Читаем A Dangerous Fortune (1994) полностью

Crinolines and bustles were no longer in fashion, but Maisie put on a cotton petticoat with a flounced train and a ruffled hem to support the train of her gown. The petticoat was fastened at the back with a bow, and Solly tied it.

At last she was ready for the gown. It was of yellow-and-white striped silk taffeta. The bodice was loosely draped, which flattered her large bosom, and caught at the shoulder with a bow. The rest of the garment was similarly swagged and caught at the waist, knee and hem. It took a maid all day to iron it.

She sat on the floor and Solly lifted the dress over her so that she was sitting inside it like a tent. Then she stood up carefully, putting her hands through the armholes and her head through the neck. Together she and Solly arranged the folds of the drapery until they looked right.

She opened her jewelry box and took out a diamond-and-emerald necklace and matching earrings that Solly had given her on their first wedding anniversary. As she was putting them on he said: "We're going to be seeing a lot more of our old friend Hugh Pilaster from now on."

Maisie muffled a sigh. Solly's trusting nature could be tiresome. The normal suspicious-minded husband would have divined the attraction between Maisie and Hugh, and would be bad-tempered every time the other man's name was mentioned, but Solly was too innocent. He had no idea he was putting temptation in her way. "Why, what's happened?" she said neutrally.

"He's coming to work at the bank."

"Why is he leaving Pilasters? I thought he was doing so well."

"They refused him a partnership."

"Oh, no!" She knew Hugh better than anyone did, and she understood how badly he had suffered because of his father's bankruptcy and suicide. She could guess how broken he was by the refusal of a partnership. "The Pilasters are a mean-spirited family," she said with feeling.

"It's because of his wife."

Maisie nodded. "I'm not surprised." She had witnessed the incident at the duchess of Tenbigh's ball. Knowing the Pilasters as she did, she could not help wondering if Augusta had somehow stage-managed the whole incident in order to discredit Hugh.

"You have to feel sorry for Nora."

"Mmm." Maisie had met Nora, some weeks before the wedding, and had taken an instant dislike to her. Indeed, she had wounded Hugh by telling him Nora was a heartless gold digger and he should not marry her.

"Anyway, I suggested to Hugh that you might help her."

"What?" Maisie said sharply. She looked away from her mirror. "Help her?"