Sir Noel's Heir

Sir Noel Thetford, a young man of only seven-and-twenty in his prime of life, lays dying, tragically thrown from a horse. Married a mere five months to the beautiful Lady Ada Thetford, he calls her to his deathbed and sends everyone else away. "I have been a villain, Ada," he admits, "the greatest villain on earth to you." For the next few hours, Lady Thetford listens to her husband's confession. Never once does she falter, never does she stir or speak; but her face grows whiter than her dress, and her great dark eyes dilate with a horror too intense for words. And what is this great secret that gives one chills just to think about? You'll have to read the book to find out, but I promise: If you love melodrama and unexpected twists and turns, it'll be a fun ride. (L. Braun)
About the author:
May Agnes Fleming (pseudonyms, Cousin May Carleton, M. A. Earlie; November 15, 1840 - March 24, 1880) was a Canadian novelist. She was "one of the first Canadians to pursue a highly successful career as a writer of popular fiction."

May Agnes Early was born in Carleton, West Saint John, in the Colony of New Brunswick, the daughter of Bernard and Mary Early. May Agnes began publishing while studying at school. She married an engineer, John W. Fleming, in 1865. She moved to New York two years after her first novel, Erminie; or The gypsy's vow: a tale of love and vengeance was published there (1863).
Under the pseudonym "Cousin May Carleton", she published several serial tales in the New York Mercury and the New York Weekly. Twenty-one were printed in book form, seven posthumously. She also wrote under the pseudonym, "M.A. Earlie". The exact count is unclear, since her works were often retitled, but is estimated at around 40, although some were not actually written by her, but were attributed to her by publishers cashing in on her popularity. At her peak, she was earning over $10,000 yearly, due to publishers granting her exclusive rights to her work.
She died in Brooklyn, of Bright's disease. (wikipedia.org)