I have hand-delivered the news to her father in Bristol, who received it with much distress and grief. If Hannah left any belongings, please forward them to Mr. Thomas Rogers, 37 Hill Street, Bristol.
Sincerely,
Fred Bonner
Oh, Freddie... Tears blurred her vision. She had not stopped to consider how the news of her “death” would affect him—nor anticipated that he would take the news to her father. Poor Fred. He did not know it wasn’t true. How could he? Of course he had told her father, thinking he would want to know, even though they were estranged. Had her father really been distressed and grieved? Her eyes filled anew at the thought.
For the truth of her situation would bring him little comfort.
She next eyed Mr. Lowden’s letter. Should she return it to him unopened? Or place it in Sir John’s bedchamber for when ... if ... he fully regained his senses? Then she recalled the solicitor’s discomfort at seeing the letter in her hands. What had he written that he didn’t want Lady Mayfield to read? Swallowing sour guilt, she pried up the seal and read.
My dear sir,
I am in receipt of your letter and accept your commission with gratitude. I appreciate the confidence you place in me based on my father’s recommendation when we are so little acquainted.
I shall travel into Devonshire at my first opportunity, which is unlikely to occur before the end of the month.I’m afraid there is a great deal to do in arranging my father’s affairs, both personally and professionally. Your condolences and understanding mean a great deal to me at this time.
My father was very careful about client privacy and had not shared with me any details about the situation you mentioned in your letter. However, since you asked me to assume the management of your affairs, I have taken the liberty of reviewing the files and the past correspondence between yourself and Mr. Lowden, senior. I am sorry the situation has so deteriorated, as are you no doubt, and of course will do everything in my power to assist and protect you and your estate should the worst happen as you fear.
Thank you for the offer of accommodation whilst I visit Lynton & Lynmouth. I will look forward to deepening our acquaintance.
I am,
Yours sincerely,
James Lowden
Hannah rubbed her eyelids with forefinger and thumb. At least the man had told the truth about Sir John’s offer of a room. It wasn’t so much that she hadn’t believed him; she simply had not wanted him there. She read in the veiled, tactful words that Mr. Lowden had been apprised of Lady Mayfield’s ... proclivities. She felt shame tingle along her spine and heat her cheeks and had to remind herself again that Marianna’s shame was not hers. She had her own to bear. Words from the Psalms began coursing through Hannah like lifeblood.Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness ... blot out my transgressions. Create in me a clean heart.
She opened the last letter, also addressed to Sir John Mayfield, and posted quite recently.
Sir John,
I went to your house in Devonshire and Miss Rogers told me Lady Mayfield has perished. Yet I have seen no announcement of her death in the Bristol or London newspapers. Are you waiting to recover her body, or have I been lied to? You may think me a fool, but you, sir, are the fool if you think to put me off so easily. I will discover the truth. And if I find you are to blame for any harm that has befallen her, I will kill you myself. As I should have done long before now.
A. Fontaine
Goodness. How rash he was. And to put such a threat in writing! She recalled how devastated Mr. Fontaine had been when she’d told him the news. Now he had grasped onto a branch of hope ... and was eager to bludgeon Sir John with it.
What if Mr. Lowden had read this letter? She’d be bound for prison in no time. What should she do—burn it? She was sorely tempted. But for some reason she hesitated. The threat seemed important... perhaps evidence against the man should he return and attempt to harm Sir John, or see the same notice Freddie had seen in the Bath newspaper, and try to use it against her. She would have to hide it carefully. But where could she conceal it that no one cleaning—or searching—the room might stumble upon it? Her bedchamber seemed the safest place, near at hand and in a room no man should enter, save her “husband,” who was currently bedridden.
She considered the books in the bookcase—too few, too easy to flip through and find. The urn atop the dressing chest ... too obvious. Between the tick and bed ropes ... too easilyfound while changing the bed linens. Perhaps inside one of Lady Mayfield’s bandboxes? She rose and went to the stack of hatboxes beside the wardrobe. She opened the middle one and extracted a hat with a tall crown circled with wide ribbon.Yes... She slid the folded letter beneath the wide band, repositioned a hat pin through it, and regarded the hat from all angles. Yes, someone might look in the box and inside the hat and not notice a thing. It would do.
The letter from Fred was less incriminating—quite flattering, actually. Though mortification burned her ears when she thought of his high regard compared to her current deception. She deserved not his fair praise in life nor in “death.” Still, she did not want Mr. Lowden to have her father’s address. So this letter she tucked beneath her underthings in the dressing chest.
She contemplated the one from Mr. Lowden.... She didn’t want Mrs. Turrill or the new maid to read it and think the worst of Lady Mayfield, to look uponherwith a jaundiced eye. She was guilty of her own immorality, yes, but did not relish taking on Marianna’s as well. This letter she would put with Sir John’s things in his room.
When she returned to his bedchamber to do so, she was surprised to find Dr. Parrish still there, quietly conversing with the chamber nurse.
“Ah, my lady.” Dr. Parrish looked up and gave her an apologetic smile. “I am afraid Mrs. Weaver has had to give notice. She will be leaving us at the end of the week.”
The woman went on to explain that her daughter was nearing the end of her confinement, and she wanted to be on hand for the birth of her first grandchild.
“I understand,” Hannah said. “Though of course we shall be sorry to see you go.” She thanked Mrs. Weaver for everything and wondered uneasily who would take over her duties. Would Mrs. Parrish return, or would she be expected to do so herself? Hannah quailed at the thought.
———
Hannah went back downstairs and found Mr. Lowden at the desk in the morning room, bent over a sheaf of papers. He had obviously lost no time in making himself at home there.
