Scandal At Greystone Manor. Mary Nichols

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СКАЧАТЬ Mark said. ‘I have the honour to be engaged to Miss Isabel Cavenhurst.’

      ‘The wedding to be soon, is it?’

      ‘In a little under a month. Why do you ask?’

      ‘Curiosity, my dear fellow. I am well acquainted with Cavenhurst.’

      ‘Sir Edward?’

      ‘No, never met him. I meant the son. We have had a few hands of cards together. I am afraid he is a poor loser. I believe he has run home on a repairing lease. I do hope he recovers quickly, I am not in the habit of waiting for my money.’

      Mark could well believe that and wondered where the conversation was leading. ‘No doubt he has gone home for the wedding.’

      ‘So soon? I think not. It is to be hoped his father can come up trumps because at the moment I hold all the cards. I have bought up all the man’s debts and they were spread far and wide. I do not think Teddy Cavenhurst ever bought anything with cash.’ Everyone knew that creditors who could not make their debtors pay often sold the debts for a fraction of the original figure, in order to be rid of them.

      His heart sank, but he hid it with a laugh. ‘Sir Edward has always stood buff for his son. Have no fear.’

      ‘I had heard the estate was in a poor way and Sir Edward hard put to come about.’ Bolsover spoke nonchalantly as he picked up the pack that had just been put on the table in front of him and broke the seal.

      ‘Where did you hear that? I know nothing of it.’

      His lordship gave a cracked laugh. ‘Worried that the lady’s dowry is at risk, are you?’

      ‘No, of course not. I do not know where you obtained your information, but I suggest you tell whoever it is that they are in error. Now, as we have the cards, shall we play?’

      ‘To be sure.’ His lordship finished shuffling the pack and put it on the table. ‘Will you cut for trumps, Mr Ashton?’

      The subject of Teddy and his debts was dropped, but it worried Mark. From the way Bolsover had spoken about the dowry and the Greystone estate, the amount must be substantial. Surely not enough to ruin Sir Edward? How much was it? He could ask Isabel, or better still Jane. She would be bound to know and also the extent of Sir Edward’s problems.

      * * *

      ‘You are not concentrating,’ murmured Drew, during the break between one game and the next as the pile of coins at Bolsover’s elbow had grown. ‘I had already won that second trick, you did not have to waste a trump on it. That is a beginner’s mistake.’

      ‘I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.’

      ‘Dreaming about your bride, are you?’

      Mark smiled, but did not answer. He picked up the cards Toby Moore had just dealt. This was better; he had a good hand. They played in silence and recouped some of their losses. Drew was a very good player; he seemed to know where all the cards were and by the end of the evening they were in profit.

      * * *

      ‘A satisfactory evening,’ Drew said, as they strolled to Jermyn Street where he was lodging.

      ‘I think you must be a seasoned gambler,’ Mark said. ‘Hector Bolsover has a reputation as a sharp, but you made him look clumsy. He won’t like that.’

      ‘What do you know of the man?’

      ‘Not a great deal. I believe he is unmarried and spends all his time in the clubs and gaming hells. I have heard he does not always play fair, though no one has seen fit to challenge him. If he has Teddy’s vouchers, it could go ill for the Cavenhursts.’

      ‘So that was what you were in a brown study about?’

      ‘It is worrying.’

      ‘Are you concerned about the dowry?’

      ‘Good heavens, no! It is the least of my worries.’

      ‘So, we are still going to look for wedding finery tomorrow?’

      ‘Naturally we are.’ They stopped outside Drew’s lodgings. ‘And you are going to come back to Broadacres with me, aren’t you?’

      ‘Have I said that?’

      ‘No, but you will. I want you to meet Isabel again before the wedding. We will invite the Cavenhursts over for supper.’

      Drew laughed. ‘In the face of such a prospect, how can I refuse?’

      Mark went on his way to the Wyndham town house in South Audley Street well satisfied.

      Chapter Two

      ‘Papa, can you spare me a minute?’ Jane had found her father in the estate office where he worked most mornings. The desk in front of him was scattered with papers. He had evidently been raking his fingers through his greying hair; some of it was standing up on end.

      ‘Oh, it is you, Jane. Come in and sit down. I thought it was that reprobate son of mine and I can hardly be civil to him at the moment.’

      Jane advanced further into the room and sat on the chair placed the other side of the desk, a position usually occupied by the estate manager, but she had just seen him leave and knew her father was alone. ‘I am sorry to hear that, Papa. It is on his behalf I am come.’

      ‘So, he has descended to sending his sister to plead for him, has he?’

      ‘He feels that you have not fully comprehended the trouble he is in and that perhaps I can explain it better than he.’

      Sir Edward managed a humourless laugh. ‘I comprehend it only too well, Jane. What he does not comprehend is how impossible it is for me to comply with his outrageous demands without impoverishing the rest of the family.’

      Jane gasped. ‘Surely it is not as bad as that?’

      ‘It is every bit as bad as that. My investments have failed. Last year’s ruined harvest and the demands of my tenants for repairs, not to mention Isabel’s wedding, have been the last straw. We are going to have to retrench. I am sorry, but Teddy will have to find his own solution. I warned him the last time he came home that it was the last time. He must learn I meant it.’

      ‘But what is he to do, Papa? He is young and impressionable, it is only natural he wants to spread his wings and keep up with his friends.’

      ‘Then he should choose his friends more wisely.’

      ‘But, Papa...’

      ‘Jane, you will displease me if you continue. You have a soft and gentle heart and it is to your credit, but in this instance you are backing a lost cause. You would do better to put your mind to ways of retrenchment, ways that your mother will accept as reasonable.’

      ‘Very well, Papa.’ She rose to go, then turned back. ‘Isabel’s wedding is not in jeopardy, is it?’

      ‘No, СКАЧАТЬ