The Late Heiress: The Amberley Chronicles

by May Burnett

  Violet frowned. “Will they suspect Thomas over this leak? That might be awkward.”

  “He was never employed by the Home Office and swore no oaths,” her mother reminded her. “If the letter was supposed to be secret, any impropriety attaches to whoever in the Home Office showed it to Thomas, rather than to him. And who can be sure of the source? Over the years any number of clerks must have seen the letter.”

  “Besides, there was more than one letter,” Nell said pensively. “I wrote to the Prime Minister as well. Secluded as I was, I did not realise that my uncle was his partisan. And apart from that, -“

  “Lord Melbourne?” Violet exclaimed. “He also ignored your plight?”

  “Now that I am older and have seen a little more of the world, it surprises me less. But to be fair, I did not ask for help, merely to keep the letters on file.”

  “The officials concerned may not want to admit to these letters’ existence,” Mrs. Ellsworthy warned. “No matter what exactly you wrote, their inaction looks bad.”

  “According to Thomas, they did not believe the letter authentic at the Home Office, and put it in their crank file,” Violet recalled.

  “I am convinced they would have shown far more alacrity to investigate, had Colville been a Tory.” Mrs. Ellsworthy rang for the maid to take away the remains of their lunch.

  The door opened as they were rising from their chairs. Roger and Thomas entered the room side by side. Nell’s heart swelled, as always when she saw Thomas after a separation, no matter how short. She was getting positively maudlin these days. How strange that after twenty years of proud independence, she now felt so strongly part of a couple. Before her marriage she had had no idea how much her very identity would be changed.

  “Have you eaten?” Mrs. Ellsworthy asked.

  Roger nodded. “Yes, at the Club with Uncle Henry. He wants to interview Nell this afternoon, prepare affidavits and depositions, and move ahead as swiftly as possible. He is already considering what barrister to hire – only the best will do for such a high-profile case.”

  Nell bit her lips. “That must be very expensive.”

  “Don’t worry, darling,” Thomas said, “Sir Henry believes that we may soon be beyond financial troubles for the rest of our lives. He won’t charge us anything if we lose. Maybe the barrister, if we need one, will be equally willing to wait.”

  “We should still sell the bigger jewels –,”

  Thomas shook his head. “On no account, Sir Henry told me, until your title to them is absolutely clear. You are not to think of selling or pawning a single piece.”

  “Very well.” Other things being equal, Nell too would prefer to keep these trinkets her mother had valued, and leave them to her own oldest daughter someday. “I put myself in the hands of the experts.”

  Mrs. Ellsworthy nodded approvingly. “Henry knows what he is doing. You will not regret it.”

  Chapter 25

  Alarmed by the number of critical articles in the press – after the Argus had broken the story, several other publications had gleefully taken it up – the government moved swiftly to head off the budding scandal.

  “They want to prevent a repetition of the Lady Flora case of four years ago,” Sir Henry explained to Nell and Thomas in Uncle’s James study, after they had gone over the proofs and testimonies. “The political overtones of the comments and letters are alarming, and the implication that another young noblewoman may have been wronged for callous political calculations is unpleasant.”

  The sensational revelation that Lady Marian Colville was still alive, and that an impostor might have drowned in Chatterham in her place, had fascinated the readers of the more popular papers all over the country. There was a great deal of unpleasant speculation, however, about the authenticity of Nell’s claim.

  Fortunately so far Nell was not directly exposed to the barrage of rumour and conjecture. As far as the public and society knew or cared, she was Mrs. Seymour, visiting with her husband’s relatives in Mayfair.

  There had been a vehement family discussion, almost an argument, how safe it was for her to venture out of the house. Thomas, Roger and Uncle James maintained that after the kidnapping attempt in Lincolnshire, where Roger had been identified as her travelling companion, Colville and Robles must be having their house watched; possibly Amberley House as well. Accordingly it would be dangerous for Nell to venture outdoors even veiled and with a phalanx of stout footmen. “A bullet can be fired from the crowd,” Roger said, “no matter how many guards surround you.”

  The ladies were much less fearful, including Nell herself. Pleasant, sunny weather beckoned temptingly through the windowpanes. Yet sooner or later, when she was publicly identified as Lady Marian, a simple walk might become even more risky. How long would it take till she could safely promenade or drive in Hyde Park, only five minutes’ walk from her current abode? All of society did so; she could hardly wait to join them. Violet and Roger went out to balls or other entertainments every night, as the Season was in full swing; but until her uncle was vanquished, Mrs. Seymour could not join them.

  Violet’s contention that the modish poke-bonnets were as good as a disguise, as they made it impossible to identify a lady unless you stood directly in front of her, had been summarily dismissed by her father and brother, who claimed that the mere way a lady walked and held her head could give her away. In the end it was agreed that Nell must only travel when it could not be avoided, in closed carriages and veiled.

  “The Prime Minister wants all concerned parties to meet under the auspices of a mediator of his choosing,” Sir Henry announced. “It is excellent news for our side, for it means that they are taking the accusations seriously. If we can properly marshal our proof, we may resolve the issue without ever bringing it to court.”

  It sounded almost too good to be true. Nell knew that a letter stating her husband’s claim was ready to be sent to her uncle, but Sir Henry had so far held it back, while searching for additional witnesses to buttress her case. Was it too early for a decisive confrontation? She wanted nothing more than to get it over with, but not at the expense of losing her case through lack of preparation.

  “Why would my uncle agree to this mediation?” Nell asked. “Is it not in his best interest to ignore us and delay?”

  “That might have been true without the press and public getting involved. Lord Colville’s honour is on the line now, and his political influence will be altogether lost if he refuses,” Sir Henry explained. “You would not know, but to any politician that is an exceedingly painful loss. With such notoriety clinging to his name, he has just as much interest in a swift resolution as we do. His argument will be that you are a bold adventuress, trying to grasp the dead Lady Marian’s inheritance out of greed, and slandering him into the bargain.”

  Thomas looked grim. “Are you sure?”

  Sir Henry opened his hands in an expansive gesture. “Colville has no choice, really. He cannot possibly admit that he mislaid his niece years ago and there was no public hue and cry to find her again, and even less, that he staged the fatal accident. The latter would ruin him – suspicion of murder would inevitably arise. There is some already.”

  Indeed a good half of the public was inclined to believe that the drowned lady had been the heiress after all, and that her death had been ordered by her greedy uncle. It certainly made for a melodramatic narrative.

  Almost nobody thought that the drowning had been an accident, after the peculiar circumstances had been thoroughly debated. Another popular theory held that Lord and Lady Colville had driven the orphaned heiress to commit suicide through their cruel neglect. The noble couple’s silence was seen as damning, but nothing was held against them so much as their lack of outward mourning.

  “I feel bad about Lady Colville and her children,” Nell said. “Though this scandal is my uncle’s fault, they must all hate me by now. Will Lady Colville be present at this hearing? Who else will be there?”

  “Each side can bring u
p to six persons. A personal representative of the Prime Minister, Lord Ingleby, will preside and report to him afterwards – and to the Crown, one presumes. We must win him over, or at the very least plant sufficient doubt in his mind not to decide against you.”

  “Ingleby?” Thomas frowned. “He must be seventy at least, and as far as I know, he is not active in politics. I would have expected the Prime Minister’s representative to be a Tory insider.”

  “The choice of an independent whose decision will also be acceptable to the Whigs is an excellent sign. His party may be ready to throw Colville to the wolves.” Sir Henry quickly added, “We must not be overly optimistic, of course.”

  “How good are our chances?” Thomas asked. “Realistically?”

  “At least even, but it is by no means a sure thing. The Earl has to explain some odd elements in his behaviour, and demonstrate where his niece resided over the past five years before she supposedly came to drown in Chatterham; but such stories can be fabricated with a little ingenuity. His solicitor will have prepared a suitable account, which we shall need to discredit. Our case has weaknesses, too. It has to be admitted that young Nell – or I should say, Lady Marian – has behaved in a manner unusual and unbecoming a proper young lady. Her actions, once they come under scrutiny, will be severely criticised.” Sir Henry looked at Nell, not without sympathy. “You had better brace yourself for that. Running away as you did contradicts the image of a frail, helpless victim.”

  Nell shrugged. “If I had been a frail helpless victim, I would not be here today, but either dead or in some madhouse.”

  “Quite; but the public deprecates anything that deviates from their conception of a sweet, innocent young maiden. More to the point, a starchy old man like Lord Ingleby may be equally unwilling to make allowances for your strong-minded nature. Living away from your guardian’s family and working for your sustenance will not garner you admiration except from a tiny minority of free-thinkers. We shall play up the sufferings and fears of those years in exile, but it is hard to calculate the effect in advance.”

  Nell frowned, but kept her reflections to herself. It sounded as though she would be required to play a part – but why? She was Lady Marian Colville – Lady Marian Seymour, now – and proving that fact should have been enough. Apparently the most important court she had to face was public opinion, stricter and more demanding than any judge. “And if this Lord Ingleby takes one look at me and decides I am an impostor?”

  “Then we still have the option of bringing suit against Lord Colville. It is not over until an actual judge has given his verdict. But if Colville wins in Tuesday’s hearing, regaining your estates will become at least twice as hard, and far more lengthy and expensive.”

  Which they could ill afford. Thomas looked determined, but Nell fervently wished she had not had to embroil him in all these troubles.

  “Can the parties bring outside witnesses?” Thomas asked. “I assume that will be essential to establish both cases.”

  “Yes,” Sir Henry said, “and it leaves us very little time. For instance, should we bring someone from the school in Liverpool to testify to Lady Marian’s whereabouts? Since they only knew her under a false name, I fear it will do little good.”

  “The coroner, Mr. Binkton?” Thomas suggested.

  “We have thought of that. He has taken sudden leave, and is nowhere to be found.”

  “Robles must have tipped him off.” Nell gnawed her lips in frustration. What an elusive scoundrel that fellow was, despite his hospitable, pleasant wife. “Surely that is a suspicious circumstance?”

  “It could also be a mere coincidence,” Sir Henry poured cold water on her hopes. “Though we shall do our best to paint it as significant. We do have some witnesses, and I am still hoping to find more, but our side will stand and fall with your own testimony.”

  “That is not enough,” Nell said, worried. “What of the letters I wrote, and my father’s seal? What of my mother’s jewels?”

  “Every little thing will help, but people often put the wrong construction on facts. We’ll go through every detail several times, with Sir Neil. He won’t be there at the hearing, but he’ll help you prepare.”

  Nell nodded, suppressing a sigh. Sir Neil Sommerton was the barrister Sir Henry had retained for her. He could twist every little thing to its opposite with a barely perceptible sneer. She had the greatest respect for his acting abilities, but if the opposing side’s man was half as good, she would be in trouble. As Sir Henry and Sir Neil kept drumming into her, it was not enough to have truth and right on your side, you had to make it appear so to others who might be obtuse or malicious. After this was over, she never again wanted anything to do with lawsuits for the rest of her life, if she could help it.

  Thomas took her hand in his and squeezed it comfortingly. At least she did not have to face this ordeal all alone. “Who are the six people on our side?”

  “You and your husband, myself, Hendrikson and young Roger. Roger can testify to your wedding, and to the fact that he and Thomas found your mother’s jewels in the place you had described to them, inside Colville Hall. Also to the kidnapping attempt in that inn.”

  “But he and Thomas had no right to enter the grounds,” Nell fretted. “I would not want to get them in trouble.”

  “We can imply that the hiding grounds were just outside the wall, rather than inside,” Thomas suggested. “As long as we don’t have to testify under oath.”

  “I would rather keep the jewels’ location in reserve, so it may not come to that. The kidnapping is suggestive but there is no proof that Colville himself was involved, or even knew of it.”

  “From what Aunt Marianne told us about Lady Colville’s visit, I doubt that Colville will bring his wife,” Thomas said. “There will be Robles as the earl’s solicitor, and probably some witness who will perjure himself about Lady Marian’s whereabouts, until she was healed enough to stay in Chatterham. Most likely a physician. Should we bring a doctor of our own, to challenge that?”

  “Physicians are rarely willing to discredit each other in front of outsiders. I’m still considering it, but inclined not to bother.”

  “Did you find any of the former servants whose names I gave you, or my governess?” Nell asked. “It is mortifying that so few people in the world know me under my birth name. Apart from the school in Liverpool, I have met more people since I set out for Chatterham and married Thomas, than in my whole life before that.”

  “Your governess, Miss Minnow, and your former servants must not have access to the Argus, or similar publications, but we are trying to trace them via the employment agencies. A pity that your parents believed in educating girls quietly in the country. It would be better in retrospect, had you been allowed to associate at least on occasion with local society.”

  “There were all those mourning years, but even before that, my parents did not want me to mix with children of lesser families, and pick up undesirable habits or expressions. Looking back on my childhood, in some respects it was like a luxurious prison.”

  “Hardly different from most children’s life,” Thomas pointed out, and put a comforting arm around her waist.

  Chapter 26

  Aunt Charlotte and Violet had critically inspected Nell’s sparse wardrobe, and instantly summoned their favourite seamstress with her three assistants, and an expert corset maker. Even the two new dresses Nell had commissioned in Yorkshire in addition to her wedding gown found only qualified approval.

  “Nothing here will do for the hearing, or your first official appearance in society,” Violet told her with brutal honesty. “The dresses from Yorkshire are acceptable for everyday wear in the country, but standards are very different among fashionable London society.”

  She was not telling Nell anything her own eyes had not already confirmed. “Since my uncle is cutting me off from my inheritance, I cannot afford to dress sumptuously just now. Compared to my school wardrobe, these gowns are the height of luxury.” She had n
ever asked Thomas for money, and did not know how much he had available this close to the end of the quarter. The subject had never come up; he simply paid for everything.

  “That may well be,” Aunt Charlotte said, “but you cannot afford to look poor – it would reflect badly on the whole family, and encourage those who think you an adventuress. You need to appear modest and virtuous, but as elegant as though you were already in possession of your fortune. You owe it to Thomas to dress better, and he would be the first to tell you so if he were here. I will remind Thomas to give you pin money –,”

  “No, please, let me deal with that.” Nell did not want Thomas bothered or humiliated by his aunt’s well-meant reminder. She had already caused him enough headaches.

  Nonetheless, Nell yielded to their persuasion and ordered several new gowns. The sewing was inexpensive enough; it was the vast quantities of expensive cloth required for current fashions that were fearfully extravagant. Wryly she wondered how long it would take to lose her current notions of economy, and become used to ordering expensive things without regard to the price. A month? A year? Maybe never, if they failed to recover her inheritance.

  Lady Amberley was consulted about the preferred styles and colours. Her sense of taste was held to be impeccable, “while mine is hit and miss by comparison,” Aunt Charlotte admitted. “I like very bright colours, which may not be the best choice for you just now; and I am not as fond of lace as the current fashion demands.”

  Fashion had not changed greatly in recent years. Small waists were the most essential badge of elegance, and all ladies went tightly corseted, so as to help sustain the inner organs properly. Poke bonnets in various forms were tied with huge ribbons or festooned with playful veils, and framed corkscrew curls in most cases, from the young queen downwards. Nell’s straight hair curled easily enough with hot irons, but she would be relieved once this particular fashion passed and she could simply pin her hair up, as she had done as a teacher.