Lady Audley’s Secret

Audley Court sits in a secluded country hallow, its dry moat and ruined wall standing out among its overgrown shrubbery. Audley Court is “very old, and very irregular and rambling,” with chimneys crumbling from age. Visitors stand in awe when viewing the stately historic house and feel inspired by it to abandon all the cares of life and lounge by its pond.

The layout of the “noble place” is confusing and one can easily get lost. Once, the daughter of current owner Alicia Audley accidently discovered a secret passage in her nursery.

Near Audley Court, thick trees cover a lime-tree walkway, making it seem like a place where “a conspiracy might have been planned or a lover’s vow registered with equal safety.” At the end of the walk, among overgrown weeds, is an old, abandoned well.

Sir Michael Audley likes to stroll up and down the lime-tree walk in the evening with his “pretty young wife.” Afterward the couple relaxes in the drawing-room, where Lady Audley plays music until her husband falls asleep.

Sir Michael is 56 years old and married Lady Audley, his second wife, a year ago. He had been a widower for 17 years, during which time his daughter Alicia (now 18 years old) acted as the lady of the household. When Sir Michael remarried, his new wife became the lady of Audley Court, usurping Alicia’s authority and causing a rift between stepdaughter and stepmother.

Lady Audley used to be a governess for a surgeon’s family in a village near Audley Court. No one knows anything about her past.

Lucy Graham, as Lady Audley was then known, seemed completely content with her modest position as a governess. Everyone in the village thought her to be extremely beautiful, charming, and kind. Sir Michael fell helplessly in love with her.

As he courted Lucy, Sir Michael didn’t think his status and wealth would influence her attitude towards him because she seemed so innocent and pure-hearted. Instead, he believed he could rescue her from a life of poverty and protect her in her young age.

Lucy was so used to being adored that she barely noticed Sir Michael’s attention. Mrs. Dawson, her employer, told her that while marrying Sir Michael would be socially and financially advantageous, Lucy should only accept his courtship if she returned his feelings.

Sir Michael told Lucy she should only marry him if she loved him. She said he asked for too much, because she grew up in poverty and thus could not set aside his wealth and status when making her decision. Sir Michael said if she didn’t dislike him, they should get married anyway.

Lucy remarked to herself how this marriage would mean “no more dependence, no more drudgery, no more humiliations.” Upon accepting the proposal, she felt her old life “melted away,” except for the ring she hid in her bosom.