Stephanie Barron - Jane and the Madness of Lord Byron

And therein had my answer.

Eliza should buy the most outré gown to be had in Brighton, in a shocking colour of silk that became her extremely, and complete the toilette with gloves, reticule, diaphanous shawl, and bonnet. Furthermore, she should sport the ensemble at the first opportunity—and the Regent’s invitation—and set the whole town on its ears.

La comtesse est morte. Vive la comtesse .

I drank the scalding tea that Betsy supplied, and smiled a little wryly at my vanished sister. I was not Eliza de Feuillide, and however much her unquenchable spirits had inspired my admiration in the past, the present demanded a less frivolous duty.

Tucked beneath the journal on my bedside table was a scrap of paper; the list of questions regarding Catherine’s death I had penned only yesterday. I glanced at it, then threw back the bedclothes, donned my wrapper—one of the few things I presently wear, along with my nightdress, that is thankfully not black—and settled into an armchair close to Betsy’s fire.

1. With whom did Catherine Twining dance at the Assembly, besides Mr. Smalls ?

—I had yet to ascertain. Mrs. Silchester might supply the intelligence; but the most dependable source should be the Master of Ceremonies, a quelling gentleman by the name of Forth, who held the social world of Brighton in his thrall; and as today was Thursday—when, murder or no murder, the second Assembly of the week should be held, at the Old Ship—I knew where he might be found. Surely even a lady in mourning might be admitted to the ballroom, if her object is to interrogate the Master? I should have to secure my introduction to Mr. Forth from the Countess of Swithin. In Mona’s presence, even he must unbend.

2. When did Catherine arrive at the Pavilion in Caro Lamb’s care ?

—I noted down the approximate time of one o’clock.

3. What was the purport of the ladies’ tête-à-tête ?

—According to Caro Lamb, so that she might warn Miss Twining against Byron; but Catherine required no warning—she went in fear of the poet already. I scribbled, rather: so that Caro Lamb might learn every detail of her former lover’s passion for Miss Twining, and then toss her out into the street in a fury of jealousy . I could readily imagine her ladyship committing such an unpardonable act of rudeness; it explained her vagueness as to the time and manner of Catherine’s departure. But had she been jealous enough to observe the girl’s movements … lure her back into the grounds of the Pavilion … lead her down to the shingle, and force her head beneath the waves? Caro Lamb looked frail; but I had watched those supple hands on the reins of her flying horse, and guessed she commanded a wiry strength. I could not, however, imagine her ladyship trussing the body into a hammock stolen from Byron’s boat—which must be moored at a distance from the shingle, necessitating a midnight swim from a woman who had nearly drowned in those waters the day previous—much less carrying the shrouded body into the King’s Arms in the middle of the night. Could Caro have bought the aid and silence of Another?

4. When did Catherine quit the Pavilion ?

—I might trust the undergroom’s testimony by the stable clock; she had been seen at three-quarters past one. But did she truly leave the grounds at that hour?

5. If the undergroom observed her walking towards the Steyne, how did she come by her death in the sea ?

—It seemed certain Catherine had tarried in the shadow of the Pavilion long enough to be seized—or lured—down to the water. But by whom?

6. Where was Lord Byron at the time ?

—Walking with his friend Scrope Davies and his valet towards Church Street, along the very route Miss Twining should have adopted on her way home. Were the three men conspirators? Had one killed her, and the others observed it—agreeing, out of loyalty or avarice, to lie on each other’s behalf? Of Davies I could believe mendacity possible; but the valet owed Byron no particular loyalty—he must live among his fellows in Brighton for years to come, long after Byron should be forgot; he might hang for his lies, were they discovered; in sum, the man named Chaunce had too much to lose and too little to gain. I could not think conspiracy likely.

7. Colonel George Hanger ?

He was the Regent’s guest, and might have observed Catherine Twining’s arrival with Caro Lamb—and her solitary departure. Did he think to finish his attempted rape by the water line, and grow too violent when Catherine screamed? Did Catherine scream—and if so, did anyone hear it?

I sighed. There were a number of enquiries to be made at the Marine Pavilion—and I could wish them to have been made anywhere else. One does not easily put pointed questions to Royalty and its circle. Henry would have to work a miracle with his acquaintance, Lord Moira or Colonel McMahon, to secure an interview on that exalted ground.

8. General Twining? Mr. Hendred Smalls ?

—The General claimed to have left the Assembly at eleven o’clock Monday evening, leaving his daughter to the care of Mrs. Silchester. One could assume Hendred Smalls quitted the place at the same hour—perhaps even letting down his friend in Church Street before proceeding in a hack chaise to his lodgings at Brighton Camp; but what if the cleric had lingered? I had an absurd idea of the moist-handed gentleman conceiving a jealous passion against Lord Byron; of lurking in sight of the Assembly Rooms; observing the departure of Miss Twining for the Pavilion; and at a quarter to two in the morning, halting the young lady in her path with a confused declaration of suspicious love. Even an absurd fellow may have feelings; even a bald and aging cleric may be moved to violent passion. I must endeavour to learn the movements of Mr. Smalls on the night in question.

9. What did Lady Caroline Lamb do after Catherine left her ?

—Bathe; sleep; stay up until dawn writing a screed to Byron … or pursue her rival down to the water’s edge? Would any of the Pavilion’s servants be likely to know? Had Caro Lamb brought her personal maid?

10. When did the General discover that his daughter never returned home Monday night—and did he sound an alarum ?

—The General claimed to have learnt the news at five o’clock in the morning, from his daughter’s maid, who had every reason to be truthful; he then stated he had alerted the Brighton constabulary that Catherine had very probably been abducted again by Lord Byron. While the General may be pardoned for leaping to such a conclusion, he appears not to have considered asking first at Mrs. Silchester’s for Catherine, who might easily have spent the night with her chaperon. A mere omission in his testimony, or something else?

11. How could a body be carried into the King’s Arms in the dead of night without being seen ?

—There was absolutely nothing I could put down beneath this question. I had no idea how to answer it. Neither, it would seem, did the magistrate nor coroner—for not a single point of information had touched upon the subject at the inquest. The body had been found in Byron’s bed, therefore it had been brought into the Arms; but everyone connected with the enquiry appeared content to ignore the question of HOW.

12. Did anyone at the Arms hear a disturbance in Byron’s rooms? Query: Who was lodged next to Byron ?

—I glanced towards my streaming windows; it would certainly rain all day. Perhaps dear Henry would consent to escort me to a nuncheon at the King’s Arms; he should have little else to do.