Free Jane Austen Mysteries 08 Jane and His Lordship's Legacy by Stephanie Barron

thunderclap: his looks, his air, his manners, and his social graces being of the finest. For a young man of two-and-twenty, who possesses nei-ther title nor fortune, to gain the kind of introductions Mr.
    Thrace everywhere obtained, was no less extraordinary than it was wondered at; he was carried into Carlton House on the arm of the Earl of Holbrook; was proposed for membership at White's by as many as half a dozen of its standing members; was admitted to the most exclusive assemblies without hesitation; and was no more suspected of seduction by the careful mam- Jane and His Lordship's Legacy ~ 61
    mas parading their daughters in the Green Park of an after-noon, than was the local man of the cloth.
    "But who is he, Henry?" I demanded, as my brother regaled me with the tale during our return to the cottage.
    "An orphan, reared for some years abroad," my brother replied. "His history is a delicate one--and thus discourages the impertinent from delving too far into Mr. Thrace's busi-ness. It is said that he is the illegitimate son of a peer, and will shortly be proclaimed that gentleman's heir, as the nobleman in question has no legitimate male issue; and on the basis of ru-mour and his expectations alone, Thrace has been living on tick for the past six months.1 I admire the fellow's audacity; but I wonder at his prospects. Those of us in the banking profes-sion--and any number have been applied to, Jane, for the sup-port of Mr. Thrace's debts--have taken to calling him the South Sea Bubble, from a belief that he is just such an object of speculation, and likely to leave any number of his current back-ers awash in future."
    Mr. Middleton had reined in his horse, and deigned to recognise the brother of his landlord in a very abrupt but kind-hearted fashion; had suffered an introduction to myself, and welcomed me stoutly to Chawton; had offered up his young friend Thrace to the notice of the Austen party; and avowed that he intended that very morning to call upon my mother and offer his deepest congratulations on her present fortunate state, in possessing the cottage.
    "--Tho' I cannot admire the manner of your welcome," he observed with a sober look. "My deepest sympathies, Miss Austen, on the distress of your discovery in the cellar. A most unfortunate business--quite unaccountable."
    1 To "live on tick" was to live on credit. --Editor's note.

    62 ~ Stephanie Barron
    "And certain to be much talked of," Miss Benn added in a sprightly fashion.
    "We must suppose, however, that the affair will be con-cluded with despatch. Mr. Prowting is a commendable magis-trate when necessity affords him occasion to act; he will already have communicated with the coroner, whom I believe must be summoned from Basingstoke." The invocation of so august a town conferred a certain weight to Mr. Middleton's words, and we all fell silent in contemplation of Death and its exigencies.
    Mr. Thrace, I observed, looked suitably grave; but as he uttered not a syllable, I had no opportunity to judge of his sense.
    The gentlemen of the Great House went on their way, being bound for Alton and some trifling errands among the trades-men, but not before Mr. Middleton recollected to issue a gen-eral invitation to dine with his party the following evening. As the gratifying notice included Henry and the simpering Miss Benn, we parted in the middle of the Street with satisfaction on all sides.
    "I am determined to return to the George with all possible haste," Henry breathed, "so as to be certain that my partner, Mr. Gray, refuses Julian Thrace's depredations on the Alton branch. Burglary and corpses are as nothing, I assure you, Jane, when compared to the demands of a Bond Street Beau."
    "You are too cruel, Henry. I suppose many a warm man must be similarly stingy."
    "I am sure I do not wish penury on any of my fellows," my brother protested as we parted before the cottage door, "but I should feel more sanguine regarding the monies disbursed to Mr. Thrace's account,