Chapter 1: August the Seventeenth

⁠​​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌⁠The time of day was four o’clock in the afternoon. The place was the lady’s study or boudoir, Knapwater House. The person was Miss Aldclyffe sitting there alone, clothed in deep mourning.

The funeral of the old Captain had taken place, and his will had been read. It was very concise, and had been executed about five years previous to his death. It was attested by his solicitors, Messrs. Nyttleton a