The Second Epoch

After Laura is married she goes with Glyde to Italy and then returns to his country seat, Blackwater park in Hampshire. Marian joins her there on her return some six months later. When the couple arrive they are accompanied by Laura's aunt and her rotund, and mesmeric husband Count Fosco. Fosco has a sinister charm and the singular ability to be able to creep about as noiselessly as a cat.

Laura's aunt (Countess Fosco), was in her thirties and outspoken spinster, now approaching her late forties she is submissive and docile in her husband's presence. Even in his absence she remains loyal to him to the point of sycophancy.

Miss Halcombe soon learns that Sir Percival is in financial difficulties. He needs Laura, (who is now an adult), to underwrite some of his debts, but she will not do so unless she knows for what purpose her money is being spent. Marian Halcombe consults the lawyer. Mr. Gilmore has now retired but his partner William Kyrle is of the opinion that she must insist on knowing more before committing herself.

Not long after this Laura met Anne Catherick in the grounds of Blackwater Park, where she has come to warn her of Glyde. She tells her that Glyde has a secret, which could harm him, but doesn't share it during the first meeting. She promises instead to tell what she knows the following day. Apparently Annes's mother also knows the secret.

The following day Laura goes to meet with Anne Catherick, but instead meets her husband, Sir Percival Glyde, who has intercepted a message from Anne Catherick. He is very angry and insists on Laura being locked in her room. He wants to know if Laura knows his secret, but of course she doesn't. Glyde is unsure if he believes her?

That evening Marian Halcombe decides to investigate. Dressing in her day clothes, which don't rustle like silk evening wear, she makes her way across a roof and waits above the open library window where Fosco and Glyde are talking.

She hears that they are plotting to steal Laura's money, possibly by killing her? If she were to die Laura's money would come to Percival Glyde, and a residual sum in the Fairlie Estate would pass to Madam Fosco, the Count's wife.

Glyde refuses to tell Fosco the secret that Anne Catherick knows that would ruin him, but in doing so he confirms once and for all both to Miss Halcombe, and the readers that a secret exists and that it is deadly.

In the course of the conversation Glyde tells Fosco that Anne Catherick is like a 'sickly version of his wife'.

But for all the information that she has gained, Marian hasn't come out of her adventure unscathed. It has been raining, and the dampness she has endured on the rooftop causes her to become ill. The next day she is found 'collapsed' in her room.

Fosco sends to London for a nurse, an Italian woman called Mrs Rubelle. To compound matters the local doctor misdiagnoses the problems and the illness turns to typhus. It's several weeks before Marian Halcombe returns to anything like normal health.

One day Laura came to visit her step-sister and found her room empty. She is told that she has left for London. There she will stay at Count Fosco's home prior to travelling north to Limmeridge House. Naturally Laura is alarmed. She insists on being released and allowed to follow Marian. Glyde does not object and Laura leaves for London.

But Marian Halcombe has not left Blackwater Park. She has simply been moved to a disused wing of the house in the care of Mrs. Rubelle. It isn't clear at this stage if she was drugged, or still suffering with fever?

Two days later Marian Halcombe learns from Fosco that Laura had died from heart-disease in his house the day after her arrival.

When some months later Walter Hartright returns from America he learns of Laura's death, and sets out to visit her grave in Limmeridge Churchyard. Imagine his surprise when he looks up from Laura's memorial when he sees not only Marian Halcombe, but also Laura Fairlie, (Lady Glyde).

He is so shocked, and confused that it is some time before he can gather his wits and hear what Marian Halcombe wants to tell him.

When she was at last able to travel Marian Halcombe returned to Limmeridge. There she read two letters. One from the lawyer confirming that Laura had died of natural causes, and another from Count Fosco informing her that Anne Catherick was recaptured an returned to the asylum.

But Marian won't let matters rest. She goes to London and visits Anne Catherick. But when 'Anne' is brought to see her Miss Halcombe immediately knows her to be Laura, her dear step-sister. By bribing a staff-member at the asylum she is able to arrange Laura's escape.

The two sisters return to Limmeridge, but old Squire Fairlie, the uncle refuses to recognise Laura instead insisting that she is Anne Catherick. The servants also are 'under orders' not to recognise her. It is at this stage that they reunite with Hartright.

Laura, who always displayed a sensitive, if not neurasthenic, disposition has not fared well in the asylum. She has only a partial memory for events. She has been repeatedly told that she isn't Lady Glyde, but is Anne Catherick. Indeed her ordeal has made her more like Anne Catherick than ever!

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