Читаем A Dangerous Fortune (1994) полностью

Emily Pilaster was in the last category. Her husband Edward was involved in a deal with Solly about a railway in Cordova, and Maisie assumed it was on the strength of that that Emily called. But she stayed all afternoon and at half-past five, when everyone else had gone, she was still there.

A pretty girl with big blue eyes, she was only about twenty years old and anyone could tell she was miserable, so Maisie was not surprised when she said: "Please can I talk to you about something personal?"

"Of course, what is it?"

"I do hope you won't be offended but there's no one I can discuss it with."

This sounded like a sexual problem. It would not be the first time that a well-bred girl had come to Maisie for advice on a subject she could not discuss with her mother. Perhaps they had heard rumors about her racy past, or perhaps they just found her approachable. "It's hard to offend me," Maisie said. "What do you want to discuss?"

"My husband hates me," she said, and she burst into tears.

Maisie felt sorry for her. She had known Edward in the old Argyll Rooms days and he had been a pig then. No doubt he had got worse since. She could sympathize with anyone unfortunate enough to have married him.

"You see," Emily said between sobs, "his parents wanted him to marry, but he didn't want to, so they offered him a huge settlement, and a partnership in the bank, and that persuaded him. And I agreed because my parents wanted me to and he seemed as good as anyone and I wanted to have babies. But he never liked me and now that he's got his money and his partnership he can't stand the sight of me."

Maisie sighed. "This may sound hard, but you're in the same position as thousands of women."

Emily wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and made an effort to stop crying. "I know, and I don't want you to think I'm feeling sorry for myself. I've got to make the best of it. And I know I could cope with the situation if only I could have a baby. That's all I ever really wanted."

Children were the consolation of most unhappy wives, Maisie reflected. "Is there any reason why you shouldn't have babies?"

Emily was shifting restlessly on the couch, almost writhing with embarrassment, but her childlike face was set in lines of determination. "I've been married for two months and nothing's happened."

"Early days yet--"

"No, I don't mean I expected to be pregnant by now."

Maisie knew it was difficult for such girls to be specific, so she led her with questions. "Does he come to your bed?"