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Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy
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"I should think it highly probable that he added that he had married your husband to me."
"My husband to you!"
"I told you we'd better let this matter alone."
In a second Lady Isabelle's hands were on Miss Fitzgerald's shoulders, and her eyes blazed into the eyes of the Irish girl.
"The truth, woman, the truth! Is he my husband?"
"Yes."
"Then why does Mr. Lambert – ?"
"Because he believes that I was the bride."
"Did you tell him so?"
"No, but when I went to make the arrangements he blundered into the mistake – and – well, I didn't take the trouble to correct him."
"You dared!"
"Yes," she replied. "I'd do a good deal for Jack – we used to care for each other once."
Her Ladyship's eyes flashed dangerously, and Miss Fitzgerald hastened to add:
"Of course that was all over long ago – I know Jack too well."
"How dared you do it?" asked her accuser again.
"It was risky, but our names were the same, and he's half blind and somewhat deaf, and in his dotage. The chances of escaping detection were good, as the event has proved."
"How dared you do it?"
"Of course it wasn't my affair whether Jack told you or not. It was legal and that's the main thing."
"How dared you do it?"
"You needn't be so nasty about it; it was merely to be obliging. If you think it amusing to be a dummy bride – "
"Be silent!"
The two women stood facing each other, breathing hard, as though resting from physical combat; the face of one expressing infinite contempt, of the other infinite anger. At this juncture a servant brought a telegram to Lady Isabelle.
Thankful for the relief from an awkward pause, she tore it open, and her face lit up as she read its message.
"Still in London. Uncle died this morning, leaving me his heir. As preliminaries take some time to arrange, am returning to you to-morrow.
"Jack."
"There!" she said, showing it to her antagonist. "I suppose it's wicked to rejoice in any one's death; but it's a great relief, for it gives me back my husband – and he shall defend me from you!"
"I don't think your husband will be down on me."
"He'll proclaim the truth about our marriage. It should never have been concealed, least of all by dishonourable means."
"You forget yourself, Lady Isabelle."
"I remember what is due my position, and so will Mr. Lambert, when he hears how grossly you've deceived him."
"You mustn't tell him."
"It will not be necessary. I've only to ask him to look at the marriage register. That will bear witness to the truth, I know; for I signed in the proper place for the bride."
Miss Fitzgerald drew a quick, sharp breath. She had trusted to be spared this last confession.
"The register has been changed," she said.
"Who has done this?"
"Mr. Lambert, supposing there had been a mistake."
"Then Mr. Lambert will change it back again, to-morrow morning!"
"You mustn't speak to him of this."
"I'll speak to him to-night."
"No."
"You've no right to interfere. You've no right to do anything, but apologise to me for the great wrong you've done me!"
"I forbid you to apprise Mr. Lambert of the true state of affairs till your husband returns to-morrow!"
"I've told you I shall see him to-night."
"I forbid you, in your husband's interests."
"You are insolent."
"I'm in a position to be anything I choose."
"Why?"
"Because I have your husband in my power."
"I do not believe it!"
"If I choose to make public," she said, laughing insolently, "the manner in which your husband is spending his time in London, I could have him cashiered from the navy."
"My husband to you!"
"I told you we'd better let this matter alone."
In a second Lady Isabelle's hands were on Miss Fitzgerald's shoulders, and her eyes blazed into the eyes of the Irish girl.
"The truth, woman, the truth! Is he my husband?"
"Yes."
"Then why does Mr. Lambert – ?"
"Because he believes that I was the bride."
"Did you tell him so?"
"No, but when I went to make the arrangements he blundered into the mistake – and – well, I didn't take the trouble to correct him."
"You dared!"
"Yes," she replied. "I'd do a good deal for Jack – we used to care for each other once."
Her Ladyship's eyes flashed dangerously, and Miss Fitzgerald hastened to add:
"Of course that was all over long ago – I know Jack too well."
"How dared you do it?" asked her accuser again.
"It was risky, but our names were the same, and he's half blind and somewhat deaf, and in his dotage. The chances of escaping detection were good, as the event has proved."
"How dared you do it?"
"Of course it wasn't my affair whether Jack told you or not. It was legal and that's the main thing."
"How dared you do it?"
"You needn't be so nasty about it; it was merely to be obliging. If you think it amusing to be a dummy bride – "
"Be silent!"
The two women stood facing each other, breathing hard, as though resting from physical combat; the face of one expressing infinite contempt, of the other infinite anger. At this juncture a servant brought a telegram to Lady Isabelle.
Thankful for the relief from an awkward pause, she tore it open, and her face lit up as she read its message.
"Still in London. Uncle died this morning, leaving me his heir. As preliminaries take some time to arrange, am returning to you to-morrow.
"Jack."
"There!" she said, showing it to her antagonist. "I suppose it's wicked to rejoice in any one's death; but it's a great relief, for it gives me back my husband – and he shall defend me from you!"
"I don't think your husband will be down on me."
"He'll proclaim the truth about our marriage. It should never have been concealed, least of all by dishonourable means."
"You forget yourself, Lady Isabelle."
"I remember what is due my position, and so will Mr. Lambert, when he hears how grossly you've deceived him."
"You mustn't tell him."
"It will not be necessary. I've only to ask him to look at the marriage register. That will bear witness to the truth, I know; for I signed in the proper place for the bride."
Miss Fitzgerald drew a quick, sharp breath. She had trusted to be spared this last confession.
"The register has been changed," she said.
"Who has done this?"
"Mr. Lambert, supposing there had been a mistake."
"Then Mr. Lambert will change it back again, to-morrow morning!"
"You mustn't speak to him of this."
"I'll speak to him to-night."
"No."
"You've no right to interfere. You've no right to do anything, but apologise to me for the great wrong you've done me!"
"I forbid you to apprise Mr. Lambert of the true state of affairs till your husband returns to-morrow!"
"I've told you I shall see him to-night."
"I forbid you, in your husband's interests."
"You are insolent."
"I'm in a position to be anything I choose."
"Why?"
"Because I have your husband in my power."
"I do not believe it!"
"If I choose to make public," she said, laughing insolently, "the manner in which your husband is spending his time in London, I could have him cashiered from the navy."
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Удивительная книга. Как никогда актуальна сегодня. Язык и стиль автора настолько тонок, лёгок и изыскан, что легко поведёт читателя в мир героев, кото...
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