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you tell her I am come, I expect she will see me."
"I beg your pardon, sir, but I did not hintend to
convey that Miss Danville is not receiving. She is gone
out. If you would care to see young Mr Marco, sir, I
believe he is yet at breakfast."
Andrew frowned. "Yes, I had best see Marco.
Perhaps he can explain the matter. Tell him I am here,
if you please."
Boggs returned a moment later. "His Grace
requests the pleasure of your company in the
breakfast room, sir. Mr Marco is with him."
Ushered into a room redolent of grilled ham,
kippers and toasted muffins, Andrew made his bow to
the duke. He nodded to Marco, who looked anxious,
and a gentleman of about his own age whom he
vaguely recognised.
His Grace of Stafford stood up and shook his hand,
then waved him to a seat. "Coffee?" he offered, "or
something more substantial? So you are the young
man who brought me my niece and my nephew. My
thanks to you, sir. A most welcome addition to my
family, and of course I was more than happy to have
news of my brother after all these years. You know my
son, Danville?"
"How do you do, Graylin," said Viscount Danville, a
103
solidly built gentleman as good-looking as his younger
brother but for his haughty expression. "We have met,
I believe."
"Yes, indeed, some years since." After a few
minutes of conversation, the duke affable, his heir
stiff, Andrew said, "If you will excuse us, your Grace, I
should like a few words in private with Marco."
Marco breathed a sigh of relief, bowed to his uncle
and cousin, and led his visitor to the library. "This is
where I have my lessons," he explained as they sat
down. "No one else uses it at this hour. Have you come
about the trial? Teresa said she had no chance to
consult you yesterday, but I thought you were coming
this afternoon."
"The trial?"
"Did you not read about it? The Times reported that
the Destiny's passengers are to be called as witnesses
in the trial of the crew of the Snipe. You know my
sister, she is pluck to the backbone, but the thought of
all London knowing of her exploit has her in a quake."
"Do the duke and duchess know?"
"No, only Cousin John. He thinks it a famous
adventure and calls her a heroine, but even he says it
will ruin her if it becomes generally known. He is up to
every rig and row in town, you know, and Teresa was
quite overset when he said that."
"I daresay it will not do to tell the duchess, but it
may be necessary to open our budget to the duke. He
has the influence to quash a subpoena, and he is fond
of you both already. I doubt he will turn you out into
the street. Where is Teresa, by the way? I thought I
was early enough to catch her."
"She went to see Don Eduardo's banker. We both
need a spot of the ready in our pockets, besides what
we owe you."
"She went to the City? Alone?"
"Of course not, she took Annie." Marco was
indignant. "She is not stupid, you know."
Andrew groaned. "No, but she is green! Ladies of
quality do not go to the City without a male escort.
Indeed, it is not comme il faut for a young lady to visit
a man of business at all."
"Then I had best go after her at once, the lad said
stiffly.  Pray excuse me, sir, I must make my excuses
to my tutor. Thank you for warning me. I shall pass on
your advice to my sister, regarding the trial."
104
 "Don't be a gudgeon, you young firebrand. I shall go
with you. But I cannot help wondering what will be her
next start."
By this time the streets were bustling with traffic.
The barouches, phaetons and chaises of Mayfair gave
way to the stagecoaches and carters' wagons of less
exalted quarters. Then their hackney threaded its way
through the narrow streets of the City, past St Paul's,
and turned into Lombard Street.
Fortunately Marco remembered the name of the
bank. The carriage drew up before it and they climbed
out. Andrew paid the driver.
"It's a good thing you did come with me," admitted
Marco, flushing, "for I haven't even sixpence for the
hackney. You can see how necessary it was for Teresa
to come here."
"I am surprised that your uncle has not offered you
an allowance."
"Teresa would not accept it," said the youth proudly
as they were ushered into the bank. "Uncle Stafford
insists on paying all our expenses." He turned to a
bowing, black-clad clerk. "We are looking for my sister,
Miss Danville. Is she still here?"
The clerk led them through a counting house full of
more black-clad clerks, and up some stairs to a small
office at the back. As he opened the door they saw a
plump, middle-aged man sitting behind a desk, his
face wreathed in smiles, then Annie, in the corner, and
Teresa, seated with her back to them.
"Sir Andrew Graylin and Mr Danville," announced
the clerk.
Teresa jumped up, ran to Marco and flung her arms
around him. "We're rich!" she crowed.
Andrew watched with amusement as Marco
disentangled himself from his sister's embrace. In this
place, in her sapphire outfit, she looked like a peacock
among crows.
She turned her laughing eyes to him and curtsied,
half mocking. "I beg your pardon, sir, but it is
monstrous exciting when you think you are a poor
relation to discover suddenly that you are rich. Papa
thought there would be enough for Marco's education
and my come-out. It seems his little pittance has
multiplied with such vigour that we have enough for
that even if the money is divided equally with all my
brothers!"
105
 "Which I cannot advise," put in the banker. "To split
up such a fortune among so many is as bad as
squandering it."
"I must consult Don Eduardo, of course. But even if
he agrees that it must be shared, I shall have a proper
dowry."
"You are already considering marriage?" asked
Andrew, scowling. His thoughts flew to Lord John,
then he wondered whether Lord Danville, heir to the
dukedom, might be a greater attraction. Could first
cousins marry? He had never before had cause to
wonder.
Teresa laughed. "Is not marriage the first business
of young ladies?" she teased, though there was an edge
to her voice. "No, not yet. However, I expect to meet a
great many charming young men shortly, for my aunt
is planning a party to introduce me to the Ton. She
turned back to the banker.  But we are wasting your
time, sir. For the present, I should like one hundred
pounds each for myself and my brother, in notes and
coins, and the draft you prepared is for this
gentleman. You will notify me when you have arranged
the meeting?"
"Certainly, Miss Danville." The stout banker rang a
bell then bowed and shook her hand. "It has been a
pleasure doing business with you, ma'am, though I
hope you will reconsider splitting such an admirable
fortune. Sirs, your servant."
The clerk arrived to show them out.
"Just how rich are we?" demanded Marco as they
went down the stairs. He whistled as she named the
figure. "Each? I shall be able to devote my life to my
studies, and with that for a marriage portion, you can
look to the highest in the land for a husband!"
Andrew objected strongly to all this talk of
marriage. He could not voice his objection as he had
no justification for such a dog-in-the-mangerish
attitude, so he said severely, "We came after you,
Teresa, to provide a respectable escort. Ladies do not
visit the City unaccompanied by a gentleman."
Teresa sighed heavily as he helped her into the
landaulet. "I made sure it was all right! I mentioned to
my uncle last night that I must see Papa's banker and
he said not a word." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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