The only thing that gave Michael Upham respectability was his ancestry, and there was some question about that. He was known to have had Jacobite leanings in his youth, and in his more mature years to have consorted with smugglers. Trudy explained to her surprised relatives that as Michael was an old friend of her dead brother’s, and a neighbor, he was a perfectly logical choice to add to their company after dinner. Her logic escaped the rest of the household. Mr. Upham was a rather distinguished-looking gentleman, with grizzled gray hair and a moustache, but his green eyes had a subtly wicked gleam to them and he had a habit of staring at whomever he addressed. He was on the short side, a bit round, though not portly. Trudy knew his age to the day, and it was just over forty years. To M. Chartier, Trudy explained, “I’ve known Mr. Upham my whole life. He lives just this side of Winchelsea and he and Rob, my older brother, were the best of friends. There are those who believe he’s involved in the smuggling of brandy, but that’s gossip, of course.
What do You think about The Ardent Lady Amelia (1984)?
