Читаем A Dangerous Fortune (1994) полностью

"Why the deuce are we invited anyway?"

"Don't swear in front of your mother! We're invited because they are friends of Emily's."

"Emily can go to the--" He caught Augusta's look and stopped short. "Tell them I've been taken ill," he said.

"Don't be ridiculous."

"I think I should be able to go where I like, Mother."

"You cannot offend high-ranking people!"

"I want to see the fights!"

"You may not go!"

At that moment Emily came in. She could not help but notice the charged atmosphere in the room, and she said immediately: "What's wrong?"

Edward said: "Go and fetch me that blasted bit of paper you're always asking me to sign!"

"What are you talking about?" Augusta said. "What bit of paper?"

"My agreement to the annulment," he said.

Augusta was horrified--and she realized with sudden rage that none of this was accidental. Emily had planned it exactly this way. Her aim had been to irritate Edward so much that he would sign anything just to be rid of her. Augusta had even helped her, inadvertently, by insisting that Edward fulfill his social obligations. She felt a fool: she had allowed herself to be manipulated. And now Emily's plan was on the brink of succeeding.

Augusta said: "Emily! Stay here!"

Emily smiled sweetly and went out.

Augusta turned on Edward. "You are not to consent to an annulment!"

Edward said: "I'm forty years old, Mother. I'm head of the family business and this is my own house. You ought not to tell me what to do."

He had a sulky, stubborn look on his face, and the dreadful thought occurred to Augusta that he might actually defy her for the first time in his life.

She began to feel scared.

"Come and sit here, Teddy," she said in a softer voice.

Reluctantly he sat beside her.

She reached out to stroke his cheek, but he flinched away.

"You can't take care of yourself," she said. "You've never been able to. That's why Micky and I have always looked after you, ever since you were at school."

He looked even more obstinate. "Perhaps it's time you stopped."

A feeling of panic began to creep over Augusta. It was almost as if she was losing her grip.

Before she could say any more, Emily came back with a legal-looking document. She put it on the Moorish writing table, where pens and ink were already laid out.