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No Name - Week 9
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Oh my goodness, this section ended with quite the cliffhanger! Goodness only knows what Lecount has to relay now. I was honestly surprised Magdalen went through with the marriage - I thought there would be some turn of events. To me it seems unlikely that the wedding would've gone through without the typical fanfare - wedding dress, preparations, etc. without additional rumblings of the townspeople. Was Noel really so smitten that he would turn his back on his housekeeper and behave so uncharacteristically in so many ways in order to get married in haste? Seemed rather unbelievable to me.
Now we are left with Lecount moving the playing pieces so everything is back in her favor. Again, Noel seems a puppet, only this time moving under the direction of his housekeeper rather than his wife or Wragge. What a pathetic human he is! Well, his wife is going to return any moment, and certainly there's more to come in this battle of wits and for the favor of Noel's will. Where is our captain Kirk? I suspect that that is next!
Yeah, what is up with Noel?? How pathetic can he be? First I was rooting for Magdalen in besting Lecount, but at the end of this section I did a 180 and was rooting for Lecount. But Noel? He deserves whatever he gets coming to him because he has no brain or spine. And I also couldn't believe that he would make a new will and leave out his housekeeper, but I guess that's the effect that Wragge had on him in convincing him that Lecount was mad and against him. Again, he has no brain or spine and is pathetic. I guess I wasn't surprised that Magdalen went through with the wedding because otherwise all of that deception would have been for nothing, but the lead up to the actual event went a bit long in my opinion. I'm STILL waiting for captain Kirke or other characters to pop up!
OK, so we did have that small bit with Norah and how George Bertram had visited, and she seemed to reflect that he may be interested in her. So, here is my speculation as to what will happen. Lecount will convince Noel to change his will again and exclude Magdalen. Since George is his cousin, his money will end up with George when he dies. And if George is interested in Norah, the family will end up with all the money they were initially entitled to, and then some, since now it will be the entire inheritance instead of just the 80,000. And Lecount only limiting herself to the 5,000, which is how much Michael was to leave her, simply because she wants to be as "good" as Magdalen and not want any more than what was fair, is going to prove to be the downfall since now Norah and Magdalen will end up with much more. Lecount will have played a part in actually awarding them more money. That's my theory at this point. Now, as to how Noel will die (will he??), I have no idea. How will Noel and Lecount's conclusion that Magdalen had actually intended the poison for Noel and not herself play into things?
Oh! And I also speculate that Kirke will come back with Frank in tow, and now that Magdalen and Norah have a bunch of money, Magdalen and Frank will be able to wed. I'm super curious how my theory will or will not hold up!
We get very little of Magdalen during this section, especially the end half. While my sympathy for her has waned, I still can't ever foresee a time that I will sympathize with Lecount. She was, and is, too wrapped up in Noel and his father's decision making process to be given a pass for that father/son team's attitude and decision-making toward the sisters and to society as a whole..Wile he makes cruel decisions, I do give Noel kudos for being consistent. After contributing to his own demise by empowering Wragge with a personal vendetta against him by low-balling the Captain, when faced with a second chance to get in Lecount's good graces, Noel again makes a low-ball initial offer, a $1,000 bequest. Noel's spitting out the low-ball $1000 figure had me chuckling. The only reason this low-ball offer didn't put a kabosh on getting Lecount back on his side was because of Lecount only wanting $5,000 anyway due to her personal 'high moral standard' battle with Magdalen. Lucky Noel.
Noel does entertain me with his spineless miserly ways. I love how he is clueless that his monetary offerings are woefully short of the standard and expected amounts. I can only imagine the amount of sharp looks he gets from wait staff and servants when he gives them puny tips that he believes are sufficient and even generous. For justice' sake, I hope that Noel's miserly ways are a contributing factor to his expected final demise - I cannot foresee him living to the end of this book.
Linda, I think your prognostications may turn out, at least to Norah. As to captain Kirke, I think he is more apt to arrange an 'accident' for Frank than to bring him back to Magdalen. Captain Kirke seemed too much enamored with Magdalen and insufficiently noble to perform as you foresee him. But then again, at this point, I can only say "Captain Kirke, I hardly knew ye," so who knows?
Brian E wrote: "While my sympathy for her has waned, I still can't ever foresee a time that I will sympathize with Lecount."I agree. I am definitely not sympathetic towards Lecount, but because my enthusiasm for Magdalen has diminished, and I really can't stand Noel, I found myself rooting for Lecount's plan to change Noel's will to succeed. Maybe also to just fueling the fire a bit. :)
Brian E wrote: "Noel does entertain me with his spineless miserly ways. I love how he is clueless that his monetary offerings are woefully short of the standard and expected amounts."
Yes, I laughed at that too. Offering Lecount 1000 pounds and thinking that was generous.
Brian E wrote: "As to captain Kirke, I think he is more apt to arrange an 'accident' for Frank than to bring him back to Magdalen."
You could be onto something here. That sounds more likely to happen. But I originally wasn't thinking that Kirke would bring Frank back out of the goodness of his heart after finding out that he and Magdalen were known to each other, but that it would happen as a coincidence.
Brian E wrote: "But then again, at this point, I can only say "Captain Kirke, I hardly knew ye," so who knows?"
This totally made me laugh. I mean, I keep expecting him to reappear and so far we get nothing.
I'm still reading week 10, so I will hopefully pop into those threads in a day or two.
(view spoiler)[Magdalen's wedding to Noel goes ahead. The Wragges leave. Noel and Magdalen go away without telling anyone where they are going. Mrs Lecount returns from Zurich and eventually manages to track Noel down and persuade him he has been deceived.
These are the chapter summaries - as always these include spoilers.
13. Wragge returns and tells his wife about the marriage. She worries about dresses. Wragge sends Louisa the maid to see Magdalen. Magdalen tells her she doesn’t need help. She sees the bottle of laudanum, and decides not to throw it away. She puts it in a case and adding her letters to Norah and Wragge. Her first impressions of Louisa were negative but she soon finds that she likes her. Magdalen tells her she will wear the same dress for her wedding and has no new one. Louisa starts packing Magdalen’s things. The house servant comes in wanting to gossip about the wedding. Magdalen comes down, and Wragge is relieved by her composure. Wragge tells her that Noel will dine with them in the evening. He says that after the next day they will never see each other again. She says she has no reason to think badly of him, and he can’t resist telling her how he has cheated her. He says he almost wishes he had never met her. He shows her Mrs Lecount’s letter to Noel. He warns her that if Noel discovers she has married him under a false name the marriage can be annulled, but that if he dies it can’t be. Wragge sees Noel approaching, and warns Magdalen that the marriage licence says she is 21. Noel gives her an ancient casket containing a brooch. Noel tells Wragge he is worried about Magdalen’s maid and the honeymoon arrangements. Wragge refuses to advise him on where they should go and asks Noel not to tell him what he has decided. The evening passes smoothly. Next day the wedding party arrives at the church. Noel and Wragge watch for Mrs Lecount. The marriage is completed and a carriage draws up. Wragge finds time for a last word with Magdalen, and tells her to take care. Mrs Wragge thanks her and says she is frightened for her. Magdalen flees to the carriage and Wragge stops his wife following. He tells her they will leave in an hour. He records Magdalen’s payment in his account book, and tells his wife they will never see Magdalen again. Later that night Mrs Lecount arrives in Zurich and is told her brother is well and is away on holiday. She summons the doctor, who denies writing the letter. She heads for Paris almost immediately, intending to go straight back to England.
BETWEEN THE SCENES
George Bartram to Noel: He admonishes Noel for not telling him about the marriage, and says that Mrs Lecount visited, and collapsed shortly after her arrival, but recovers enough to ask about her letter to Noel and goes pale when told it was forwarded to Bygrave. She asks where Noel is and is told the Bartrams don’t know. The admiral tells her that Noel is already married. Mrs Lecount was then taken seriously ill and has not yet revived. George tells Noel that she has become delirious, and that the doctor thinks a visit from Noel would help her. He tells Noel he has been to Aldborough and met their cousin, the elder daughter of Andrew Vanstone, who was looking for her sister who was last heard of at Aldborough.
Norah to Miss Garth: She has returned from Aldborough and discovered nothing. She speaks well of her cousin George Bartram. Norah worries about Miss Bygrave’s resemblance to Magdalen.
John Loscombe, solicitor to George Bartram: Noel has moved again, without disclosing his new address, He has withdrawn a substantial amount of money. He encloses George’s undelivered letter to Noel.
Norah to Miss Garth: Magdalen has written to her, assuring her she is safe and well. The postmark is Allonby in Cumberland. Magdalen has told her she is about to move again. Norah says George Bartram has called.
Miss Lecount to Monsieur de Bleriot, general agent: She asks for his help locating Noel. She explains her suspicions and asks him to write to her at St Crux.
De Bleriot to Miss Lecount: asking if she might know whether either Noel or his wife have written to anyone else.
Pendril to Norah: Mrs Lecount has written to him. He warns Norah against getting involved in her sister’s affairs. He asks her if she is willing to meet Mrs Lecount, and says that if she agrees, Miss Garth should also attend the meeting.
Norah to Pendril: She wants to meet Mrs Lecount and agrees to take Miss Garth.
De Bleriot to Miss Lecount: A clerk in Loscombe’s office has reported seeing a will written by Noel dated September 30th, but was unable to read its contents.
Miss Garth to Pendril: Mrs Lecount has just left, having told them that Magdalen has disappeared with her master. Norah tells her about the letter postmarked Allonby. Mrs Lecount gives a long account of her story, which left Norah in shock. Miss Garth suggests trying to locate Magdalen by the same means as Mrs Lecount plans to.
Mrs Lecount to de Bleriot: She tells him about the letter from Allonby and asks to talk to him about Noel’s will.
Pendril to Miss Garth: A trustworthy person is heading for Allonby.
De Bleriot to Miss Lecount: The Vanstones have been found in Baliol Cottage, on the River Nith near Dumfries. His man reports meeting another man searching for the Vanstones, and having misled him.
Mrs Lecount to de Bleriot: She is heading for Dumfries.
FIFTH SCENE
1. At Baliol Cottage, on November 3rd. A breakfast for two has been laid, and eaten by one. Noel enters at 11. The maid tells him the Mistress has gone. Noel asks to see Louisa. He looks worse since his marriage. He asks Louisa about his wife, and Louisa agrees that she has not been cheerful. Magdalen has gone to London, and Noel asks Louisa if she finds it odd. He asks for his coat, goes out to the garden and thinks. Mrs Lecount surprises him, saying he was happier with her. Noel screams. He sees her altered appearance. She tells him she comes as his friend. She asks after his wife. He asks how she found him. She says it is a long story, and asks why his wife has gone to London. He complains that his wife has not been giving him enough consideration, and has been treating him like a child. Mrs Lecount explains how she was sent to Zurich, and Noel admits that Bygrave deceived her. She tells him about her visit to Mrs Bygrave in Aldborough, and the letter she sent him. He tells her that Bygrave never gave him the letter. She tells him to ask his wife’s maid if she has seen the moles. Noel tries to confrot her. She tells him his wife married him under a false name and is the same woman who visited them at Vauxhall Walk. She hears him say “mad� and suggests how he can prove it. She tells him to ask the maid about the moles, and if she says yes to show him her wardrobe. Noel goes in, and summons Mrs Lecount a few minutes later. They go to his wife’s room, and he takes out the dresses one by one, until he finds the brown alpaca dress. She tells him where he can find the hole where the missing piece should be. He finds the gap and she shows him the fragment. He drops to his knees and asks her to save him. Noel faints, and Mrs Lecount breaks into the cupboard in the wife’s room. She finds two bottles, one labelled sal volatile and the other POISON.
2. Mrs Lecount mixes the sal volatile with water, and uses it to revive Noel. He sees the bottle marked poison, and Mrs Lecount tells him she found it in his wife’s cupboard. She throws the poison out of the window, and then the bottle. They go to the sitting room, and Noel asks her about what she told him at Vauxhall Walk. She explains that the disguised woman was Magdalen Vanstone. She says she has evidence from the maid at the house where Magdalen stayed in Vauxhall Walk, and the maid has given her a letter of evidence. She also shows him the letter from Miss Garth. She asks him to send for lunch, and Louisa answers. After they have eaten, Mrs Lecount asks Noel to look at the evidence or listen to her suggestion. She asks him about the will. He tells her he has bequeathed his wife £80000 at her request. Mrs Lecount tells him that this sum matches the Combe Raven inheritance. She tells Noel that the only obstacle to Magdalen’s scheme is his life. She gives him drafts of a will and a letter. She advises him to leave the house with her, and he agrees, and agrees to write the letters. She advises him to give them to a trustworthy person, and when the will is sent to write to his wife. He asks to read the documents before taking her dictation. He asks her to explain the letter. He chooses Admiral Bartram as his executor. She asks him who the remainder of the legacy was bequeathed to in the earlier will. Rather than telling her it was George Bartram, he tells her he needs to provide for her first, but doesn’t know how much to offer. She mentions his father’s will, and after rejecting his mean first offer they agree to match the £5000 that his father left her. Noel suggests George Bartram as the beneficiary of the rest, and Mrs Lecount agrees. He asks for more time to think, and she tells him there is a second necessity.
(hide spoiler)]