Midsummer's Eve

"She said she did not know where he was. It was only when she read of him in the papers at the time of his death by drowning in Australia that she understood who he was. She knew nothing of his wealth and title. She says that when he was drowned with the woman who thought she was his wife and his illegitimate son, and she read about it in the Sydney Gazette, there was no doubt in her mind. She knew she was reading about her father because it gave his history how he went out there for seven years because he had killed a man for attempting to rape a gypsy girl, how when his term was served he had heard of vast estates and a title awaiting him in England. How he had left Australia and returned to England. She was only a child when he went away and never knew him very well, but her deserted mother used to tell her about him. She says that when he came into his fortune he wanted to forget his life in Australia, so he just walked out and went to England ... and there he married. But she insists that marriage was no true one.”

"She read of it in the papers. Do you think... ?”

"I understand what you mean, Miss Cadorson. She read of what had happened and thought she would perpetrate this fraud. Your father had been in Australia; he had returned to England. She knew that. She had the facts. That's what you mean. But her story is just possible.”

"I don't believe a word of it.”

"I do not want to. But she says there is a certificate of marriage, which states clearly that there was a marriage with Jake Cadorson. It is an unusual name and this allegedly took place while your father was there.”

"Is this a real marriage certificate?”

"We shall have it examined of course. But I find this very disturbing.”

"What sort of woman is she?”

"Young. A little older than yourself. That fits of course. Her story undoubtedly has a certain plausibility.”

"And just suppose it is decided that she is telling the truth?”

"I am afraid she could claim the estate.”

"You mean ... Cador would be hers.”

He looked grim. "There might be some arrangement.”

"What sort of arrangement?”

"As you have lived at Cador as your father's legitimate daughter for the whole of your life to date, we might be able to preserve something. I cannot say. It will be a matter for the judiciary. I thought of calling in advice. You might decide to contest the case.”

"I cannot believe that my father would marry a woman and then desert her just because he had inherited his family home.”

"It is hard to believe. But people do the strangest things. He was out there. He had been a prisoner. He had lived a hard life. He may have, at some time, thought he would continue to live out there. He did acquire land and was working on it when the news came to him. It might have been that he did not think his wife-if that was what she was-would fit into the ancestral home or to life in England. It may be that he wanted to cut off all ties with the country of his captivity.”

"He would not have left her. He would not have come back and married my mother.”

Mr. Tamblin sighed. "What we shall have to consider is whether this certificate is true or false. I am of the opinion that a great deal will hang on that.”

"Where is it?”

"She guards it carefully. She knows that her case rests on it. When the time comes she will let it go but not, I fear, to me, for she knows I act for you.”

"What sort of woman is she?”

Mr. Tamblin paused. "She ... er ... is not the sort of person I should expect to be your father's daughter.”

"What must we do?”

"I want to get a verdict on the marriage certificate.”

"Does anyone know about this?”

"I confess to telling Mr. Hanson. He has some knowledge of the law. Occasionally we exchange views and have done ever since I took over the practice. Very often business concerns the people here, and he knows them quite well. It helps when dealing with people to know something about them personally.”

"He did write to me.”

"Yes, he said he would.”

"But he did not give me any idea of the nature of the trouble.”

"No. He would be discreet.”

"So we must wait now for a verdict on the certificate?”

He nodded. "She is bringing it tomorrow. Her lawyer will be with her. Perhaps you would care to be here then. And would you object if I invited Mr. Hanson to come along, too?”

I said weakly: "No. I should not object.”

"This has been a great shock to you, Miss Cadorson, and coming so soon after the tragedy ... but what happened would never have arisen but for that. Oh dear, this is most distressing.”

I said: "I will go now, Mr. Tamblin. I will see you in the morning.”

I came out of the office and mounted my horse. I rode out of the town and up the hill to Cador.

Then I turned away. I could not bear to look at it just now. I had been so proud of it always. My home ... and now my very own. But for how long?

Could the story possibly be true? No. My father would never have deserted that woman.

He would never have married my mother under false pretences. It was not his way.