Mr Linton's will (WH)

[kev67]

In the last or second-to-last chapter Heathcliff tells Nelly that she keeps his confidences, which seems to be true. She seemed unwilling to pass on Heathcliff's thoughts and plans to Mr Linton anyway. But then she blabs it all to Mr Lockwood, so she's not that discreet.

[kev67]

In the York notes it says that EB was very knowledgeable about property inheritance rights. Apparently, Heathcliff was lying when he said he would inherit Thrushcross Grange via his wife, Isabella; only his son could. When Linton dies, it would go to Cathy (only by then she is under Heathcliff's control). After Linton' death, Cathy would regain her property because Linton would have been too young to leave it to his father in his will. Again, Cathy is under Heathcliff's control by then, and in addition, Heathcliff has bought the local solicitor, Mr Green.

Another interesting thing I read in the York notes is that if Hindley had really died drunk, it would have been considered suicide and he would not have been buried in consecrated ground. suicides were often buried at crossroads. In addition, his property would have been forfeit to the state. Hareton would have inherited nothing. This is still a bit confusing because by then Wuthering Heights was mortgaged to Heathcliff, was it not? I may have to read that chapter again because I thought Hindley was finished off by Heathcliff (or at least that was implied by Joseph).

[kiki1982]

That's hw I though it was initially, the fat that Linton would have inherited and that, after his death, Cathy would have inherited. Was she of age by then, though, or would it have been put in trust for her? If the latter, then she would have been under the control of the trustees. Needless to mentipn that one of those would have been Heathcliff, another the local solicitor Mr Green. Nawadays there have to be three trustees, apparently (one of which is idependent, like a solicitor), but back then, judging by The Moonstone, it as possible to have only two.

Even if this was not the case, Cathy was undoubtedly under Heathcliff's control, as was the rest of the house. So, either way, Heathcliff would have controlled Thrushcross Grange at any rate, wether it was Cathy's or not.