Читаем A Dangerous Fortune (1994) полностью

"Sent her back to her mother," Micky said airily. It had not happened quite that way but he was not going to tell Edward the truth.

"People must notice that she doesn't appear at ministry functions anymore. Don't they comment?"

"I tell them she's in poor health."

"But everyone knows she's trying to start a hospital for unmarried women to have babies. It's a public scandal."

"It doesn't matter. People sympathize with me for having a difficult wife."

"Will you divorce her?"

"No. That would be a real scandal. A diplomat can't be divorced. I'm stuck with her as long as I'm the Cordovan Minister, I'm afraid. Thank God she didn't get pregnant before she left." It was a miracle she hadn't, he thought. Perhaps she was infertile. He waved at a waiter and ordered brandy. "Speaking of wives," he said tentatively, "what about Emily?"

Edward looked embarrassed. "I see as little of her as you see of Rachel," he said. "You know I bought a country house in Leicestershire a while ago--she spends all her time there."

"So, we're both bachelors again."

Edward grinned. "We were never anything else, really, were we?"

Micky glanced across the empty room and saw the bulky form of Solly Greenbourne in the doorway. For some reason the sight of him made Micky feel nervous--which was odd, because Solly was the most harmless man in London. "Here comes another friend to congratulate you," Micky said to Edward as Solly approached.

When Solly was closer Micky realized he was not wearing his usual amiable smile. In fact he looked positively angry. That was rare. Micky felt intuitively that there was some problem with the Santamaria railroad deal. He told himself that he was worrying like an old woman. But Solly was never angry....

Anxiety made Micky fatuously amicable. "Hello, Solly, old boy--how's the genius of the Square Mile?"

Solly was not interested in Micky, however. Without even acknowledging the greeting, he rudely turned his vast back on Micky and faced Edward. "Pilaster, you're a damned cad," he said.

Micky was astonished and horrified. Solly and Edward were on the point of signing the deal. This was very grave--Solly never quarreled with people. What on earth had brought it about?

Edward was equally mystified. "What the devil are you talking about, Greenbourne?"

Solly reddened and he could hardly speak. "I've discovered that you and that witch you call Mother are behind those filthy articles in The Forum."