I stood. ‘Then I will go. I will take Franklin and Maggie and call at the school for Matthew. I am glad that he has been spared this scene.’
‘You will stay here! As my wife!’ he demanded.
‘I will do neither.’
I turned away but before I could reach the door, he leaped from his chair, clasped me roughly by the arm, pulled me about to face him, and shook me hard. ‘I will not take this disobedience from you or any woman! If you try to leave, I will prevent it!’
‘Let go of her!’ exclaimed Franklin, who had just burst through the door. ‘Let go of my mother!’ He ran forward and clasped his arms about my waist.
Silas turned to the boy, his face red and fierce with rage. He raised his hand. ‘Get out of my way!’
‘How dare you!’ I cried, my hand curling protectively about my son’s head. ‘Do not strike my child!’
‘Your child should be locked away as a lunatic!’ Silas seized Franklin by the arm and began to drag us both to the door of the parlour where he stopped as he saw Maggie gazing at the scene of violence. ‘Don’t just stand there girl, get the keys to the nursery and we’ll see both of these put away!’
‘If you please sir,’ said Maggie, ‘there are two men at the door. It’s the police, and they’re asking to speak to you.’
At this Mrs Holt broke down again, and Mina comforted her as best as she could.
‘The police spoke to him and then they took him away,’ Mrs Holt said, when she was finally able to speak coherently. ‘I don’t know what it was all about. Not the marriage, not that, I am sure of that much at least, that was done in good faith, and no-one can accuse us of bigamy, but there was something else, something I didn’t know about, in his past. And — I suppose I ought not to say this — but when I saw him go, I felt so relieved!’ Mrs Holt wiped her eyes. ‘I am so sorry to give way like this. I have tried to be strong for my boys, but I only have so much strength to give.’
Mina sipped her tea and said nothing. Knowing when to say nothing was an important skill she had worked hard to cultivate.
‘And now I have received a note from him. He is at the police station begging my help, my forgiveness. I don’t know what to do!’
‘So many people ask me what they ought to do,’ said Mina, ‘but in matters of the heart or conscience I am reluctant to give advice. If only because the answer is already within them. You are a good woman, Mrs Holt. You know what is right.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
The next morning, a fresh article had been published in The Times.
THE BRIGHTON MYSTERY
Nothing in this world should ever surprise us. We comment here on the latest revelations about the man who was recently held in the cells at Brighton police station, since we are given to understand that he is no longer there having been removed for his own safety.
What next, we ask ourselves?
One moment he confesses that he is the earthly form of Mr Jasper Holt, strangely recalled to life, but no, it then appears that the genuine Mr Holt is indeed no more and the unfortunate man is in fact an artist called John Chantry who had been over-exercising his imagination. And just as we thought the mystery was settled, there comes a new wonder. An arrival in Brighton, a London gentleman, Mr George Sutherland has identified the man as his cousin William; not only that but we are astonished to hear that Mr William Sutherland is the very individual who accompanied Mr Jasper Holt on his final fatal voyage.
While the family would prefer Mr William Sutherland to have nothing at all to do with the press, a sentiment which we wholly understand and approve, if only concerning the sensational papers, an official statement has been issued through the family solicitor, which is said to be the very last word on the subject. We trust that it may be, as we are not sure if we can tolerate another surprise in this surprising story.
Mr George Sutherland advises us that in 1864 when his cousin was secretary of the Brighton Yacht Club and owner of the yacht Ocean Breeze, he was a partner in a small but promising London firm of stockbrokers and engaged to be married.
The accident to Mr Holt and the cruel allegations that followed resulted in Mr Sutherland suffering a complete breakdown in his nerves. He was unable to conduct his business and his engagement was broken off. Despite being blameless in the death of Mr Holt which was due entirely to Mr Holt’s failure to follow his good advice, Mr Sutherland remained possessed by guilt, haunted by the feeling that he could have done something to prevent the accident.
Doctors advised him to live quietly somewhere. His great love was the sea and he also amused himself by drawing. Although Brighton was in one sense, the scene of his destruction he found himself attracted to it, as he felt that only there could he expiate his guilt. He never sails, and the yacht has been sold, the proceeds being used for his support, since he is quite unable to apply himself to any occupation, but he spends much of his time by the seashore, with his pencils and notebooks. Those who passed him by scarcely noticed him, but if they did, formed the opinion that he was simple-minded but harmless. Such was the disintegration of what had once been a fine intellect, that he was unable even to manage his own finances. His solicitor sent him a postal order once a month, and his landlady supplied weekly provisions.
And so, Mr Sutherland lived quietly, adopting another name to avoid comment, troubling no-one until the recent remarriage of Mrs Holt stimulated a great deal of gossip in the town. There was much raking over of old coals and unfortunately fresh speculation, some of it extremely cruel, as to the fate of Mr Holt and Mr Sutherland’s part in it. This was too much for an already tormented mind, and it precipitated another breakdown with the result we have been discussing.
The identification of him as Mr Holt by three prominent members of Brighton society must now be put aside as a mistake. The man looked older than his years and a profusion of hair and beard did not assist the matter. We are told that he has been reintroduced to the art of the bath and the barber, and a photograph of him in his younger days has also recently appeared in which he is readily identifiable.
We have not been told of his present address and we have not desired to know it. All that we do know is that he is able to live in modest comfort with the help of a male attendant.
And there we must let the story end.
Mrs Holt came again to see Mina. Many tears had flowed since their last meeting, but she was calm and resolute.
‘I decided that I would have one last meeting with Silas, but first I consulted my brother who agreed to accompany me. Gordon is a gentle kind soul. Many people, and I think Silas was one, sometimes see him as being weak and malleable, and try to exploit his good nature. When I first met Silas he seemed so strong and manly beside Gordon. What a fool I was. Oh, I know, in fact I always knew that there were reasons other than affection for the marriage, and it was such a beneficial arrangement for all concerned, especially my boys, but I had thought — supposed — indeed I had been purposely led to believe that Mr Vardy had some tender feelings for me.
You know that Gordon is godfather to my boys, and that he and his wife have no family of their own, which they would dearly have liked to have had. But they came to regard my sons as the children they were never blessed with. Gordon is very much my senior — he is fifty-nine and I am nearly forty-seven. He wanted to provide for Franklin and Matthew, especially after Jasper — especially after that. Naturally, it is far too early to say whether the porcelain business would suit them, but its value is considerable, and the business must be kept alive and flourishing for them. Gordon made a will in which he divided the business. One third went to Mr Vardy and the remainder to my boys, to be held in trust for them until they reach full age, and Mr Vardy was appointed trustee. It was an eminently sensible arrangement. Jane, Gordon’s wife will be very well provided for, have no concerns about that, she will have the house and all its contents and a handsome annuity and be very comfortable.’
Mina nodded approvingly, in a manner she felt would encourage more revelations.
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‘However,’ Mrs Holt continued, ‘this bounty to Mr Vardy came with two requirements. Gordon is not strong and while he very much hopes to be still living when the boys come of age, and he can see them become the fine men they promise to be, he wished to secure their future if he is not. As a condition of the bequest Mr Vardy was tasked with ensuring that when the boys reach the age of eighteen, they are to be offered a position in the company in order to learn the business and a more senior post when they come of age. The other requirement was for him to marry me. I am sure Gordon believed it to be for the best; he felt the boys needed a father figure who was more youthful then himself.’
There was a long silence. Mina pushed her visitor’s teacup closer to her and at last Mrs Holt lifted it to her lips and drank like one parched, to whom delicate sips were a lost refinement. ‘But you say that you knew of this at the time?’ said Mina. ‘It was not something you discovered later?’
‘I did, but I also thought that there was some sympathy between us. All too soon I found that I was wrong. Miss Scarletti, the marriage was not more than a few hours old when Silas — Mr Vardy — revealed that he had no fondness for me at all. In fact —’ she swallowed back a gulp of shame, ‘he made it very clear that my person was not pleasing to him. More than that I am not prepared to say. He said that he would do his duty by me and the boys under the terms of Gordon’s will, but that was all. It was a commercial arrangement to him, nothing more. My boys were clothed and fed and schooled, but he was not the father to them that I or Gordon hoped he would be. The kindness he showed to them when he was courting me was all pretence. It ended on our wedding day. He would never give me any grounds to divorce him, of course, he dared not since his inheritance was dependant on our marriage, but that was all I could expect.’
Mina refreshed the teacups. ‘But as it now turns out you are not married.’
‘Yes,’ said the newly minted Mrs Holt in a firmer voice. ‘Gordon has engaged a solicitor to look at the will, but he feels sure that the current situation means that its terms have not been met, and should he pass away tomorrow, Mr Vardy would inherit nothing. That is why, when Silas discovered that we were not married, realising at once that this meant that he was not after all entitled to the inheritance, his only comment was that the matter was easily put right and we should make arrangements to marry at once. He seemed quite unable to comprehend how I might regard the offer. He thought I would be grateful that he was willing to regularise our relations.’
‘I trust you will not be induced to consider it?’ Mina paused. ‘I am sorry, I should not intrude into your private business and I realised that I have overstepped — ‘
‘Oh, please do not concern yourself about that,’ said Mrs Holt, almost lightly. ‘I will never marry that man. It was a mercy that the police arrived when they did. As soon as he had gone, I packed a few possessions and walked out of the house. I took Franklin to his godfather and then I came to you. But my interview with Mr Vardy yesterday was brief. We had our solicitor with us, who reminded us that since I was not legally a wife, I would not be prevented from giving evidence against Mr Vardy at a trial, though I do hope it will not come to that. I really think he imagined that I would come to see him alone and he would wheedle me with soft words. He was very shocked to see that I came armed and resorted to argument and bluster and threats none of which did him any good. And when I saw my dear brother together with the creature Silas had become, and almost certainly always had been, I recognised what true manliness is. I will never see Mr Vardy again, and I told him so. It seems he is to be charged with some financial crime, but he will have no help from me. I owe him nothing.
‘My sister Marion, who came uninvited to care for Franklin — I can barely bring myself to speak of her. Franklin has told me about how she had been treating him and I was appalled at the harshness and insults my poor child had to suffer. I believe she fed him some soporific mixture so that she — so that she and Mr Vardy — well, I will say no more of that. She has gone back to her family and they are welcome to her.’
‘Where are you living now?’
‘We are all with Gordon and Jane who have made us very comfortable. That is myself, Franklin, Matthew and our new maid, little Maggie who has proved to be such a treasure. Did you know, I was obliged to rescue her from the clutches of that dreadful Mrs Barnham? The things I learned about that woman you would never believe.’ She shook her head. ‘There is such cruelty in the world.’
She gave a sudden smile. ‘Miss Scarletti, forgive me, I have been so wrapped up in my own woes that I have not said how pleasing it is to see you so much better in health. I hope that taxing you with my troubles has not delayed your recovery.’
‘Not at all,’ said Mina. She almost said, ‘rather the opposite,’ but decided not to.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
The next day’s post brought more revelations. First was an article in The Times.
CHARGES OF FRAUD
There has been a surprising new development in the Maritime Queen Insurance Company case, which we last heard of in 1863. Our readers will recall that this company was established with the sole intention of extracting funds from its investors and was wound up to the distress and ruin of many.
Mr Silas Vardy, who is currently a manager in the Saltmire and Vardy Fine Porcelain Company of Hove was placed under arrest yesterday and charged with conspiracy to commit fraud. He is being held in the cells at Brighton Town Hall and will come before the magistrates today. It appears that a prominent bank manager of that town, Mr William Cobbe will be the principal prosecution witness. Mr Cobbe has already been acquitted of all charges in relation to the fraud but is currently in custody on another unrelated charge about which we have no information.
In 1863 Mr Vardy was a clerk in the accountancy firm of Westbury and Co. He was acquainted with the other gentlemen suspected of conspiracy, in particular a Mr Taylor who was a cousin, and one of the main instigators of the fraud, who absconded abroad while on bail, and is suspected of having murdered his partner in crime Mr Randall.
It has been alleged that Mr Vardy’s skills were brought into play in forging the documents used in the fraud which were so nicely done that the most knowledgeable man would never have detected their falsity. We have been privately informed that Mr Cobbe retained in his possession some documents which will prove without a doubt Mr Vardy’s role in the conspiracy. Why he has not chosen to produce them until now is a question that we hope will be revealed in due course. It is being widely speculated in the town that Mr Vardy had some power over Mr Cobbe since he knew some of that gentleman’s secrets. The rumours have taken quite an indelicate turn, such that we have taken the decision not to print them here.
It also appears that Mrs Barnham the spirit medium and her servant Miss Stone are also in police custody where they are being questioned in connection with the charge against Mr Cobbe. Our Brighton readers will be well aware that whenever trouble falls upon the head of a spirit medium of that town a Miss Mina Scarletti inevitably has something to do with it, however we are told that Miss Scarletti has recently been indisposed and confined to a bed of sickness, and therefore cannot possibly have had anything to do with these recent events.
Mina had also received a long letter from Mrs Holt.
Dear Miss Scarletti,
Franklin, Matthew and I continue to reside with Gordon and Jane who are kindness itself. Their house is quite substantial, in fact rather larger than they require, and they have decided to convert a portion of it into a separate set of apartments for us. We are all very content with the arrangement.
When I told them of the good advice you had given me, they revealed that they had read about some of your earlier exploits in the newspapers. As a result, they are very eager to meet you. We really must arrange something when you are feeling stronger and are able to pay us a visit.
I thought I would write to apprise you of recent circumstances which have come to my notice and which have gone a lon
g way to improving Franklin’s state of mind. Last week I invited Mr Merridew the celebrated actor to take tea with the boys and myself. I am not sure how much you know of this, but he was once quite briefly a member of Mrs Barnham’s circle. He it was, who was clever enough to see though her trickery, something which had long deceived the rest of us. Although he is a theatrical, he is also a very respectable and gentlemanly sort of person, and I wished to thank him for opening my eyes to the dreadful trade that Mrs Barnham had been practising for so long, from which I believe she has appreciably lined her purse.
As soon as Mr Merridew arrived, I saw Franklin looking at him most particularly, but when he presented me with a portrait of himself costumed and bewigged for his most recent performance, Franklin at once became very excited and addressed our visitor as ‘Hamlet’. Now I was aware that not so long ago the school had taken a party of pupils to the theatre to see a classical play of great renown, but I had quite forgotten its title, and so had not appreciated that Franklin had actually seen Mr Merridew’s acclaimed performance as Hamlet. I am not acquainted with the play, but I have since learned that it concerns a melancholy prince who believes that his uncle has murdered his father. Well, I will not go on but while it may be instructive, and I believe the quality of the authorship is very good indeed, I am not at all sure that this is a suitable play for children to see performed, especially a sensitive boy like Franklin. The play actually has scenes in which Hamlet is confronted by the ghost of his father. The father is also called Hamlet, so that must be very confusing, but he reveals to the prince that he has been done to death by his own brother.
All at once I realised that this play was the origin of certain of Franklin’s morbid imaginings, which happened at a time when he was already very unhappy for reasons of which you are already aware. It was only after he saw the play that Franklin began to imagine he saw ghosts everywhere, especially the spirit of his father which he claimed actually addressed him and said he had been killed. I am sure that the origin of the messages came from my poor child’s own fears and general upset, and now that he knows the messages were not true, I believe he is coming to understand this.
His Father's Ghost (Mina Scarletti Mystery Book 5) Page 27
