Читаем A Dangerous Fortune (1994) полностью

The smack sounded throughout the ballroom like a gunshot. It was not a polite ladylike slap, designed for drawing room use, but the kind of blow that would deter a drunken groper in a saloon-bar. The count staggered back--and bumped into the Prince of Wales.

There was a collective gasp from the people around. The prince stumbled and was caught by the duke of Tenbigh. In the horrified silence, Nora's cockney accent rang out loud and clear: "Don't you ever come near me again, you filthy old reprobate!"

For another second they formed a still tableau: the outraged woman, the humiliated count and the startled prince. Augusta was possessed by jubilation. It had worked--it had worked better than she could have imagined!

Then Hugh appeared at Nora's side and took her arm; the count drew himself up to his full height and stalked out; and an anxious group clustered protectively around the prince, hiding him from view. Conversation broke out around the room like a roll of thunder.

Augusta looked triumphantly at Micky.

"Brilliant," he murmured with real admiration. "You're brilliant, Augusta." He squeezed her arm and led her off the dance floor.

Her husband was waiting for her. "That wretched girl!" he expostulated. "To cause a scene like that under the nose of the prince--she's brought disgrace on the whole family, and doubtless lost us a major contract too!"

It was just the reaction Augusta had hoped for. "Now perhaps you'll believe that Hugh can't be made a partner," she said triumphantly.

Joseph gave her an appraising stare. For one dreadful moment she feared she had overplayed her hand, and he had guessed that she had orchestrated the whole incident. But if the thought crossed his mind he must have dismissed it, for he said: "You're right, my dear. You've been right all along."

Hugh was steering Nora to the door. "We're leaving, of course," he said neutrally as they passed.

"We'll all have to leave now," Augusta said. However, she did not want them to go immediately. If no more was said tonight, there was a danger that tomorrow when people cooled off they might say the incident was not as bad as it had seemed. To guard against that, Augusta wanted more of a row now: hot tempers, angry words, accusations that could not easily be forgotten. She put a detaining hand on Nora's arm. "I tried to warn you about Count de Tokoly," she said accusingly.

Hugh said: "When such a man insults a lady on the dance floor, there isn't much she can do other than cause a scene."