William Monk 07 - Weighed in the Balance

not lie entirely within his power to decide. His personal fortune comes from royal lands at home. Many of them are on the Prussian borders. If there were a war to retain independence, Klaus von Seidlitz would not be the only one to lose the majority of his possessions. She was always aware of that.”
    A chilly smile crossed her face. “Just because a person spends her life in the pursuit of pleasure, dresses sublimely, collects jewels, mixes with the rich and the idle, does not mean she is unaware of the source of the money or does not keep a very sharp mind to its continuing flow.”
    Again there was the rumble from the gallery, and a man raised his voice in ugly comment.
    “Is that deduction, Countess Rostova?” Rathbone inquired, ignoring the crowd. “Or do you know this of your own observation?”
    “I have heard Friedrich mention it in her presence. She didnot wish to know details, but she is very far from naive. The reasoning is inescapable.”
    “And yet she was happy—in fact, eager—that Friedrich should spend time alone in conversation with Count Lansdorff?”
    Zorah looked puzzled, as if she herself did not understand it, even in hindsight.
    “Yes. She instructed him to.”
    “And did he?”
    “Of course.”
    The gallery was silent now, listening.
    “Do you know the outcome of their discussion?”
    “Count Lansdorff told me Friedrich would return only on condition he could bring Gisela with him as his wife, and in time as his queen.”
    One of the jurors let out a sigh.
    “Did Count Lansdorff hold out any hope that he could be prevailed upon to change his mind?” Rathbone pressed.
    “Very little.”
    “But he intended to try?”
    “Naturally.”
    “To your knowledge, did he succeed?”
    “No, he did not. At the time of the accident Friedrich was adamant. He always believed the country would have them both back. He believed that all his life. Of course, it was not true.”
    “Did he express any belief that Count Lansdorff would yield?”
    “Not that I heard. He simply said that he would not consider going without Gisela, whatever the country’s need or anybody’s conception of his duty. He thought he could face the issue.” She said it with little expression in her voice, but her face was twisted with contempt and it was beyond her control to hide it.
    Harvester turned to Gisela and whispered something, but she did not appear to answer him, and he did not interrupt.
    “I see,” Rathbone acknowledged. “And the rest of the day, Countess Rostova?”
    “The weather improved. We had luncheon, and then some of the men went riding over the open country. Gisela suggested that Friedrich go with them, but he preferred to remain with her, and I believe they walked in the gardens, then had a game of croquet.”
    “Just the two of them?”
    “Yes. Gisela asked Florent Barberini to join them, but he felt he would be intruding.”
    “Prince Friedrich seems to have been very devoted to his wife. How can Count Lansdorff, or anyone, seriously have believed he would set her aside and return to Felzburg to spend the rest of his life without her?”
    “I don’t know,” she said with a little shake of her head. “They did not live in Venice. They had not seen them closely for years. It was something you would not accept as true unless you had seen it. Friedrich seemed hardly able to do anything without her. If she left the room, one was aware he was waiting for her to return. He asked her opinion, waited for her praise, depended upon her approval.”
    Rathbone hesitated. Was it too soon? Had he laid sufficient foundation yet? Perhaps not. He must be sure. He glanced at the jurors’ faces. They were looking confused. It was too soon.
    “So on that day they played croquet together through the afternoon?”
    “Yes.”
    “And the rest of the gathering?”
    “I spent the afternoon with Stephan von Emden. I’m not sure about anyone else.”
    “But you are sure about Friedrich and Gisela?”
    “Yes. I could see the croquet lawn from where I was.” Harvester rose to his feet.
    “My lord, all the witness is establishing is that Prince Friedrich and Princess Gisela were devoted to each other, which the world already knows. We have all watched their meeting, their romance, their love and the sacrifice it has cost them. We have rejoiced for them and wept for them. And even after twelve years of devoted marriage, we now know that their love had not dimmed in the slightest. If anything, it was