Every morning, 90-year-old Teresa Marshall de Paoli opens her back door to a patio filled with flowers—but the beauty of it is bittersweet.
It was on that very patio, just over a year ago, where she discovered her beloved partner of nearly four decades, Michael Brudenell-Bruce, 8th Marquess of Ailesbury, lying lifeless with a head injury.
At first, she thought he must have fallen.
But when paramedics arrived, things took a disturbing turn—they immediately alerted police, suspecting something wasn’t quite right.
The home was declared a crime scene for two days, and for Teresa, everything changed.
A Love Story Overshadowed by Doubt and Accusations
Teresa and Michael had shared a deep bond for 37 years.
Though not married, their connection ran deeper than many marriages.
So the aftermath of his death wasn’t just about grieving her partner—it also became about defending herself.
Some of Michael’s family members didn’t believe his death was accidental.
Teresa says the worst part wasn’t the loss itself, but being blamed.
“Even at his funeral,” she recalls, “a grandchild was telling people I pushed him out of a window.”
Others in the family pushed for a verdict of assisted suicide, claiming it would invalidate Michael’s will.
“It was all about money,” she says, visibly distressed.
The situation became so overwhelming that Teresa was diagnosed with PTSD and admits she battled with suicidal thoughts.
But she refused to let those rumors define her.
The Inquest Brings Pain, But Also Some Closure
It’s the reason Teresa decided to speak out—for the first time since the inquest earlier this year.
The official ruling: Michael had taken his own life, likely motivated by the early stages of dementia and a wish not to become a burden.
The coroner found no evidence of foul play and described Teresa as a “credible witness.”
Still, the conclusion brought mixed feelings, especially considering Michael’s mother had died in a similar way—falling from a window at the Savoy Hotel in 1937 while suffering from mental illness.
“I didn’t want to believe he was ready to leave me,” Teresa says, her voice trembling. “But I’ve had to accept it.”
A Family History Marked by Estrangement and Inheritance Fights
Behind the tragedy lies a tangled web of family tension.
The Brudenell-Bruce lineage goes back centuries and once held the 4,500-acre Savernake Forest and the grand Tottenham House estate.
But internal conflict has plagued them.
Michael had been estranged from his son David, now the 9th Marquess, for over 50 years.
David is also estranged from his own son, Thomas.
And Thomas doesn’t speak to his sister, Bo Bruce, the well-known singer.
According to Teresa, the source of all this bitterness is simple: “Money. It’s torn them apart.”
A Life Less Ordinary: Teresa’s Glamorous Past
Teresa may not come from nobility, but her life has been anything but ordinary.
Born in Warwickshire to an Italian mother and English father, she left home at 16 to become a fashion model in London.
She mingled with stars like Frank Sinatra and even turned down Errol Flynn.
She was once engaged to newsreader Reginald Bosanquet and dated actor Stewart Granger and broadcaster Alan Whicker.
“I never wanted the conventional life,” she admits.
“Marriage and children just weren’t for me.”
When she met Michael through friends, he was still married to his third wife.
Their relationship blossomed quietly, and while they never tied the knot, she says he welcomed her calling herself “Marchioness” in private settings.
But now, she’s being accused by David of using the title fraudulently—for restaurant bookings and even opening a bank account.
“It’s absurd,” she shrugs. “I don’t care about titles. I never did.”
A Complex Relationship with His Children
Although Michael’s relationship with his son was strained long before Teresa entered the picture, her presence didn’t help.
David allegedly believed she lied about her age and background—accusations Teresa says are pure fiction.
Ironically, she was close with Michael’s daughters for many years.
Lady Kathryn, in particular, became like a daughter to her. Teresa even helped decorate the church for Lady Louise’s wedding in 1995.
But that warmth faded as family tensions reignited.
A visit from David with his daughter a few weeks before Michael’s death felt, to Teresa, more like a setup than a reunion.
Not long after, the couple was swarmed by health officials allegedly sent by concerned relatives.
A Day That Started Normal But Ended in Tragedy
May 12, 2024, began like any other. The couple had lunch in the garden, and Michael later sat down to read.
But by 7 p.m., Teresa found him lying dead in the courtyard. Police flooded the scene.
“I wasn’t even allowed to hold his hand or say goodbye,” she says.
Though the police later said the death wasn’t suspicious, the family—especially David—continued making public accusations.
He even claimed Teresa blocked him from seeing his father’s body, and questioned the financial decisions made toward the end of Michael’s life.
Teresa denies all of it. “David’s legal delays meant the body couldn’t be viewed,” she explains.
As for Michael’s will, she was left only 20 percent of his modest assets and his personal possessions. “There wasn’t much left,” she says, firmly.
Support from Some, But the Battle Continues
Despite the chaos, Teresa found support from Michael’s grandson Thomas, who publicly defended her at the inquest.
Lady Carina, too, submitted a glowing character reference praising Teresa’s devotion and care.
But David and Lady Louise weren’t convinced.
Louise’s lawyer argued for a ruling of assisted suicide—an argument the coroner rejected, even though police had noted two belts around Michael’s arms at the scene.
Teresa says she never saw them and calls their appearance “a mystery.”
Trying to Heal While Carrying the Weight of Grief
Today, Teresa remains in the home she once shared with Michael.
It’s filled with memories—photos, keepsakes, echoes of a shared life.
But peace still eludes her. The emotional toll of the last year, the accusations, and the loss have left deep scars.
“I’m just an old woman who’s lost the man she loved,” she says softly.
“And instead of being allowed to grieve, I’ve been bullied and tormented.
It’s been mental cruelty. Michael would be heartbroken.”
And with that, her message is clear: after decades of love, all she wants now is peace—and to set the record straight.