Читаем A Dangerous Fortune (1994) полностью

Something in the boy's face bothered her: a look almost of fear. On impulse she turned back and said: "Is your mother in?"

"No, I'm afraid she's not."

That was odd. Hugh could no longer afford a governess. Maisie had a feeling that something was wrong. She said: "Might I speak to whoever is looking after you?"

The boy hesitated. "Actually, there isn't anybody here but me and my brothers."

Maisie's intuition had been right. What was going on? How had three small boys been left totally alone? She hesitated to interfere, knowing she would catch hell from Nora Pilaster. On the other hand she could not simply walk away and leave Hugh's children to fend for themselves. "I'm an old friend of your father ... and mother," she said.

"I saw you at Auntie Dotty's wedding," said Toby.

"Ah, yes. Urn ... may I come in?"

Toby looked relieved. "Yes, please do," he said.

Maisie stepped inside. She followed the sound of the crying child to the kitchen at the back of the house. There was a four-year-old squatting on the floor bawling, and a six-year-old sitting on the kitchen table looking as if he were ready to burst into tears at any moment.

She picked up the youngest. She knew that he was named Solomon, after Solly Greenbourne, but they called him Sol. "There, there," she murmured. "What's the matter?"

"I want my mama," he said, and cried louder.

"Hush, hush," Maisie murmured, rocking him. She felt dampness penetrate her clothing and she realized the little boy had wet himself. Looking around, she saw that the place was a mess. The table was covered with breadcrumbs and spilled milk, there were dirty dishes in the sink, and there was mud on the floor. It was cold, too: the fire had gone out. It almost looked as if the children had been abandoned.

"What's going on here?" she said to Toby.

"I gave them some lunch," he said. "I made bread and butter and cut some ham. I tried to make tea but I burned my hand on the kettle." He was trying to be brave but he was on the brink of tears. "Do you know where my father might be?"

"No, I don't." The baby had asked for his mama, but the older boy wanted his father, Maisie noted. "What about your mother?"

Toby took an envelope from the mantelpiece and handed it to her. It was addressed simply Hugh.

"It's not sealed," Toby said. "I read it."

Maisie opened it and took out a single sheet of paper. One word was written on it in large, angry capital letters:

GOOD-BYE