Читаем A Dangerous Fortune (1994) полностью

But there was no motive: quite the reverse. Solly had been on the point of closing the Santamaria railroad deal that was so close to Micky's heart. Why would he kill his benefactor? Hugh decided to say nothing to Maisie about his unfounded suspicions. "It seems to have been a tragic accident," he said.

"The coachman thinks Solly was pushed. Why would the witness run away if he wasn't guilty?"

"He may have been attempting to rob Solly. That's what the newspapers are saying, anyway." The papers were full of the story. It was a sensational case: the grisly death of a prominent banker, one of the richest men in the world.

"Do thieves wear evening dress?"

"It was almost dark. The coachman may have been mistaken about the man's clothing."

Maisie detached herself from Hugh and sat down again. "And if you had only waited a little longer you could have married me instead of Nora," she said.

Hugh was startled by her frankness. The same thought had come to him within seconds of hearing the news--but he was ashamed of it. It was typical of Maisie to come right out and say what they were both thinking. He was not sure how to respond, so he made a foolish joke. "If a Pilaster married a Greenbourne, it would be not so much a wedding as a merger."

She shook her head. "I'm not a Greenbourne. Solly's family never really accepted me."

"You must have inherited a big chunk of the bank, though."

"I've inherited nothing, Hugh."

"But that's impossible!"

"It's true. Solly had no money of his own. His father gave him a huge monthly allowance, but he never settled any capital on him, because of me. Even this house is rented. I own my clothes, furniture and jewelry, so I'll never starve. But I'm not the heir to the bank--and neither is little Bertie."

Hugh was astonished--and angry that anyone should be so mean to Maisie. "The old man won't even provide for your son?"

"Not a penny. I saw my father-in-law this morning."

It was a shabby way to treat her, and Hugh as her friend felt personally affronted. "It's disgraceful," he said.

"Not really," Maisie said. "I gave Solly five years of happiness, and in return I had five years of the high life. I can go back to normal. I'll sell my jewelry, invest the money and live quietly on the income."

It was hard to take in. "Will you go and live with your parents?"

"In Manchester? No, I don't think I can go quite that far back. I'll stay in London. Rachel Bodwin is opening a hospital for unmarried mothers: I might work with her."