Читаем A Dangerous Fortune (1994) полностью

Augusta went cold. Middleton had to be obsessed to bluntly bring up such an inappropriate subject in the middle of a costume ball. This was insupportable. Would poor Teddy never be free of that old suspicion?

She could not hear Hugh's reply but his tone was guardedly neutral.

Middleton's voice was louder and she picked up what he said next. "You must know that the whole school disbelieved Edward's story about trying to rescue my brother from drowning."

Augusta was taut with fear of what Hugh might say, but he continued to be circumspect, and said something about its having taken place a long time ago.

Suddenly Micky was at Augusta's side. His face was a mask of relaxed urbanity but she could see the tension in the set of his shoulders. "Is that the Middleton fellow?" he murmured in her ear.

She nodded.

"I thought I recognized him."

"Hush, listen," she said.

Middleton had become slightly aggressive. "I think you know the truth about what happened," he said in a challenging voice.

"Do you, indeed?" Hugh grew audible as his tone became less friendly.

"Forgive me for being so blunt, Pilaster. He was my brother. For years I've wondered what happened. Don't you think I've a right to know?"

There was a pause. Augusta knew that such an appeal to the rights and wrongs of the case was just the kind of thing to move the sanctimonious Hugh. She wanted to intervene, to shut them up or change the subject or break up the group, but that would be tantamount to a confession that she had something to hide; so she stood helpless and terrified, rooted to the spot, straining her ears to hear over the murmur of the crowd.

At last Hugh replied. "I didn't see Peter die, Middleton. I can't tell you what happened. I don't know for certain, and it would be wrong to speculate."

"You have your suspicions, then? You can guess how it happened?"

"There's no room for guesswork in a case such as this. It would be irresponsible. You want the truth, you say. I'm all for that. If I knew the truth I'd consider myself duty-bound to tell it. But I don't."

"I think you're protecting your cousin."

Hugh was offended. "Damn it, Middleton, that's too strong. You're entitled to be upset, but don't cast doubt on my honesty."

"Well, somebody's lying," Middleton said rudely, and with that he went away.