Forever Amber полностью

Amber hoped at first that she was rid of both her husband and her mother-in-law, but it was not long after the signing of the peace treaty that Lucilla returned to London, dragging Gerald in her wake. He paid a formal call upon Amber while she was still at Almsbury House, asked her politely how she did, and after a few minutes took his leave. His encounter with Bruce Carlton had scared him enough; he had no wish to interfere with the King. For he knew by now why Charles had created him an earl and married him to a rich woman. If he was humiliated he saw no solution but pretended nonchalance, no remedy but to employ himself in a course of dissipations. He was content to pursue his own life and leave her alone.

But his mother was not. She came to visit Amber the day after she had moved into Whitehall.

Amber waved her into a chair and went on with what she had been doing—directing some workmen in the hanging of her pictures and mirrors. She knew that Lucilla was watching her with a most critical eye on her figure—for she was now in the eighth month of her pregnancy. But she paid little attention to the woman’s chatter and merely nodded occasionally or made some absent-minded remark.

“Lord,” said Lucilla, “to see how captious the world has grown! Everyone, absolutely everyone, my dear, is under suspicion nowadays, don’t you agree? Gossip, gossip, gossip. One hears it on every hand!”

“Um,” said Amber. “Oh, yes, of course. I think we’d better hang this one here, just beside the window. It needs to catch the light from that side—” She had already had several things sent down from Lime Park and she remembered what she had learned from Radclyffe about the most effective place for each.

“Of course Gerry doesn’t believe a word of it.” Amber paid no attention at all to that and she repeated, louder this time, “Of course Gerry doesn’t believe a word of it!”

“What?” said Amber, glancing around over her shoulder. “A word of what? No—a little to the left. Now, down a bit—There, that’s fine. What were you saying, madame?”

“I said, my dear, that Gerry thinks it’s all a horrid lie, and he says he’ll challenge the rascal who started it if once he can catch him.”

“By all means,” agreed Amber, standing back and squinting one eye to see that the painting was where she wanted it. “A gentleman’s nothing here at Whitehall till he’s had his clap and writ his play and killed his man... . Yes, that’s right. When you’re done with that you can go.”

Convinced by now that she would never get rid of Lucilla until she had heard her out, she went to sit down in a chair and scooped up Monsieur le Chien to lay him across her lap. She had been on her feet for several hours and was tired. She wanted to be let alone. But now her mother-in-law leaned forward with the hot-eyed, excited eagerness of a woman, who had unsavoury gossip to tell.

“You’re rather young, my dear,” said Lucilla, “and perhaps you don’t understand the way of the world so well as a more experienced woman. But to tell you the truth on it, there’s a deal of unpleasant talk regarding your appointment at Court.”

Amber was amused and one corner of her mouth curled slightly. “I didn’t think there’d ever yet been an appointment at Court that didn’t cause a deal of unpleasant talk.”

“But this, of course, is different. They’re saying—Well, I may as well speak frankly. They’re saying that you’re more in his Majesty’s favour than a decent woman should be. They’re saying, madame, that that’s the King’s child you’re carrying!” She watched Amber with hard unforgiving eyes, as though she expected her to blush and falter, protest and weep.

“Well,” said Amber, “since Gerald doesn’t believe it, why concern yourself?”

“Why concern myself? Good God, madame, you shock me! Is that the kind of talk you’re willing to have go on about you? I’m sure no decent woman would have such things said about her!” She was growing breathless. “And I don’t believe that you would either, madame, if you were a decent woman! But I don’t think you are—I think it’s true! I think you were with child by his Majesty and knew it when you married my son! Do you know what you’ve done, madame? You’ve made my good honest boy appear a fool in the eyes of the world—you’ve spoiled the honourable name of the Stanhopes—you’ve—”

“You have a great deal to say about my morals, madame,” snapped Amber, “but you seem willing enough to live on my money!”

Lady Stanhope gave a horrified gasp. “Your money! Good Heavens! what is the world coming to! When a woman marries, her money belongs to her husband! Even you must know that! Live on your money! I’ll have you to know, madame, I scorn the mere thought of it!”

Amber spoke sharply, through her teeth. “Then stop doing it!”

Lady Stanhope jumped to her feet. “Why, you hussy! I’ll bring a suit against you for this! We’ll find out whose money it is, I warrant you!”