Family falsely say I pushed aristocrat to his death, claims grieving widow, 88, of Marquess of Ailesbury

The partner of a wealthy aristocrat who died in a fall spoke out about her ordeal last night, claiming relatives had accused her of being involved in his death.

Teresa Marshall de Paoli, partner of the Marquess of Ailesbury for 37 years, said she was shunned at his funeral after he was found bleeding from the head on the patio of her west London home last month.

Relatives of the late Marquis – also known as Michael Brudenell-Bruce, who was suffering from dementia when he died aged 98 – are contesting his will.

It was amended two years ago and gives Ms Marshall de Paoli, 88 – a former fashion model with a relationship with Frank Sinatra – a fifth of his estate.

The Earl of Cardigan in the family seat, Tottenham House Earl of Cardigan

Police spent two days investigating the incident, which they say occurred after the 8th Marquess – also known as Lord Ailesbury – leaned out of his first-floor bedroom window to walk their cat, Honeybun.

His son David is still not convinced. He told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The sadness is that she and he were alone in the building and we will never know. There will be a judicial investigation and the only possible outcome is an open verdict.’

Ms Marshall de Paoli says she endured an ordeal when police and forensic officers locked her in her home during their investigation.

She says some family members have kept their distance since he died, and one has accused her of pushing him out the window. She denies the claim.

She told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The rest of the family avoided talking to me at all during the wake. David came in to get more prosecco but wouldn’t talk to me.’

Mrs. Marshall de Paoli is executor of her deceased partner’s will. She did not have power of attorney.

David, 71, the newly appointed 9th Marquess, raised suspicions about her involvement in his death and said he is contesting the will.

Two years ago it was amended to make Mrs Marshall de Paoli executor with a share, although David’s son Tom – the new Earl of Cardigan – is the main beneficiary.

Mrs Marshall de Paoli says she was Lord Ailesbury’s carer until the end of his life: ‘I would warn others that when a partner dies at home, the remaining widow is treated as a suspect. I had no idea.

‘I’m a very caring person and I didn’t want him to go to a home.

‘I simply didn’t push him out the window.

“I thought he would live to be 101 and I would die early.”

Mrs Marshall de Paoli lived with Lord Ailesbury for fourteen years in her west London house, which she bought before they met. They previously lived on his family’s 4,500-acre Savernake estate in Wiltshire.

David – who still lives on the estate, although the family seat was sold for £11million in 2008 – believes his father’s will should not have been changed while he had dementia.

Mrs Marshall de Paoli said: ‘David and his father had not spoken for 50 years, which is why he has been excluded.’

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘The death is unexpected but is not being treated as suspicious.’