Lady Audley's Secret

When Alicia makes a passing reference to Robert, Lady Audley turns pale. Sir Michael says he wishes that Alicia would not ridicule Robert, as he is a “very good fellow” (281) but has been expressing some odd ideas. Lady Audley says that Alicia already knows her conviction about Robert, while Alicia asserts that Robert is not mad.

Sir Michael had hoped that Lady Audley was wrong about Robert but does not want to doubt his beloved wife. In a similar vein, he cannot imagine why Robert has not fallen in love with Alicia, given that she is so pretty and amiable. In reality, however, Robert feels stifled by Alicia and fears that she would forbid him from even thinking of another woman—namely, Clara.

Alone in her boudoir, Lady Audley takes out a bottle labeled “Opium-Poison” and mutters “if I could only do it! And yet why should I; now?” (285). She is impatient to hear about the fire and, upon falling asleep, is plagued by dreams of the event.

Later, when Lady Audley is pacing around the garden, she stops when she hears footsteps, then staggers backwards at the sight of Robert.

Robert reveals that he survived the fire because he had not slept in the room that had been prepared for him, as it was cold, damp, and not in working order. He tells Lady Audley that he knows she was responsible for the fire and no longer feels any pity for her. He reveals that no one died that night and states that, unless she reveals her crimes to Sir Michael, he will prove her guilt. Lady Audley cries out that she will reveal all, adding that Robert has conquered a madwoman.

Robert beckons Sir Michael to the library and Lady Audley tells them about her childhood: her mother was absent, she barely saw her father, and her foster mother was cruel. From an early age, she knew what it was to be poor. She finally learned that her mother was in a madhouse and became haunted by this knowledge.

When she was ten, her father took her away to school. Before doing so, however, he allowed her to visit her mother, whereupon realized that she was going to inherit her insanity. Moreover, the secret of her mother weighed on her in the following years. As she grew older, though, people started commenting on her beauty and she realized that she had the potential to marry someone of high status.

Upon leaving school, she had gone to live with her father at Wildernsea, where she met George. Here, she tells Sir Michael that she did not love him any more than her present husband, as he could never have afforded her such an “elevated position.” Sir Michael is downhearted to hear her reason for marrying him.

She tells Sir Michael about George’s estrangement from his and how he subsequently deserted her. She had to work hard to provide for her child, and resented George bitterly. She believes that she became mentally unbalanced at that time. She went to London after seeing a job advertisement, and applied for the position using a false name.

When she hadn’t heard from George for three years, she convinced herself that he was dead. Within a month of her marriage to Sir Michael, however, she read of George’s return. She knew that he would endeavor to find her and that her only hope was to convince him that she was dead.

She visited her father, using Mrs. Vincent as an excuse, and struck up a conversation with the woman attending to him: Mrs. Plowson. Mrs. Plowson started talking about her daughter, who was dying of consumption. Lady Audley decided to visit the sick girl, and Mrs. Plowson agreed to do anything for money. They then contrived to pass this young woman off as Helen, bribing Helen’s son to call her “mama.” She died and was buried shortly afterwards.

Sir Michael does not need to hear any more and asks Robert to ensure the safety and comfort of the woman he had thought was his wife. He cannot say farewell to her, as he can no longer think of her without bitterness. 

Robert tells Alicia that Sir Michel has endured a major upset and is going to leave the Court for a time but cannot be alone. Alicia assumes that his wife will be with him, but Robert reveals that the couple are to separate. Alicia then realizes that Lady Audley is the source of her father’s grief. Robert asks Alicia to accompany her father but refrain from asking about what has happened. When Robert professes his brotherly affection for her, Alicia realizes that she has been wrong to feel angry with him.

When Robert tells Sir Michael that Alicia will accompany him, he is reluctant but assents. He then thinks of how indifferent he had been to his daughter since he married Lady Audley. Robert says he feels terrible for the grief he has brought upon Sir Michael, yet Sir Michel replies that he did the right thing.

Robert tells one of the maids to remain with Lady Audley and prevent her from leaving her room, as she is very ill. He adds that she should not excite the Lady by talking to her.

Once Sir Michael and Alicia have departed, Robert writes to a man called Francis Wilmington, asking if he knows any trustworthy physicians specializing in mania. Later that night, he receives a reply. He subsequently writes to a Doctor Mosgrave, asking him to come to Audley Court.

Now that the truth is out, Lady Audley is able to rest soundly for the first time since hearing about George’s return. Looking around her apartments, she feels sad that she will have to leave their luxury—she has no thoughts for the man who provided her with such luxury. Looking in the mirror, she sees that her radiance has returned and gloats that her enemies are powerless to take this away.

When Dr. Mosgrave arrives, Robert tells him Lady Audley’s life story while leaving out events such as George’s disappearance and the fire at the inn. Robert would like to see her excused on the grounds of madness but Dr. Mosgrave does not believe that her actions betray signs of madness.

When Dr. Mosgrave says that the woman would be better off with her husband, Robert reveals that her first husband is believed to be dead. Dr. Mosgrave appeals for Robert to be honest; adding that he can tell from Robert’s face that he believes Lady Audley is responsible. Robert tells him about George, and Dr. Mosgrave agrees to see Lady Audley. After ten minutes, he concludes that she is dangerous. He continues that, despite Robert’s desire to avoid a scandal, he will not do anything to excuse Lady Audley if she is a murderer. Still, he does not believe that Robert has adequate grounds for suspicion and agrees to help.

Dr. Mosgrave writes down the address of a medical superintendent in Belgium who will admit Lady Audley to his establishment. He adds that, once this has happened, she will be shut off from the world. He believes that this would be a service to society, as Lady Audley is not to be trusted.