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.“Tell me, John, must I account for every penny that might slip past your wallet?”“If you don’t, our resident moneymonger George will.Right, George?”“Right, John.And, no, I don’t believe Wade paid for either fare.”“And why not?” John asked, his eyes leveled on Paul again.“Because he has needed his wages to get settled,” Paul replied, ripping his furious regard from George.“His salary has gone into purchasing the rundown Fields’s cottage.He’s done a fine job fixing it up.”“I should think so, having had two passages waived.A bit unfair, I’d say.”“I didn’t waive them—”“Miss Ryan wasn’t given a grace period, was she? Two years can earn a fortune in interest.”“Impossible,” Paul snorted, “it’s impossible to speak intelligently with you.”“Since you are meting out charity from my pocket, shouldn’t everyone get a share of the bounty?”“Miss Ryan was not indigent,” Paul responded snidely, certain John was pressing the issue simply to pit Charmaine against him.It wasn’t working: not a hint of anger flashed in her lovely eyes.“Nor was she penniless.She held a comfortable position in Virginia, and could afford the crossing costs.”“Then why did she leave?” John demanded.“We have been over this, John.She wanted to make a new life for herself.”“And that she has,” John smiled wickedly, entertained by his brother’s deepening scowl.“I’d like to meet this Wade Remmen.Indeed, I would.”“He’s at the mill,” Paul stated.“Whenever you come out of your inebriated daze you can look for him there.”He stepped over to the serving tray and poured three glasses of port, passing one to Agatha and another to Charmaine.Charmaine accepted the libation grudgingly, taking a sip before setting it on the table.This evening had served as a vivid reminder of the detrimental effects of alcohol.It made angry men angrier.She’d be happy to never see a bottle of spirits again.Yvette took advantage of the lull in the conversation and scurried over to the grand piano.“Johnny,” she said in great excitement, “I have a surprise for you!”Charmaine cringed.Here it comes, she thought.John had implied her abilities at the instrument were sadly lacking.Now he was about to discover she had taken it upon herself to teach his sisters the little she knew.“What’s that, Yvette?” he queried, the timbre of his voice unusually gentle.“Just listen!” she exclaimed, commencing to play her favorite tune.Charmaine resolved not to look John’s way, yet her eyes mutinied.He did not seem to notice; he remained transfixed upon the simple recital.“What do you think?” Yvette asked, swiveling around when she’d finished.“I’m impressed.That was beautiful.”The girl was beaming, and Jeannette quickly joined her.“May I play now?”With John’s assent, she began.This time, his eyes traveled to Charmaine and remained there.She was uncertain what she read in his expression, but it was more than astonishment.Triumphant for the first time that night, she smiled defiantly at him.“That was lovely, too, Jeannie,” he said, turning his regard on both sisters.“I suppose Miss Ryan has been teaching you to play?”Jeannette nodded.“But we swore her to secrecy so we could surprise you.”“Now I understand,” he said, his half-smile sardonic.“Your governess wasn’t at the keyboard after all this afternoon.You were just pretending it was she.”“Oh no, Johnny,” his sister refuted earnestly.“It was Mademoiselle Charmaine.We don’t play that well!”“Do you think we play that well?” Yvette piped in.“Nearly,” he replied, satisfied he’d quashed Charmaine’s gloating.Jeannette moved from the piano to the chessboard across the room.“Will you teach me how to play chess, Mademoiselle? You promised you would.”“It’s been so long since I’ve played.I wouldn’t be a good teacher.”Paul capitalized on the request and left John and George, pulling a chair up to the table.“I challenge you to a game, Miss Ryan.Jeannette, I will instruct you as we play.”Charmaine stammered with an excuse.“I’m afraid I won’t be much of an opponent.Perhaps George would like to play in my stead.”Her objection had fallen on deaf ears, for Paul was rotating the board so the white pieces were on her side.“Come, Charmaine,” he coaxed debonairly, “I haven’t played in a long time, either.We shall be equally matched.”She gave in reluctantly.Joshua Harrington had taught her the game’s basic strategies, but she had never committed them to memory.Paul would handily gain control of the board, and although she didn’t care in the least if she lost, she preferred her inadequacy not be exposed to his brother.And yet, John was conversing with George; perhaps he wouldn’t notice.“…but George, if you purchase land that is nothing more than a swamp, you’ll soon find yourself sinking into a quagmire of debt with that little devil of a lawyer Edward ‘P.’ Richecourt knocking on your cabin door.Now, I know you fantasize about accumulating unlimited wealth overnight,” he continued facetiously, as Rose stepped into the room and moved closer to them, “but it won’t happen if you go looking for bargains.Part with the money you’ve been hoarding, however, and I’ve a few prospects that might interest you—sound investments that could prove a real windfall over time.”Paul’s eyes left the chessboard and shifted to John, but Rose interrupted.“How many times must I tell you not to sit in a chair that way, John Duvoisin? You are going to topple over.”John, who’d been balancing the chair on its back legs, stood and rearranged it.“I’ve been sitting that way for as long as I can remember,” he complained good-naturedly, “and I have yet to fall.”“Don’t argue with me,” his one-time nanny warned, shaking a crooked finger at him.“I’m older than you, and if need be, I can still take a switch to you!”The statement elicited giggles from the twins, who had lost interest in the chess game.“Did you really take a switch to his backside?” Yvette asked, her laughter renewed as John feigned a grimace of fear.“On more than one occasion,” he interjected, placing an affectionate arm around the older woman’s bent shoulders and walking her nearer his sisters.Noticing he had everyone’s attention where he liked it, he said, “In fact, I remember one occasion in particular when I was nine—not always a lucky number—”“Do you mind?” Paul cut in.“I’m trying to concentrate.”Amazingly, John forfeited his story and gave Rose another squeeze before releasing her.“Is Pierre settled for the evening?”“Sleeping like a newborn,” she whispered, taking a seat near Charmaine.“He’s quite a boy,” John commented, talking across the chessboard now.“I’m impressed by how well he speaks for a boy of—”“John,” Paul bit out, and then, “Please—take your conversation elsewhere.”“Am I not allowed to speak in my own parlor?” John asked innocently.Turning slowly in his chair, Paul regarded his brother.“You may speak wherever you wish.I just ask that you spare me your domestic whims until I’ve finished playing this game with Miss Ryan.”“Now, Paul, I’d hardly be a gentleman if I allowed you to play games with Miss Ryan.Therefore, I will act as a chaperone and watch—quietly.”Vexed, Paul turned back to the chessboard, conscious of John surveying the game from behind him.Sliding his bishop five squares diagonally, he proclaimed Charmaine’s king in check.She was in a fine mess, and everyone was watching.Distracted, she pretended intense deliberation before edging her king one square forward.Belatedly, she realized she had laid her valuable queen open to attack [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]