Henry Chadderton through other people's eyes

Lady Sophia –

There is not a single woman, young and unattached, recently engaged or happily married these ten years, whose head has not been turned by the man. I declare his appearance always causes a stir in my drawing-room and all the young ladies inevitably flock towards the entrance in order to be the first to get a glimpse of his dashing person, while all the young men take a note of his carriage, his hairstyle and his attire so as to adopt them the next day. Well, I can hardly blame them. Henry Chadderton is vastly handsome, charming and witty, and his manners are excellent. He always smiles, pays compliments, tells anecdotes and dances every dance with a new partner. In fact, one hardly remembers that his father is a tradesman, for in all respects, but that of his birth, Henry Chadderton is a perfect gentleman. His fortune is large; he has several estates and the finest cottage that he inherited from his grandparents. I wish he would take one of my nieces off my hands for I have ever so many. It is a pity, though, that he prefers to spend so much time in the company of his gentlemen friends and, from what I gather, has no intention of taking a wife.

Eliza Grant – 

We grew up together, Henry and I. Henry's father has been my guardian since I turned five and I love Henry as a brother. He is the most caring, funniest and absurd person that I know. Mr. Chadderton says that he is obstinate and headstrong and only ever does what he pleases and that it was a mistake to give him so much freedom as a youth and indulge his every whim for now he is quite ungoverned. But I think that Henry is a sensible man and as such one can rely on him and trust his judgment. I always do. When I was a child he gave me riding lessons and, when his father was away, taught me how to fish and shoot, for, I dare say, my accomplishments in the latter he would disapprove of. It is a pity that once I left school I was not allowed to stay at Spencer Lodge anymore, even though Henry said that I was the only woman who would ever set foot inside the house. But Mr. Chadderton believes that now when I am out it will be highly improper if we were to live under the same roof as we are not blood relations. I do not agree, but I cannot act against my dearest guardian's wishes. He has been as much a father to me as Henry a brother and I am determined to act in such a way as would leave him in no doubt of my deepest affection, gratitude and deference. 

Emma Montford – 

Well, you shall certainly hear no encomiums from me on the subject of the illustrious Mr. Henry Chadderton. He is a commoner and a scoundrel and neither his money nor his fancy dress will change that. I was once duped by him like the rest of the world and I paid a high price of a broken heart and tears that would not dry. But I have long since availed myself of the knowledge of his true person and am thus at liberty to warn others against him, for I speak from experience rather than appearances. They say that he is a devil at cards and that he has no conscience. But his dueling skills, I've heard, are lacking and nowadays he has a weakness in the person of my brother Edward. It is beyond my comprehension in what manner he became the man's dearest friend, but I am certain that the only reason why Edward has become his friend at all was to aggravate me. He has always suffered from neglect and was always overlooked by all our friends and he must have envied my place in the family. Naturally, when Mr. Chadderton offered him his friendship, instead of refusing, he chose to accept it, knowing perfectly well how much his association with the only person who had ever snubbed me, would injure me. 

Mr. Hartley – 

I'm afraid I have made quite an exhibition of myself the other day, frothing at the mouth with pique and calling for retribution. I was not myself, having consumed a large quantity of port that was made by the Devil himself. I was all aflame with passion and could not control the imaginings of my agitated mind. Therefore, I beg you to forgive me for such an unbecoming display and forget whatever I might have said in the feverish agony that consumed me. You must not think that I am plotting against Henry and his plaything. I confess I despise Montford with all my soul and I wish him nothing but ill. However, whatever ill might befall him, it shall not come from me. You must believe me when I tell you that I am not the villain of this story. For it was not I who betrayed the most devoted and lasting of friendships. But how can I speak ill of my dear friend? How can I scheme and act against someone I consider a brother? I shall not be responsible for any blemishes that may ever darken Henry's good name! I shall not bear the blame for such treachery! I shall never turn my back on him and he will always be welcome in my home that I now share with my darling wife!

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Edward Montford through other people's eyes

Sir Charles Montford – 

It is not easy in my advanced age to reconsider my opinion, least of all learn that I have erred terribly throughout my entire life. But the last few months proved that I knew none of my children as well as I thought I did. Presently I am questioning myself whether I have been a good parent and a just father to them. Emma will have something to say on this head, I am sure, but after that infamous trick of hers I do not know what else she expected me to do. In any case, it is Edward and not she who has every reason to complain of the past abuse. And yet he never does. No, he continues a grateful, humble and loving son that I always had and never cared for. I have been most unfair towards him and always treated him with disdain and neglect. Charles, my eldest, was always a favourite with me and Edward, well, I do not think that I ever paid him any attention. But he is a good boy. A fine person. Of sound reason and affectionate heart. It was Edward's timely counsel and unfailing support that made it possible for me to endure Emma's betrayal and stop me from committing a grievous mistake.

Charles Montford – 

I must admit that I was wrong about Edward. Though, of course, not on all accounts. After all, just because he has recently assisted me with a delicate matter does not change the fact that he is no match for me. He is not a horseman or a gambler, he doesn't care for shooting, never tried boxing and I do not know but that he wants to remain a bachelor. He certainly has shown no interest in any young lady as of yet, even though I know for a fact that Lady Sophia was rather keen on the idea of a match between him and one of her nieces. But, perhaps, this is for the best as Edward is not of a sociable turn and would only embarrass his wife in society. He always preferred books and isolation and I think father encouraged him to exercise his fondness for both as it saved him from the necessity of spending our family’s considerably dried up funds on his formal education and worldly pleasures. But, I dare say, Edward has always been happy with his lot. At any rate, he has never complained. Not even when I chased him about the estate with my whip. Such fun I used to have. Well, he certainly hasn’t forgotten the taste of it. And if he ever gets any dangerous ideas, I will be there to beat them out of him. 

Emma Montford – 

You might as well be scandalized by my report – all my friends are – but Edward is the worst brother on Earth. He cares nothing for me. Nothing. He is disobliging and disagreeable in the extreme and he is friends with the very person who treated me in the most injurious, disgraceful and disrespectful fashion. Which goes to show that Edward cares neither for his sister nor her honour. I wager you have never thought that shy, mild-tempered, harmless Edward should one day betray his own kin. Well, to find that he should continue to associate with Mr. Henry Chadderton at all was a shock. But to find that he should keep the man's company after the warning I had given him is beyond provoking. I simply cannot comprehend why he didn’t cut his acquaintance when it was no longer necessary to maintain it. But after everything that has passed between Chadderton and our family I cannot forgive Edward for associating with him of his own free will. How can one trust such a brother? How can one rely on him? Father should never have sent me with Edward to London for he didn’t have my interests at heart at all. And now I have every reason to believe that he set my father against my husband in the most infamous manner. Well, on his own head be it. I am certainly not going to put in a good word for him with papa or reconcile him with Charles when he decides to come back to his senses and his family.

Mr. Jude Hartley – 

I'd rather cut my right hand off than speak of Montford. I loathe that son of a devil and I do not wish to hear his name or see his face as long as I live. I fear it is inevitable, considering our present circumstances, but if he is not a complete thickhead, he shall never cross my path again. Or else I shall expose him and Chadderton to the world. Let them both be hanged. This is the only justice that I can hope for now that my own bit of revenge did not work quite the way I expected it would. I dare say I was too much affected by the shocking turn of events to think properly of the consequences of my actions; and as I was struck by what I believed an excellent scheme, that would injure Montford exceedingly, I proceeded to act upon it with too much passion and too little sense not to suffer for my carelessness later. But though Edward Montford is too noble to expose me in turn – he does look the type to enjoy martyrdom – there is Chadderton who shall not hesitate to betray me again; and as I am not keen on the idea of public exposure and castigation I am bound to keep silence. But I swear on my life that I shall find other means by which to destroy the both of them. 

Lady Sophia – 

Well, all I can say is that he is no gentleman and when it comes to ladies a perfect savage. You can take my word for it for he treated my niece Mary very ill. He danced with her every dance, sat down with her, read to her, had long walks with her, let her draw his profile and after a passage of almost a week failed to propose to her! I have never in all my life met with such ill-treatment and to think that he is the son of Sir Charles, who is always so gallant and attentive! In fact, it was Sir Charles himself who asked me to think of a suitable wife for his younger son. He did warn me that Edward was extremely shy and taciturn and has not been out and about much. But I had expected him to inherit some of his father's ways with women.

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