If Ross knew something of Jane’s feelings, on this score at least – and he almost certainly did – he was determined not to give way to being excluded. Indeed, he felt that now, more than ever, was a crucial time for him to exert his rights over the woman who had agreed to become his wife. But he saw clearly that in many ways, both small and large, Jane was continuing to defy him, using her grief over her aunt’s death as an excuse to hold herself apart from him, showing him no tenderness at all and seeming unwilling to be touched by him. He wondered, in helpless desperation, if this behaviour was some terrible prelude to an announcement that their engagement was terminated. This fear made him unwilling to let her out of his sight.

The lawyers began a polite preamble to the reading of the Will, telling Jane and her father how sorry they were for the family’s loss and concerned to let them know how dedicated they had been to the ‘great artist’.

‘We were at all times ready to offer advice to Miss Emmeline,’ said Mr Dutton, ‘and especially in matters of her association with galleries, whose fair and honest dealings with the artists they exhibit can never be guaranteed.’

‘That said,’ went on Mr Caldecott, ‘we admired her independence of spirit and I venture to say, in respect of the Will we are about to read to you, that Miss Adeane never arrived at any important judgement without first considering all the facts with the utmost care. Mr Dutton and I have verified to our complete satisfaction that the Will has been correctly drawn up in all respects and that it represents Miss Adeane’s last wishes, set down in good faith.’

Here, they paused. Jane heard Ross clear his throat, as if in preparation for making some comment, but he then seemed to change his mind and stayed silent. Mr Dutton untied the red ribbon binding the document and began to read.

The Will first set out some small bequests, mostly of paintings, to be given to friends, including Ashton and Julietta Sims, who were to receive ‘two pictures of their choosing’ and little Marco who was to have ‘five guineas to be spent on toys that will gladden his heart’. A larger financial bequest left the sum of ‘one hundred guineas to my beloved brother, Sir William George Adeane, which comes with my undying love to him’. At this point, Jane looked at her father and saw a tear course down his cheek. As he reached for a handkerchief, Jane touched his arm tenderly. Noting Sir William’s sadness, Mr Dutton paused and signalled to his colleague. Mr Caldecott got quickly to his feet, went to a low cupboard and took out a decanter of ruby port and poured a small glass, which he handed to Sir William.

When he had drunk a swift draught, Mr Dutton resumed and said, ‘we now approach the residue of Miss Adeane’s Estate, which consists of a substantial sum of money, currently invested in stocks and bonds, and the ownership of her house, Number 2a Tite Street, which, as she is an unmarried lady, is hers entirely to give as she pleases, unencumbered by conflicting claims of kinship or by any mortgages, debts, pecuniary loans, entailments or legal impediments of whatsoever kind.’