The Daughters of Gentlemen by Linda Stratmann Page A

and what lies on it, and wealth you may put in your pocket. There is money you may enjoy freely and money which is already spoken for before you get it.’
    ‘And Mr Matthews’ wealth?’
    ‘He has land and buildings on a nice little estate at Havenhill, not far from Uxbridge, which he uses to produce his income, but he has suffered lately as so many have with the downturn in trade, and he also made large losses when the bank crashed. He is not ruined, and neither is he poor, but he has a large family. One son has gone abroad to make his own way in business and one daughter is married, but there are three boys at school, three girls unmarried and a ward. How is all that to be paid for?’
    ‘One or two wards?’ asked Barstie, thoughtfully. ‘That hardly matters,’ replied Chas. ‘Any number of wards are cheaper than one daughter. Grateful for whatever they are allowed. Related through some cousin or other of his late wife.’
    ‘But there is a rumour —,’ said Barstie with a smile.
    ‘Not just a rumour but a very popular belief —,’ said Chas significantly.
    ‘Practically a certainty —,’ added Barstie.
    ‘That Mr Matthews hopes to mend his fortunes by marriage.’
    Money and marriage, thought Frances. How closely they were related. Even though the law now permitted married women to keep what they earned or inherited after they were wed, it was still believed to be in their own interests that such property as they possessed on marriage should pass to their husbands.
    ‘When is the wedding to be?’ asked Frances.
    ‘Oh, never, if I hear it right,’ said Chas. ‘The lady in question is none other than Mr Paskall’s sister, a duchess no less, and a widow, who has a fortune and a most determined mind of her own.’
    ‘And intends to hold on to them both,’ said Barstie.
    ‘Mr Paskall has alluded in the newspapers to his noble connection,’ said Frances, ‘chiefly when he discusses the coming election, but I had not realised it was so close as a sister. How did that come about?’
    ‘It is a pretty tale,’ said Chas. ‘The lady is Margaret, Duchess of Kenworth, and all by the strangest chance.’ Having ensured the attention of his audience, Chas helped himself to more cold meat and refreshed his teacup before proceeding.
    ‘The first Duke had three sons and she married the youngest one. But it was not a prudent marriage for it was all for love and nothing else. And no sooner were they wed than she found that her husband was addicted to the bottle and had squandered what little fortune he had. Luckily for the lady the two older brothers were sympathetic to her position, but then it suited them to be. To avoid scandal and trouble to themselves they agreed to pay their unfortunate brother an allowance, but only so long as he never touched a penny of it and his wife consented to look after him. Peace of mind and respectability, and all to be had on the cheap, or so they thought, because no one would have given twopence for their brother’s chances of living another six months. But the lady still loved him and devoted herself to him, and under her care he was very much improved, and I am told that when he was sober he was a good husband. They had a daughter, who is said to be very beautiful and delicately brought up. But here is where the hand of fate can be seen. The eldest brother, who was by then the second Duke, married a lady who, while excellent in almost every way, was unable to supply him with an heir. He urged his brother – the second son – to marry, and the poor fellow was on his way to pay court to the lady of his choice when he suffered an unfortunate accident and died. Ten or so years later, the Duke himself passed on, and the youngest brother – on the longest possible odds – found himself the third Duke, with land and money and plate and paintings, not that he was able to enjoy them for long.’
    ‘And these will all belong to the Duchess’s husband if she marries again?’