“Very true, Mrs. Barton. Very true.” She turned the broadsheet over. “Bankruptcies. Always a sobering reminder to be thrifty.” She ran her finger over the names as she pronounced them with barely concealed relish: “‘BANKRUPTS. Robert Dean, of Minehead, Innholder. William Castle, of Taunton, Brazier. John Keates, of Barnstaple, Papermaker. Anthony Fontaine, of Bristol, Gentleman.’”
Here, Mrs. Parrish snorted. “Gentleman indeed. No longer, now that he’s passed through the gazette.”
Mrs. Barton covered her mouth, tee-heeing discreetly behind her hand like a little girl who knew it was naughty to laugh at the misfortune of others.
Hannah paid them little heed, her mind still echoing with the nameAnthony Fontaine. Could Marianna’s Mr. Fontaine be bankrupt?
Mrs. Barton nibbled a biscuit. “Pray, do read on, Mrs. Parrish.”
“Very well.” The doctor’s wife perused another column. “Oh dear. What a pity. ‘LOST betwixt Bath and Lynmouth, a GOLD RING, inlaid with amethyst and purple sapphires, engraved with the Maker’s Name, John Ebsworth, London. Whoever has found the said Ring, and will bring it to the Printer, shall receive One Pound Reward.’”
“One pound reward for such a ring?” The vicar’s wife shook her head. “I doubt such a valuable piece shall be returned when it might be sold for far more.”
“I am afraid you are right, Mrs. Barton. Human greed being what it is.”
The vicar’s wife nodded. “Unless God chooses to intervene in the heart of whoever finds it.”
Mrs. Parrish turned to Hannah. “Amethyst and purple sapphires ... Isn’t that very like your ring, Lady Mayfield?”
Hannah swallowed and nodded. “A family ring, yes.”
“Who made it, do you know?”
“I don’t.”
Mrs. Barton said, “Wouldn’t that be something if it were made by this same John Ebsworth of London?”
“I suppose there are many similar rings about the country,” Hannah said lightly, faking a sip of tea.
Mrs. Parrish frowned in thought. “Was that not the ring Dr. Parrish found in your hand after the accident?”
“Yes. He put it on my finger so it wouldn’t be lost.”
“Odd that it was in your hand and not on your finger already.” Mrs. Parrish eyed her speculatively.
Hannah shrugged, squirming under the women’s scrutiny. “I recall so little of the wreck.”
When the uncomfortable visit finally concluded, Hannah went upstairs to her room and retrieved the ring from a little box in her valise. Standing next to the window to capture the sunlight she read the fine, tiny engraving inside the band. Her heart lurched.John Ebsworth, London. No doubt just a coincidence. Surely no one had reported this particular ring lost. Many such rings were likely made. Hadn’t she said as much to her guests?
While the lady of the house entertained visitors, James took the day’s correspondence up to Sir John’s room. There he found the man sitting in a wheeled chair, reading.
James handed him a letter from Mr. Ward, his secretary, keeping him abreast of the household accounts at the Bristol property and requesting a bank draft to cover a few unforeseen expenses. “Shall I take care of that, sir?” James offered.
“Yes, if you would. Thank you.”
James hesitated. “Are you ready to talk about your will?”The reason you brought me out here in the first place, he thought to himself.
“If we must. I have decided not to change it.”
“You no longer wish to disinherit your wife beyond the marriage settlement?”
“I do not.” The man glared at him, expression fierce.
James ran a hand through his hair. He went to the door, made sure no one was loitering about, and shut it once again.
“Sir John. I think I should tell you that I know the young woman in this house is not Marianna Mayfield. She is Hannah Rogers, your wife’s former companion. I suspected something was amiss when last I was here, and have taken it upon myself to look into the matter. I spoke to her friends and to her father in Bristol. I’ve heard her described in great detail—from her slender figure to her freckles.”
James took a deep breath, then continued, “Her father knows nothing of the child, nor did I tell him. The two had become estranged and apparently Miss Rogers kept the news of her pregnancy and the birth from him, for obvious reasons.”
