Chapter 5: The Despicable Ainsley Templeton

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Ainsley Templeton was a fortunate son. He had never actually worked a day in his life. His ignoble father, although dubious and shrewd, had aquired a fortune from the Late Lady Helga Middlesmith, who rumour had it was actually Ainsley's mother, although she never claimed the child. Since Brandies Templeton had never married her, she took a year off to go to the Alps, where upon her return, she had "apparently" adopted a baby. She died the following summer from an "unfortunate accident "in a fall down her marble grand escalier.

Brandies "adopted " Ainsley, and became his executor of the vast Middlesmith estate, and all the holding companies under its perview. Weeks before his eighteenth birthday, Brandies was killed in an unfortunate polo accident, when Ainsley "accidentally" hit him on the head with a mallet. There were other stories of intrigue that surrounded Ainsley, the most common being that he was a habitual Liar. He often told the same people different lies about a subject they'd already discussed, mostly because he told so many he couldn't remember them all.

His estate which was formerly "Middlesmith Manor" was renamed "Ainsley Arms" a snide line he would tell his courtesans was "You'll die in Ainsley's Arms" whether he was serious or not, no one really knows, as all of his trysts came from distant cities, and no one really inquired about his "guests" without being told to "Trot along, mind your own business." They came and went, but no one really knows where or when.

There was an inquiry about one of his ladies who'd gone missing, a one Miss Darbie Oglethorpe of Glouchestershire, a pretty young thing who was a promising poet and writer, about the challenges of being a suffragette. Her poor mother came to inquire of her whereabouts, and after a scuffle with Ainsley, landed in gaol for assaulting him. She'd apparently slashed his face with a knitting needle, leaving a scar from his forehead to mid cheek, barely missing an eye. The Honourable Judge Henry Chappington III presided over her trial, and she got six months hard labour, and restricted from going anywhere near Ainsley Arms.

Olga Oglethorpe was to be released from prison within the coming week, so the chatter at the "Plucked Chook " was speculative of revenge, a revenge that she would never get, as Ainsley had been killed just days earlier by the disgruntled Artist Augustus Wilson Pettigrew, the painter of ugly children.

Ainsley's estate was also to be evaluated by The Honourable Judge Henry Chappington III, after dealing with his murderer. There was considerable wealth, in companies, land holdings, and a mysterious tale if an underground vault that was yet to be discovered. Since Ainsley had no progeny, or known relatives, it would be divided amongst his stakeholders, workers, and the community.

Submitted: February 01, 2022

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