you less, and you could have earned more money? After all temporaries can get up to £80 a week, but I gather you were only getting £45 working for Mr Canfield.’

  ‘When one’s getting married,’ said Fiona sweetly, ‘there’s so much to think about. It’s a strain adjusting to a new job. I’m not a very good typist. I thought it would be less hassle to stay where I was.’

  ‘Better the devil you know,’ said Pendle. ‘Did you find Mr Canfield attractive?’

  Fiona Graham shuddered.

  ‘No,’ she said sharply. ‘Anyway I’m not interested in other men. I love my fiancé.’

  ‘In fact you disliked Mr Canfield?’

  ‘I didn’t dislike him, I was embarrassed the way he looked at me.’

  ‘In what way?’

  ‘Well,’ she blushed, ‘as though he wanted me.’

  ‘Then why did you work late?’

  ‘I wanted to do my job properly,’ she said with a sob. ‘I never dreamed he’d abuse my trust.’

  She was like Little Nell, little death knell where Pendle was concerned. The Jury were looking at him with loathing. He seemed unmoved.

  ‘You claim that the evening the so-called assault occurred, Mr Canfield ripped your dress open and a button came off. What happened to the button?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ she whispered. ‘I w-wasn’t in a fit state to…’

  There was an agonizing pause; then Pendle said in a voice of ice.

  ‘Earlier you told my learned friend you were crying hysterically because the defendant had taken advantage of you, and this crying was overheard by Miss Cartland who runs the typing pool, and later by your fiancé?’

  ‘That is correct.’

  ‘I suggest,’ hissed Pendle, ‘you were crying because you were caught in a trap. The wedding was only six weeks away, your financial set-up necessitated making a rich marriage, but you suddenly discovered you weren’t in love with your fiancé at all, but infatuated with Mr Canfield.’

  Jimmy Batten leapt to his feet.

  ‘M’Lord, I must protest.’

  Fiona Graham burst into tears. ‘It’s not true,’ she sobbed. ‘I love Ricky. I hate and detest Mr Canfield.’

  There was so much desolation in her voice I thought Pendle was going to get lynched.

  ‘Cold-blooded bastard,’ said my fat neighbour. ‘I bet he treats women badly.’

  ‘He does,’ I said, accepting another glacier mint.

  Pendle picked up a piece of paper.

  ‘Does the name Gerry Seaton mean anything to you?’

  Suddenly Fiona was still, like a wary animal, but her tone was flat when she answered, ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

  ‘It’s a simple question,’ said Pendle politely. ‘Do you or do you not know a man called Gerald Seaton?’

  ‘I have never heard of him.’

  ‘You didn’t spend a weekend with him in the Cotswolds on July 30th and 31st this year?’

  ‘Certainly not.’ She allowed herself a little hauteur now.

  Batten was on his feet again. ‘My Lord,’ he said wearily, ‘I hardly see this is relevant.’

  ‘Get back to the point, Mr Mulholland,’ said the Judge.

  ‘No more questions,’ said Pendle and sat down.

  Fiona Graham was followed by an impressive array of prosecution witnesses, including the office crone, shivering with venom, all hammering another nail into Canfield’s coffin. Pendle battled valiantly with each one, but didn’t make much headway.

  Finally, to the excitement of many of the crowd who recognized him, Ricky Wetherby went into the box, and was so handsome, godlike and suntanned, and so distressed in a stiff upper-lipped way that within seconds the whole court was on his side.

  ‘And that concludes the case for the prosecution,’ said Batten. Ricky Wetherby stepped down. The judge looked at his watch, and we adjourned for lunch.

  Pendle stopped for a few words with Canfield and his poor shattered wife, and then joined me outside.

  ‘You were great,’ I said. ‘I never dreamed you’d be that good.’

  He shook his head. ‘It’s going to be rough this afternoon. Come on, we’ve only got an hour.’

  It was still bitterly cold, but a weak sun shining through thin clouds like a sullen pearl had melted most of the frost. A few typists were feeding the pigeons as the taxi bowled through Lincoln’s Inn Field. Our destination was a hot steamy little pub with dark-panelled walls, which seemed to be full of lawyers. I was about to say how nice it was when I stiffened, for there at the bar, downing a large whisky, stood Jimmy Batten.

  ‘Look,’ I hissed.

  ‘I know,’ said Pendle.

  Jimmy Batten turned round and smiled at us.

  ‘You made it. What can I get you?’

  ‘A large whisky please,’ said Pendle. ‘You can afford it too, out of the vast fee you’re no doubt getting out of the Wetherbys. You had a bloody good morning.’

  ‘Might go either way,’ said Jimmy Batten with unconvincing modesty.

  ‘I must say you do dump your clients with indecent haste,’ said Pendle. ‘You ought to be reported to the Bar Council. You can’t have spent more than ten seconds reassuring the lovely Miss Graham. I thought you might bring her in here for a drink.’

  ‘Oh she’s far too inn-o-cent for dives like this,’ said Jimmy, winking at me. ‘Aren’t you going to introduce me to this ravishing creature?’

  I was gazing at them both open-mouthed.

  ‘But you’ve been sneering and glaring and hissing at each other all morning,’ I gasped.

  ‘I know,’ said Jimmy. ‘It’s part of the act, shows we’re trying. What can I get you to drink?’

  ‘A large gin and tonic, and her name’s Prudence,’ said Pendle, giving me a cigarette. ‘You were in rare form, Jimmy; all those references to Tarquin and Lucrece.’

  ‘Have to give the Jury their pornographic kicks,’ said Batten, ‘only way of keeping them awake.’

  ‘I suppose you’re going to butcher my client this afternoon?’

  ‘I’m going to carve him up, my dear. Ice and lemon?’ he added, handing me my drink, ‘And doesn’t he deserve it?’

  ‘Pru thinks he’s innocent,’ said Pendle. ‘She’s with me, and don’t forget it.’

  I’d never known him so friendly. Perhaps it was because Batten was so important.

  ‘She’s much too pretty to waste herself on a cold fish like you,’ said Jimmy, his merry dark eyes sparkling, and stroking my fur coat as though I were a cat. I found him very attractive; he had all the assurance of the older man, but none of the pomposity.

  ‘Since you find her so alluring,’ said Pendle, ‘would you mind feeding and caring for her while I nip back to chambers and sign some documents?’

  ‘Delighted,’ said Jimmy Batten with such alacrity that it took away some of my disappointment at Pendle sloping off. After all, all the women’s magazines encouraged one to get on with his friends.

  ‘Don’t listen to a word Jimmy says,’ said Pendle, running a finger down my cheek. ‘Lawyers are the most frightful gossips.’

  And he was gone. I felt myself go crimson both at the unexpected caress, and the speculative way Jimmy was looking at us.

  Jimmy and I ate shepherd’s pie and shared a bottle of wine, crammed thigh to thigh in a panelled alcove. Jimmy was blissfully e
asy to talk to — particularly as he was just as interested in yapping about Pendle as I was.

  ‘I never expected him to be that good,’ I said.

  ‘He’s brilliant. Mind you, he’s a bit too cool to go down well with a jury. He hasn’t got an easy ingratiating personality, and he knows it, but he’s good at asking questions. He doesn’t say anything really offensive, but before the witness knows what’s happening he finds himself tied up in knots.’

  ‘He did it with my boss the other night. It brought the entire dinner party to a halt.’

  Jimmy grinned. I noticed how many laughter lines he had on his face. It was sad Pendle had none. ‘I admire the way he never gives up on a case,’ he said, filling up my glass. ‘I bet he’s up to something now, trying to rootle out a piece of evidence that’ll blow my case sky-high. Not that it’ll do him any good; it’s obvious as hell Canfield’s guilty. Has he been taking you out for long?’

  I knew he was pumping me now. I must be careful.

  ‘Since the summer.’

  ‘It’s the first time I’ve seen him with a girl.’

  ‘That’s nice,’ I said.

  ‘I sometimes wondered if he weren’t a bit the other way,’ said Batten, idly, ‘and he’s working hard to sublimate it.’

  ‘Queer you mean?’

  He shot me a sidelong glance and nodded. ‘He refers to “the lovely Miss Graham”, for example, but he’s totally unmoved by her.’

  ‘Oh no,’ I insisted in horror. ‘He’s certainly not queer.’

  ‘You’ve got proof, have you? I must confess if you belonged to me, I couldn’t keep my hands off you. Have an enormous brandy and tell me more. I’m sorry to keep staring at you, not that it’s not a pleasure, but you remind me of someone and I can’t for the life of me think who it is.’

  ‘Pendle said that the first night we met,’ I said.

  I had an uneasy feeling he knew a lot more than he was letting on, and such was the warmth of the room, and the amount I’d drunk and the cosiness in his manner, I was tempted to pour out my anxieties about Pendle. Then I remembered about lawyers being terrible gossips. I wasn’t sure I trusted Mr Batten, so I changed the subject.