The Scandalous Life of Nancy Randolph, Excerpt by Kate Braithwaite

Victim? Temptress? Murderer?

America, 1792. Eighteen-year-old Nancy Randolph, along with her sister and brother-in-law, Richard, are guests at the Glentivar Plantation. During the night screams are heard coming from Nancy’s room.

By the time dawn breaks over the plantation, the Randolph’s world is changed forever. Enslaved workers claim to have seen the body of a newborn white baby hidden outside. But no one inside the house knows a thing . . . and no body is found. Rumors quickly spread of an illegitimate affair between Nancy and Richard.

The dead baby belonged to them. They had murdered it.

The Randolphs are a wealthy and influential family. Richard and Nancy are put on trial in a case that divides not only the Randolph family, but the nation.

The repercussions of that night ripple down the years.

Told by Nancy and her enslaved woman, Phebe, this is Nancy’s own story of what really happened that fateful night at Glentivar.

Excerpt

Nancy had never been in a courtroom before. It was cold enough to see her own breath at first, but the sheer number of people in the room soon changed that. The place was austere, with whitewashed walls, hard benches and a dark wooden balustrade separating the general populace from the justices on their raised platform and their clerks and the attorneys ranged below. Soon enough, the court was called to order, and a clerk read the charges. Dick’s face was immobile. She flexed her fingers, and for a moment, was tempted to reach for Mr. Tucker’s hand beside her. Only for a moment. Instead, she let her eyes drop from Dick’s profile to her lap. A snag of skin curled by her left thumbnail. She stroked it with her right index finger then pinched it with her nails and pulled. The sting made her eyes water. As the tiny wound throbbed, she looked again at Dick. This time, she caught his eye. He looked away.

“You are Richard Randolph? Owner and resident at Bizarre, a sizable property within Cumberland County?” The sheriff’s face was unreadable, his voice toneless, as if he were reading lines from an unfamiliar book.

“I am.”

“As such you submit to the jurisdiction of this court and these sixteen Gentlemen Justices?”

“I do.”

“We are gathered today to examine the evidence against you, Richard Randolph. You are charged thusly: that you feloniously murdered a child said to be born of Ann Cary Randolph, known as Nancy. What say you?”

“I am not guilty.”

The sheriff turned to the Gentlemen Justices. “Mr. Richard Randolph pleads not guilty to the charges. You will therefore examine witnesses and hear from Mr. Randolph’s lawyers. Mr. Joseph Carrington will speak for the justices, Mr. Henry for the defendant.” He nodded to the clerk. “Call the first witness.”

“The court calls Mr. Randolph Harrison.”

Nancy watched Randy rise and walk to the hinged gate in the wooden barrier that separated the court from the spectators. Time slowed. Nothing felt real. She forced herself to listen to Randy’s account of their visit to Glentivar.

“They arrived on Monday, October first.”

“At what hour?” The lead justice, Joseph Carrington, was a thin man with a surprisingly loud, piercing voice.

“Before dinner.”

“Describe the scene.”

“My wife, Mrs. Randolph Harrison, watched for their arrival. She and Mrs. Randolph are close friends. The coach appeared, and we greeted them as the horses pulled them to our door. Their visit was much anticipated. I handed the ladies from the carriage.”

“Name them.”

“Well, there was Mrs. Judith Randolph and her younger sister, Nancy. And a negro. Their maid. I don’t know her name.”

Carrington had his elbows on the table in front of him and his hands clasped. He leaned forward. “Describe Miss Nancy Randolph’s appearance.”

“She looked much as she always does,” said Randy. He groped for words. “She wore a greatcoat, buttoned to the neck. I remember thinking she must have felt cold on the drive.”

Nancy thought of the coat — dark red, warm. Rough wool. It had been their mother’s.

“Could she have been pregnant? Did you notice her shape?”

Randy hesitated, and several people shifted on their benches. From outside came some muffled laughter as the question was relayed to the crowd in the street. “I neither remarked on her shape nor observed any change in her that made me suspect she was with child.” Nancy felt her tension release, but Randy wasn’t finished. “Although in that great coat, it would be impossible for me to be certain.” He threw an apologetic glance over at Dick, who sat gazing at the table before him. “And she soon complained of being unwell.”

“When was this?”

“Not long after they arrived. We were showing them some alterations we had made. My wife led the party upstairs. We showed them the outer room at the top of the stairs. It had no door at that point and was open from the staircase. Judy — Mrs. Randolph — said she and Dick would sleep there. There was an inner room on the other side of the staircase. Mrs. Randolph said that Nancy and their younger sister, Jenny — she had been staying with us already, and collecting her was part of the reason for the visit — could share the bed in there. Miss Nancy stayed upstairs for a time. She said she needed to lie down.”

“And where were you to sleep? And the others in the party? Mr. Jack Randolph? And Mr. Archibald Randolph?”

“We had agreed that I, my wife and our son, would sleep downstairs in the sitting room during the visit,” Randy replied. “And the two younger men put up at The White Hart Tavern. It’s an easy ride between there and Glentivar.”

“When did you next see Miss Nancy?”

“At dinner.”

“And her demeanor?”

“She was quiet and soon retired back upstairs. I know my wife was concerned. She and Mrs. Randolph took her a drink. Essence of peppermint, for colic, you know.” Randy ran a finger between his collar and his neck.

Justice Carrington leaned forward in his seat. “And what occurred overnight?”

“We were awakened by screams.”

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CYTJSFBV

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/SCANDALOUS-RANDOLPH-absolutely-gripping-historical-ebook/dp/B0CYTJSFBV

Meet Kate Braithwaite

Kate Braithwaite is author of four historical novels based on true but overlooked events. “Charlatan” tells the story of Madame de Montespan and the Affair of the Poisons in 17^th Century Paris. “The Plot” features Titus Oates’ Popish Plot, a scandal that earns him a place as one of Britain’s top 10 villains. “The Puzzle of Nellie Bly” explores the exploits of a ground-breaking female journalist going undercover in a 19^th Century New York lunatic asylum. “The Scandalous Life of Nancy Randolph” reveals a family scandal between two very different sisters in late 18^th century Virginia. Originally from Scotland, Kate studied English at Leeds University and has subsequently lived in Canada and the US. She is the author of Sis-Stories, a Substack publication all about sisters in history and fiction, and an editor for the Historical Novel Society. Kate and her family live in Chester County, Pennsylvania.