Free Fraudsters and Charlatans by Linda Stratmann Page A

had felt nervous about being presented to this notable polymath, she need not have worried, since he immediately fell victim to her charm: ‘her manners are extremely graceful, her countenance surprisingly fascinating,’ he later wrote. ‘Such is the general effect on all who behold her, that, if before suspected as an impostor, the sight of her removes all doubt.’ 15
    The words ‘fascinating’ and ‘interesting’ so frequently used of Mary have sexual connotations not apparent today. She was not conventionally pretty, but she had something about her of the wild creature only partly tamed which was bound to thrill. Mary always behaved with extraordinary modesty, shrinking away from even the most innocent male touch, yet it was known that she bathed naked. She had all the allure of a painted nude, a stimulation that was permissible in the name of Art.
    Mary’s imposture was greatly assisted by the fact that, for a variety of reasons, people wanted to believe in her. For some she provided the challenge of solving a puzzle, and the chance to make a public display of their erudition. For others, such as Dr Wilkinson, the prospect of a book, or even a lecture tour, must have beckoned. In Elizabeth, Mary appealed to sympathetic and charitable instincts, and brought much-needed excitement to her humdrum life. For a lady approaching fifty, with two sons, Mary may have supplied the place of the daughter she had never had. Samuel Worrall’s motives are more difficult to decipher. No doubt pleased that his intellectual younger wife had something with which to occupy her mind, he may have thought that the presence in his home of foreign royalty might shore up confidence in the Tolzey Bank, the fortunes of which were in a highly precarious position.
    Dr Wilkinson examined the marks of cupping on Mary’s head and declared authoritatively that it had been done by no method used in Europe. To him, the inability of the Oxford scholars to identify her language only added to the mystery. Mary had now been the admired plaything of the cognoscenti for eight weeks, yet thus far nothing had appeared about her in the Bristol or Bath newspapers. This was to change. Dr Wilkinson, a lover of publicity, wrote a long letter to the Bath Chronicle , describing Caraboo and how she had appeared at Almondsbury, and asking if anyone had observed her so as to reveal the ‘circumstances, which have placed a most interesting female in a situation truly distressing’. 16 It was usual practice for regional and national newspapers to copy articles from each other, and so before long Princess Caraboo was featured in newspapers all over Britain. Everywhere, people wondered about her and sent letters to Knole with their theories. Wilkinson also announced his intention of taking Caraboo to East India House in London, to be examined by experts.
    Mary must have felt uneasy about this publicity. Not only did it increase her chances of making a mistake, but she was afraid that the descriptions of her in the newspapers might be seen by someone she knew. She was right. Mr and Mrs Starling read about Caraboo with great interest, and had no difficulty in recognising their servant. They thought of writing to Mr Worrall, but decided against it. For all their later assertions that they were fond of her, they feared her eccentricity and were worried that if she found they had informed on her, she would waylay Mr Starling on his walks home. Therefore they said nothing. The wheelwright’s son had no such concerns, however, and wrote to the Worralls with his suspicions. From that moment, Mary noticed a subtle change in her protectress, who ‘would not be left alone with her; and every thing looked shy and suspicious’. 17 On 6 June Mary ran away again, and, as before, took nothing with her. Elizabeth, who was obviously still not convinced that her charge was an impostor, was frantic with worry and sent servants in all