Читаем A Dangerous Fortune (1994) полностью

A few moments later they were on South Carriage Drive. It was as crowded as the writer of the letter to The Times had claimed. There were hundreds of horses ridden by top-hatted men and sidesaddle women; dozens of carriages of every type--open and closed, two-wheel and four-wheel; plus children on ponies, couples on foot, nurses with baby carriages and people with dogs. The carriages gleamed with new paint, the horses were brushed and combed, the men wore full morning dress and the women sported all the bright colors that the new chemical dyes could produce. Everyone moved slowly, the better to scrutinize horses and carriages, dresses and hats. Augusta talked to her daughter, and the conversation required no contribution from Hugh other than the occasional indication of agreement.

"There's Lady St. Ann in a Dolly Varden hat!" Clementine exclaimed.

"They went out of fashion a year ago," said Augusta.

"Well, well," said Hugh.

Another carriage pulled alongside, and Hugh saw his aunt Madeleine Hartshorn. If she had whiskers she'd look just like her brother Joseph, he thought. She was Augusta's closest crony within the family. Together they controlled the social life of the family. Augusta was the driving force, but Madeleine was her faithful acolyte.

Both carriages stopped, and the ladies exchanged greetings. They were obstructing the road, and two or three carriages pulled up behind them. Augusta said: "Take a turn with us, Madeleine, I want to talk to you." Madeleine's footman helped her down from her own carriage and into Augusta's and they drove off again.

"They're threatening to tell old Seth about Samuel's secretary," Augusta said.

"Oh, no!" said Madeleine. "They mustn't!"

"I've spoken to Joseph, but they won't be stopped," Augusta went on. Her tone of sincere concern took Hugh's breath away. How did she manage it? Perhaps she convinced herself that the truth was whatever it suited her to say at any moment.

"I shall speak to George," said Madeleine. "The shock could kill dear Uncle Seth."

Hugh toyed with the idea of reporting this conversation to his uncle Joseph. Surely, he thought, Joseph would be appalled to know how he and the other partners were being manipulated by their wives? But they would not believe Hugh. He was a nobody--and that was why Augusta did not care what she said in front of him.

Their carriage slowed almost to a halt. There was a knot of horses and vehicles up ahead. Augusta said irritably: "What's the cause of this?"