Love & War (Alex & Eliza #2)(67)

“In a manner of speaking. A judge has been selected, and a date for the hearing to commence.”

“Oh. Well, that is good news, isn’t it?”

New York City’s courts had been in chaos since the end of the occupation. Nearly two-thirds of the sitting judges, and an equal proportion of counsel, had been loyalists, and under Governor Clinton’s new laws all of them were summarily fired. The positions were being filled quickly—too quickly, Alex thought. Lawyers who barely had a few more years’ experience at the bar than he did were being named judges, the final authority in matters of law that they hardly understood.

“Mr. Hamilton?” A shadow clouded Caroline’s fair skin. “If you don’t mind me saying, you don’t seem particularly happy.”

Alex bit his lip. “It is not my intention to alarm you, Mrs. Childress. It’s just that the judge, Lewis Smithson, who has been selected to oversee the case is a recent appointee of Governor Clinton’s.”

The mere mention of the name Clinton made Caroline frown.

“I see,” she said, as if she already knew what Alex was going to say.

“Judge Smithson is not well-known in the city, but he is known to be . . . not exactly sympathetic to loyalist causes.” Alex had considered using the word hostile, but thought it too pessimistic.

“I see,” Caroline said again.

“I do not want you to give up hope,” Alex said now, putting as much vigor into his voice as he could. “There is nothing to suggest that Judge Smithson’s personal beliefs will bias him against either the rule of law or the evidence. He is inexperienced, yes, but the people who have met him say he is an honorable man. I am convinced that the soundest arguments, not to mention common sense, will carry the day.”

“Inexperienced” didn’t quite cover it: Though in his fifties, Smithson had been a member of the bar for less time than Alex had. It was Alex’s understanding that he had been a farmer before.

Caroline was trying to remain calm, but there was a tremor in her hands as she took a long sip of her beer, and then another.

“So it essentially comes down to whether you are a better attorney than, what do you call it, opposing counsel?”

Alex couldn’t keep a smile off his face. “You will forgive me for singing my own praises, but I have no doubts as to my own abilities as a rhetorician, either in print or orally.”

“I am sure your opponent—my opponent, dare I say—must think the same things about himself.”

Alex nodded, almost sheepishly.

“Opposing counsel does not lack for self-confidence.”

“You speak as if you know him.”

“Indeed, I have supped with him twice in the past week, once at the home of John and Sarah Jay, and once at his own home. He is an amiable fellow and quite charming, but strictly entre nous, he wins more cases on charm than on knowledge of the law.”

“It seems to me not to matter if he wins by fair means or foul. It is still a loss for me.”

“Why, Mrs. Childress!” Alex said, only half pretending to be affronted. “You speak as if you think there could possibly be a better lawyer in New York than I!”

Caroline didn’t seem to realize that Alex was joking to try to set her at ease. Indeed, she looked aghast that he might think she doubted him.

“Oh, Mr. Hamilton, I could never doubt you! You are my last—my only hope! My life and the lives of my children are in your hands!” she said, nervous fingers kneading at the worn fabric of her dress.

To his surprise and consternation, Caroline suddenly leapt from her chair and knelt, prostate, at his feet. “I will do anything, anything you need!” she cried. “Anything you want, I am yours. Just ask!” She stopped her hysterics for a moment and turned to him with suddenly sly look. “Anything.” It was more than clear what she meant by “anything.”

Alex shifted uneasily in his seat. He had to make clear that such advances on her part were unwarranted and more important, unwelcome. While he had always been happy to flirt at parties with married and unmarried women, there was only one woman for him, forever, no matter what temptations might lie in his path now, or in the future, and should he ever fail Eliza, he would never betray her soul. With a stab of guilt, he realized he’d spent more time with Mrs. Childress than Mrs. Hamilton lately, and vowed to ameliorate the situation as soon as he could—as soon as this case was won, of course. A man had his responsibilities, not least among them securing his position and ensuring the household bills were paid.

“Mr. Hamilton?” Caroline asked, batting her eyelashes as she knelt at his feet.

“Please, there is no reason for such dramatics. I beg you, please get back in your seat, Mrs. Childress, there you go. Do not fear, and do not doubt me. I have nearly as much invested in winning this case as do you. I will not fail us.”

His client resumed her place across from him and pretended nothing had happened, which Alex was happy to do as well. And he realized he should wrap this up and return to his patient wife, as soon as possible.

“But no one can predict the law,” Caroline said. “And the mood is so poisoned against us! Can they not see that we are all Americans, no matter how we became so?”

“They will see it by the time I am finished,” Alex replied. “I don’t care if I have to talk for two hours, or four, or the entire day. You shall have justice. I,” he added in a firmer voice, “shall have victory.”