Читаем A Dangerous Fortune (1994) полностью

"There's a lot of fuss about Rachel's hospital. People think it's scandalous."

"Then it should suit me very well!"

Hugh was still hurt and worried by Ben Greenbourne's ill-treatment of his daughter-in-law. He decided he would have a word with Greenbourne and try to change the man's mind. He would not mention it to Maisie beforehand, though. He did not want to raise her hopes and then disappoint them. "Don't make any sudden decisions, will you?" he counseled.

"Such as?"

"Don't move out of the house, for example. Greenbourne might try to confiscate your furniture."

"I won't."

"And you need a lawyer of your own, to represent your interests."

She shook her head. "I no longer belong to the class of people who call in a lawyer the way they summon a footman. I have to count the cost. I shan't see a lawyer unless I feel sure I'm being cheated. And I don't think that will happen. Ben Greenbourne isn't dishonest. He's just hard: as hard as iron, and as cold. It's amazing that he fathered someone as warmhearted as Solly."

"You're very philosophical," Hugh said. He admired her courage.

Maisie shrugged. "I've had an amazing life, Hugh. I was destitute at eleven and fabulously wealthy at nineteen." She touched a ring on her finger. "This diamond is probably worth more money than my mother has ever seen. I gave the best parties in London; I met everyone who was anyone; I danced with the Prince of Wales. I've no regrets. Except that you married Nora."

"I'm very fond of her," he said unconvincingly.

"You were angry because I wouldn't have an affair with you," Maisie said brutally. "You were desperate for sexual release. And you picked Nora because she reminded you of me. But she's not me, and now you're unhappy."

Hugh winced as if he had been struck. All this was painfully near to the truth. "You never liked her," he said.

"And you may say I'm jealous, and you may be right, but I still say she never loved you and she married you for your money. I'll bet you've found that to be true since the wedding, haven't you?"

Hugh thought of how Nora refused to make love more than once a week, and how she changed her tune if he bought her gifts; and he felt miserable and looked away. "She's always been deprived," he said. "It's not surprising that she became materialistic."