The Mysteries of the Court of London

# The Fortunes of the Ashtons, Volume XVII

This volume, by George W. M. Reynolds, presents a serialized melodrama spanning thirty-one chapters. The narrative follows multiple characters entangled in schemes of deception and social intrigue. The featured protagonist, Lettice Rodney, a twenty-two-year-old woman of questionable moral standing, is installed in a remote country cottage by the Duke of Marchmont, who enlists her in an unspecified treacherous scheme involving instructions and jewelry as payment. The plot involves a mysterious murder of a previous duke by a pond, local ghost folklore, and encounters among the gentry including the Duchess of Marchmont and Christian Ashton. Named characters include various aristocrats, servants, and supporting figures associated with establishments and estates. The work combines gothic elements—haunting, murder mystery—with domestic and social plotting typical of Victorian serialized fiction, emphasizing sensational incident and dramatic revelation.