Mabel Louisa Dean Paul (1872–1919) was an English novelist and prominent Edwardian socialite, widely regarded as one of the most glamorous women in British high society. Celebrated for her beauty, wit, and literary ambitions, she became a frequent subject of press fascination and public scrutiny owing to her turbulent private life. Throughout the Edwardian period, her name appeared repeatedly in fashionable Society lawsuits and scandals that attracted intense newspaper attention. She was divorced by her first husband, Colonel Thomas James Atherton (1856–1920), following an adulterous scandal involving Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster (1879–1953).
Early life Mabel Louisa Dean Paul was the daughter of Edward J. Dean Paul, 4th baronet (died 1895), and his second wife, Elisa Monckton Ramsay, the daughter of Major General James Ramsey, the younger brother of George Ramsay, 12th Earl of Dalhousie.
Public figure
Mabel Louisa Dean Paul, later known as Mabel Louisa Eliot, has been described by many contemporaries as a celebrated society beauty. Tall and slender, exquisitely gowned, and frequently displaying priceless jewels in public, she was referred to by the London press as "the beautiful Mrs. Atherton" and "a fascinating disturber of Society". To those dearest of her friends, she was Nancy, while her novels were published under the pseudonym "Maimie Atherton".
She been described by some as a clever and versatile, with a vivid personality who could dominate any social function. Between 1901 and 1919 much of her private life received public interest and she became more notable for her relationships with royal figures and noblemen. Her looks and personality attracted interest, not seen since Lillie Langtry (1853–1929), a mistress of Edward VII.
During the Boer War, Mabel Louisa Dean Paul — then widely known as Mrs Atherton — emerged as a leading figure among a party of fashionable society women who travelled to Cape Colony with the stated intention of nursing wounded soldiers. Contemporary reports, however, suggested that she attracted equal attention for her conspicuous charm and flirtatious conduct towards British officers, behaviour that caused considerable gossip both within military circles and in the London press. Sir Frederick Treves, 1st Baronet, a distinguished war surgeon, closely associated with the medical treatment of soldier's in the Second Boer War, described the presence of society women such as Mrs Atherton as a plague. Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener outburst of "women and flies" when describing "ladies of social standing", and women's "war work" of a certain kind, Mrs Atherton's name was freely mentioned. Notwithstanding, such travel for British society women at the time was not without risk. Her younger sister Gladys Dean Paul would die in Matjiesfontein during 1902.
The affair with the Duke When Mrs Atherton arrived in Cape Colony in 1899, her husband's regiment was under the Command of Paul Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen at the Battle of Modder River. Mrs Atherton proceeded there and for some time stayed at the same British Army camp as the 21 year old, Captain Hugh Grosvenor, the 2nd Duke of Westminster. An affair ensued with the Duke, which continued when she reached Cape Town.
When her husband, Lieutenant-Colonel Atherton was made aware of her adulterous affair, he arranged for her safe passage back to England during October 1900, whilst the Governor of the colony, Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner ensured that the young Duke was not on the same steamer as Mrs Atherton. Both vessels stopped in Madeira and the adulterous affair with the Duke affectionately known as "Bendor", after his racehorse Bend Or, or "Benny" continued.
Stories of Mrs Atherton's infidelity with the Duke began to circulate in the American newspapers at the end of February 1901. These articles claimed such events had occurred at the Mount Nelson Hotel, when she was a 28 year old London society nurse, who became entangled with a senior peer, whilst her husband was away fighting with his troops in the Second Boer War. The American newspapers were far more kinder when describing her age, effectively making her 3 years younger in their coverage of the affair.
Atherton, who at the time was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the British Army, refused a cheque for £40,000 from the Grosvenor family lawyers and filed for divorce. Since the Matrimonial Causes Act 1857, divorce in England was a civil affair, with a civil court in London handling all cases.
The affair was sensationalised in the American newspapers, since Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster was named as co-respondent a week after his marriage to another socialite, Constance (Shelagh) Cornwallis-West. The affair was not reported in British newspapers.
The Duke's mother, Lady Sibell, the Countess Grosvenor and his stepfather, George Wyndham, then Chief Secretary for Ireland, were both a major influence on him. His mother invited Mrs Atherton's to tea in an attempt to keep the story of her affair out of the newspapers. However it is King Edward VII who was credited by the society inner circles for ending the Duke of Westminster scandal. This involvement by the new King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India was soon reported in the Australian newspapers. By April 1901, there was much speculation of a money offer to prevent the high-profile case from going to court, which Lieutenant-Colonel Atherton at the time had publicly declined. Privately however, the New Zealand newspapers had reported that in addition to a plea from the British Monarch, many thousands of British pounds had been paid by the Grosvenor's for the Atherton's silence.
Mrs Atherton's affair with Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster was never aired in court despite a petition being submitted. The Duke had succeeded in reaching a compromise on the matter, so that the case never went to trial. However it would eventually lead to Lieutenant-Colonel Atherton petitioning for divorce in 1905 on the grounds of adultery, albeit naming someone else, with decree absolute in 1907. Many society spectators made their way to the divorce court on the basis of “Will the man in the South African affair be mentioned?”, only to be disappointed that the Duke's was never mentioned by name; simply merely as “a certain gentleman”.
A lady of some social standing
From the time of her first marriage, until her second marriage, she was known as Mrs Atherton or Mabel Atherton. Mrs Atherton was back in London in 1902 and was photographed by George Charles Beresford. Her photographic portrait forms part of the National Portrait Gallery, London collection.
On 6 August 1904 a large full length portrait of Mrs Atherton appeared on page 586 of The King and His Navy and Army magazine. Some newspaper articles have incorrectly referred to her as Mabel Louise. Her official birth record records her name as Mabel Louisa, although to her friends she was known as Nancy.
The breach of promise to marry In 1907, Atherton (née Dean Paul) brought an action for breach of promise of a high-profile marriage against Captain John Yarde-Buller, 3rd Baron Churston (1873–1930), who on 24 April 1907, had married the music hall singer, Denise Orme.
At that time the decree in her divorce suit had not been made absolute, hence Justice Charles Darling, 1st Baron Darling proclaimed that it was a question whether the promise had been made while the plaintiff was still a married woman. Mrs Atherton waived her claim for damages and judgment was entered for her, with costs.
The affair with Baron Hermann von Eckardstein
By 1905, Baron Eckardstein (1864–1933) had marriage woes of his own and his wife had given birth to a child from another man. For a time he was a companion of Mrs Atherton, and he invited her to Germany to meet his mother. Eckardstein had been a diplomat since 1888. His activities were mainly based at the German Embassy in London, and from 1891 until 1902, he held various posts. Finally, from 1902 to 1907 as Counselor and First Secretary, the Baron worked zealously for greater understanding between Germany and his host country.
Eckardstein's social interests earned him a prominent place in Britain's leading circles. At the time of his friendship with Mrs Atherton he was married to Grace Emily Blundell Maple, the daughter of John Blundell Maple, the business magnate who owned the furniture maker Maple & Co. Eckardstein's first wife married Archibald Weigall in 1910.
The affair with the Laird of Kippendavie During 1908, Captain John Alexander Stirling of the Scots Guards, and the Laird of Kippendavie and Mrs Atherton would secretly rendezvous at an apartment in the Cadogan Hotel, Pont Street, Knightsbridge. Stirling was 10 years her junior. This choice of venue had become infamous a decade earlier during the arrest of Oscar Wilde.
Mrs Atherton was one of the four principals in the Stirling Divorce Case in Edinburgh during 1909. Clara Elizabeth Taylor Stirling, an American born actress and ex-chorus girl, alleged that her noble Scottish husband had been unfaithful with Mrs Atherton. Some sources refer to Stirling as the Laird of Kippendaire.
Clara Stirling had petitioned for divorce, naming Mrs Atherton as Co-respondent. However, in John Stirling's action, an allegation was made that Clara Stirling had herself had committed adultery with the son of Uchter Knox, 5th Earl of Ranfurly, Thomas Uchter Knox, Viscount Northland (1882–1915) of the Coldstream Guards.
Stirling vs. Stirling was a lengthy court case. Mrs Atherton's Lady's maid, Thérèse Dagorne, testified as to her mistress's encounters with the dashing Mr Stirling.
Dagorne provided extensive testimony for the prosecution, and during one court session, revealed that her own lover was the Stirling's valet. Between 1908 and 1909 British newspaper readers were transfixed with the Stirling Divorce case, with Mrs Atherton's own private affairs being subject to public scrutiny.
Witnesses included Gilbert Sackville, 8th Earl De La Warr, who stated that he had known Mrs Atherton since South Africa and that his intentions towards Mrs Atherton had always been honourable. His wife was also good friends with Mrs Atherton. His attendance in court, was as a result of also being named by Mrs Atherton's treacherous Lady's Maid, who provided the court with details of her visiting De La Warr at a bungalow in Bexhill-on-Sea.
Further evidence in the court related to Mr and Mrs Stirling, Northland and Mrs Atherton having visited Paris together during June 1908.
Morals were brought into question when couples swapped company during their stay in public. Stirling had claimed that they had each stayed in adjacent rooms. However witnesses called to testify stated that the suites were interconnected, and that Stirling's bedroom had been left untouched. A monogrammed handkerchief belonging to Stirling had been found under her pillow by her Lady's maid at Mrs Atherton's riverfront home, Amberley Cottage in Maidenhead. At the Ocean Hotel, Sandown, Isle of Wight it was “Jackie, dear” and “Nancy, darling”. During the court case the Daily Mirror reported that the court was presented as evidence a model of The Ocean Hotel in Sandown to better aid understanding of the proximity of each co-respondent when they were simultaneously guests at this particular Isle of Wight hotel.
After much deliberation, the court eventually ruled in favour of John A. Stirling and Mrs Atherton. The charges against Mrs Atherton were held unfounded. In delivering his judgement, Charles John Guthrie, Lord Guthrie criticised all parties stating all had led selfish and idle lives.
In relation to Atherton he said she was:
Society women in a brawl