Читаем Forever Amber полностью

“The only way a woman can come by such things if she isn’t born to them. Somehow she contrived to marry a rich old merchant, and when he died she inherited a third of his money. With that she bought a title—another old man. He’s dead too.”

“She’s married now, though, isn’t she? But where’s her husband? I’ve never seen him.”

“Oh, he comes to Court sometimes. I don’t think they’re very well acquainted.”

“Not very well acquainted! With her own husband!” Genuinely astonished at that, Corinna forgot her own wretched feeling of nervous tightness. “What did she marry him for, then?”

“To get a name for the King’s bastard, I think.”

“Oh, heaven! I feel as though I’m in a strange new world here! Everything seems to be turned upside down!”

“It is upside down—unless you’re standing on your head with the rest of them. You’ll be glad to get home again, won’t you?”

“Oh, yes!” Then, regretting her too hasty enthusiasm, she added, “But only because I miss Summerhill—and everything it means to us.” She turned her head to look up at him, and he was so close their lips brushed and then his mouth pressed down upon hers.

A few days later Corinna went with her waiting-woman to make some small purchases at the New Exchange. The Exchange, located far out on Thames Street, was a great blackened stone building with a double gallery on two separate floors. Each tiny shop had its own sign that hung so low that anyone of more than usual height must duck or dodge to avoid striking his head. The shopkeepers were for the most part attractive well-dressed girls—though there were a few young men—who kept daily court for their admirers. It was the most fashionable lounging-place and rendezvous of the town, much frequented by beaus waiting to meet some masked lady who had a father or husband to outwit. Pretty young women came there too, flirtation-bent—but always pretending to be very pert and disdainful when first approached.

With her woman Corinna mounted the staircase and strolled along the gallery. Stares and low whistles and audible comments followed her, for many of the fine ladies would rally with the gallants, bandying barbed compliments and insults sweetened with a smile. Corinna, however, had not caught this London habit either and she paid them no attention.

At last she paused before the booth of a pretty little woman, Mrs. Sheldon, who had been temporary mistress to several great men but was just now without a keeper.

“Good-day to you, Lady Carlton!” she cried pleasantly. “I didn’t know you were with his Lordship this morning.”

“Oh. Is my husband here?”

She turned, glancing around, and as if she had known exactly where to find him she looked across into the opposite corridor and saw him standing with his back to her, evidently talking to someone who was hidden by his size and bulk. Impulsively she started forward, intending to go around and surprise him, but just at that moment he stepped aside to let someone pass. She saw then that he was talking to the Duchess of Ravenspur.

Horrified, she stopped.

Could he have met her there by accident? Of course! With all her heart she wanted to believe that that was what had happened. But after all the doubts and hints and suspicions of the past weeks the sight of them standing there together could mean only one thing to her. Corinna turned back, trying to conceal her agonizing confusion and shame. Little Mrs. Sheldon looked as miserable as though she had unwittingly given away a state secret.

“He’s talking to a friend just now,” murmured Corinna, scarcely aware of what she was saying. “I’ll make my purchases and meet him below in the coach.”

“Can’t I show you the embroidered ribbons I told you about last week, your Ladyship? They came in on the packet-boat from France not two days since!” She almost fluttered as she talked and in spite of herself her eyes shifted again and again across to the opposite corridor. Red-faced over the terrible mistake she had made she was frantically piling great heaps of ribbons on the counter. Oh, if only it had been anyone else but Lady Carlton—so lovely, so gentle, so kind!

Corinna’s head was ringing and her eyes were blinded; she could see nothing but a blur of colour before her. “Yes,” she said softly. “I’ll have three yards of this—and ten of this, I think.”

Lord Carlton and the Duchess of Ravenspur were strolling toward them now, taking a leisurely path along the crowded corridor, absorbed in their own conversation. Quickly Corinna’s woman stepped around behind her mistress to shield her from them as they passed. And little Mrs. Sheldon was babbling distractedly in hope of keeping her from hearing their voices.

But Corinna’s ears, almost abnormally alert, heard the Duchess’s low-pitched voice, just as they went by, saying: “—and Bruce, only to think, we’ll have all—”