The Secret Life of Miss Mary Bennet by Katherine Cowley (the reading list book txt) 📗

Society for Literacy and Improvement of the Poor. At least, there is not now. It was disbanded six years ago, and I could not find any more information on it besides that. There are currently three active societies in Brighton to improve the town.

There are a number of families with the surname May, but I discovered three individuals with the first initial of M. One is Martha May, another is Matthew May, and the final is a Martin May.

I do hope you visit Brighton soon and tell me all about your stay at Castle Durrington.

Your friend,

Maria Blankenbeckler

Mary could not help but be disappointed in Maria. She had provided no information whatsoever about the different Mays, not their ages or occupations or associations. When Mary returned to the castle, she would write Maria another letter requesting more information, though she did not know if Maria would be an effective or efficient source. Kitty had approached her task with much more vigor.

At least, though, Maria had found one useful fact. But if there was no Brighton’s Society for Literacy and Improvement of the Poor, then what had taken Lady Trafford to Brighton with such urgency on the day that Mary had arrived at Castle Durrington, the very same day that Mr. Holloway had met his end?

Mary resolved to be more diligent at recording her thoughts and observations in her writing book. Thus far her notes had been sporadic and incomplete, yet with more diligence, perhaps then she could unravel the mysteries around her.

*

November 10: Withrow spends a lot of time managing the estate (though the butler and housekeeper do hire and supervise the servants). For an estate this size, I would expect them to employ a steward.

November 11: Lady Trafford went to Worthing to meet with friends. It appeared she brought gifts for the poor old gossip again.

November 12: I went to Worthing so I could report to Monsieur Corneau. I did not directly state that I had overheard Colonel Coates discussing smuggling, but I indirectly referred to it by saying I had heard rumors around town that Colonel Coates might not be dealing completely in forthright ways. Corneau brushed off my concerns, expressed full confidence in Coates, and insisted that Coates’s behaviour was completely aboveboard and any rumors to the contrary were unfounded. He then wanted to know who I had heard that from, but I said I did not know who it was. I wonder if Corneau might, in some way, be involved in this venture.

In part to change the subject, I mentioned Anne’s damaged gravestone. Corneau said it was unlikely that it had anything to do with the current events. He confided in me that it was an old enemy of Lady Trafford’s who had performed the deed, someone that she had framed for a crime, but would not elaborate further. Yet Miss Shaffer said they never discovered the identity of the vandal.

November 13: Lady Trafford disappeared for most of the day and came back from the milliner with a new hat.

November 14: Almost caught. Well, I was caught. Following Withrow. I managed to pretend I had a question for him. I need to keep more distance next time and bring my drawing supplies as an excuse.

November 15: After French, I followed Withrow. He went to the trees in the Roundel. I think he met someone, but I could not get close.

November 16: Lady Trafford cares a great deal that everything be absolutely perfect for the ball. She has given me a large amount of advice on how to act and behave.

November 17: I feel like my sister Kitty—I want to write about the “revelations” I have to share. Perhaps, like Kitty, I should start with the small one first.

Revelation the first. According to the milliner, Lady Trafford did not visit last week. Did not remember the hat I described. Where is the hat from?

Revelation the second. I spent several hours in the lending library in Worthing, searching old newspapers. I believe that I found the event Monsieur Corneau referenced. Two months before Anne’s gravestone was damaged, there was a man, half-French, half-English, who was arrested for highway robbery. He claimed he had been framed, though the newspaper did not state by whom, simply stating “by a prominent woman in the community, who had been the one to provide the evidence leading to his arrest.” He escaped from prison a week before the gravestone was damaged and was caught a week later. No mention was made in the newspaper that he was the one responsible for the gravestone’s damage. I knew that Corneau must have known another way, so I did more research, and I discovered that the arrested man was none other than Corneau’s nephew.

As I have reflected back on the day I found Mr. Holloway’s body, I have realized that Colonel Coates may have been completely unaware that Corneau asked me to spy for them. Indeed, I wonder if Corneau was reporting what I discovered to Coates at all, or simply gathering the information for his own purposes.

November 18: My letters have been examined again. I think where I am keeping this book is secure (hidden under the bed pressed between the wood and the bed itself).

November 19: Mr. Parker has been absent for a whole week but has now returned. I asked him if he had gone to visit family. His answer was evasive.

November 20: Two of the servants were let go today. I do not know what happened, but Mrs. Boughton was upset, and Fanny would not speak of it.

November 21: At church, Lady Trafford kept looking at a window that faced the cemetery, but she did not visit the cemetery.

After church, the merchant who had spoken to Colonel Coates about smuggling pulled Mr. Shaffer aside and spoke to him in hushed tones. I was unable to overhear much of the conversation, but I do believe it was about smuggling.

November 22: Withrow went to the Roundel again today to meet with someone, at the same