Christopher Redmayne could see at a glance that he was not going to like him. Lady Whitcombe and her daughter were as pleasant as ever but Egerton Whitcombe exuded hostility from the moment he stepped into the house. While the ladies sat, he preferred to stand. When they accepted the offer of refreshment, he spurned it with a rudeness that fringed on contempt. Christopher's polite enquiry about his visit to France was met with a rebuff. Whitcombe made no attempt at civility.
'I was so anxious for Egerton to meet you,' said Lady Whitcombe with a benign smile. 'I wanted to still any doubts he has about you as an architect.'
'It's not Mr Redmayne's architecture that's in question, Mother.'
'Then what is?' asked Christopher.
'Your family, sir.'
'Egerton!' scolded his mother. 'You promised not to raise the matter.'
'It cannot be ignored.'
'Your son is correct, Lady Whitcombe,' admitted Christopher, ready to confront the problem honestly. 'You've doubtless heard about the unfortunate circumstances in which my brother finds himself. But the situation is only temporary, I do assure you. Henry is innocent of the crime with which he's been charged and I've every confidence that he'll be released in due course.'
'I admire your loyalty to your brother, Mr Redmayne,' said Whitcombe with a faint sneer, 'but you can hardly expect us to share it. Everyone else in London believes him to be guilty and you'll not persuade me otherwise.'
'I'd never attempt to do so.'
'You'd be rash even to try, sir.'
'Perhaps we can leave the matter there,' decided Lady Whitcombe.
'No, Mother.'
'Are you determined to exasperate me, Egerton?'
'I'm determined to bring everything out into the open,' he said, ignoring her warning glare. 'You may have no reservations about Mr Redmayne but I think it would be foolish and impolitic to link our name with that of his family.'
'A decision has already been made,' she said with steely authority, 'and it will not be changed. Now, let's have no more of your bleating.'
'I must be allowed to speak my mind, Mother.'
'Enough is enough!'
There was a long silence. It was broken by an involuntary giggle from Letitia, who had not taken her eyes off Christopher since she had been in the room and who had blushed deeply at her brother's forthright comments. Conscious that her giggle was out of place, she mouthed an apology then shrank back in her seat. At best, it would have been an unwelcome visit because Christopher did not wish to see his client at such an awkward time. The presence of Egerton Whitcombe made the discussion very painful. Silenced by his mother, he was now glowering. Christopher chose to address his objections in the most reasonable way.
'Lady Whitcombe,' he began, 'it's absurd to pretend that a problem does not exist here. I do not blame your son for adopting the attitude that he takes. It is, alas, one that's shared by the vast majority of people. That's regrettable but understandable. What I propose, therefore, is this.'
'You've no need to propose anything, Mr Redmayne,' said Lady Whitcombe.
'Hear him out, Mother,' advised her son.
'Yes,' added Letitia nervously. 'I'd like to know what Mr Redmayne has to say.'
'It's quite simple,' said Christopher. 'Since my family name is under a cloud, would it not be sensible to set aside the contract that I have with you and leave it in abeyance? As it happens, the weather conspires against us. It may be some time before work could begin on site and, by then, I am certain, my brother's fate will have been decided. His name will be cleared and your son's objections will be removed.'
'Supposing that your brother is hanged for his crime?' asked Whitcombe.
'He did not commit any.'
'Then why is he being held in Newgate prison?'
Christopher took a deep breath. 'In the event that Henry is found guilty - and there have been miscarriages of justice before - then my contract with Lady Whitcombe is null and void. I accept that.'
'Well, I do not,' she asserted.
'It's your son for whom the house is primarily being built.'
'I'm glad that someone else appreciates that,' said Whitcombe.
'Do you consider my offer a fair one?'
'I do, Mr Redmayne.'
'Then that's how we will proceed.'
'No,' insisted Lady Whitcombe. 'I commissioned the house and I'll hold you to the contract that you signed. Whatever the outcome of the trial, I want to see the property built and I wish you to remain as its architect.'
'So do 1,' Letitia piped.
'Keep out of this,' snapped her brother.
'I'm entitled to an opinion, Egerton.'
'You simply do as Mother tells you.'
'And you would be wise to follow her example,' said Lady Whitcombe.
'Please,' said Christopher, trying to calm them down. 'I do not wish to sow any family discord here. I'm honoured that you selected me as your architect and would hate to be compelled to withdraw from the project. At the same time, I have to acknowledge that there are peculiar difficulties here so I offer you a compromise. Let us wait. What harm can there be in that?'
'None,' said Whitcombe, partially mollified.
Christopher turned to his client. 'Lady Whitcombe?
'I need to think it over,' she replied before shifting her gaze to her son. 'Well, Egerton. Did I not tell you what a considerate man Mr Redmayne was? He has taken your objections into account. I think that you owe him an apology.'
'For what?' asked Whitcombe.
'Your bad manners.'
'It's not unmannerly to protect the good name of your family.'
'Indeed not,' said Christopher, quick to agree with him, 'I'm in the process of doing the same thing myself.'
'Even though you may be wasting your time.'
'That remark was uncalled for, Egerton,' said Lady Whitcombe reproachfully.
'We shall see,' he said. 'Well, now that I've met Mr Redmayne, I'll not take up any more of his time. I have friends to call on. You know where to find me, Mother.'
Christopher had hoped they would all leave but it was only Egerton Whitcombe who was shown out. The hostility towards his host was still there but it was not as pronounced as before. Feeling that he had at least achieved a degree of victory, Whitcombe walked off in the direction of Holborn. Christopher braced himself before returning to face the two ladies in the parlour. He conjured up a pleasant smile.
'You must forgive my son,' said Lady Whitcombe when he reappeared. 'His stay in France has coarsened him somewhat. Egerton is normally so amenable.'
'As long as he gets what he wants,' observed Letitia.
'That's not true at all.'
'Egerton does like his own way, Mother.'
'He takes after me in that respect.'
Christopher sat opposite them and sensed an immediate change of mood. They were not there solely to talk about the new house. Both of them were now looking at him with a mingled respect and admiration. Letitia tried to suppress another giggle but it came out in the form of a squeak instead. Her mother nudged her sharply before looking around the room.
'What a charming house you have here, Mr Redmayne,' she said.
'Yes, Lady Whitcombe,' he replied. 'I'm lucky that it still stands.'
