Augusta intended to give exactly that impression, but she had to tread delicately. Maisie was suspicious and seemed too bright to be easily hoodwinked. 'Let's not be fanciful, Maisie,' she said. 'Forgive me for saying so, but no woman of my class would wish a man of her family to marry quite so far below him.'
Maisie showed no resentment. 'She might if she hated him enough.'
Feeling encouraged, Augusta continued to lead her on. 'But I don't hate Hugh,' she said. 'Whatever gave you that idea?'
'He did. He told me you treat him as a poor relation and make sure everyone else does the same.'
'How ungrateful people can be. But why would I wish to ruin his career?'
'Because he shows up that ass of a son of yours, Edward.'
A wave of anger engulfed Augusta. Once again Maisie had come uncomfortably close to the truth. It was true that Edward lacked Hugh's low cunning, but Edward was a fine, sweet young man and Hugh was ill-bred. 'I think you had better not mention the name of my son,' Augusta said in a low voice.
Maisie grinned. 'I seem to have touched a sore place.' She immediately became grave again. 'So that's your game. Well, I won't play it.'
'What do you mean?' said Augusta.
Suddenly there were tears in Maisie's eyes. 'I like Hugh too much to ruin him.'
Augusta was surprised and pleased by the strength of Maisie's passion. This was working out perfectly, despite the bad beginning. 'What are you going to do?' Augusta asked.
Maisie struggled not to cry. 'I shan't see him anymore. You may yet destroy him, but you won't have my help.'
'He might come after you.'
'I shall disappear. He doesn't know where I live. I'll stay away from the places where he might look for me.'
A good plan, Augusta thought; you'll only need to keep it up for a short while, then he will go abroad and be away for years, perhaps forever. But she said nothing. She had led Maisie to the obvious conclusion and now the girl needed no further help.
Maisie wiped her face on her sleeve. 'I'd better go now, before he comes back with the doctor.' She stood up. 'Thank you for lending me your dress, Mrs. Merton.'
The housekeeper opened the door for her. 'I'll show you out.'
'We'll take the back stairs this time, please,' Maisie said. 'I don't want--' She stopped, swallowed hard, and said in a near-whisper: 'I don't want to see Hugh again.'
Then she went out.
Mrs. Merton followed and closed the door.
Augusta let out a long breath. She had done it. She had stunted Hugh's career, neutralized Maisie Robinson, and averted the danger from David Middleton, all in one night. Maisie had been a formidable opponent, but in the end she had proved too emotional.
Augusta savored her triumph for a few moments then went to Edward's room.
He was sitting up in bed, sipping brandy from a goblet. His nose was bruised and there was dried blood around it, and he looked somewhat sorry for himself. 'My poor boy,' Augusta said. She went to his nightstand and damped a corner of a towel, then sat on the edge of the bed and wiped the blood from his upper lip. He winced. 'Sorry!' she said.
He gave her a smile. 'That's all right, Mother,' he said. 'Do carry on. It's very soothing.'
While she was washing him Dr. Humbold came in, closely followed by Hugh. 'Have you been fighting, young man?' the doctor said cheerily.
Augusta took exception to that suggestion. 'He certainly has not,' she said crossly. 'He has been attacked.'
Humbold was crushed. 'Quite so, quite so,' he muttered.
Hugh said: 'Where's Maisie?'
Augusta did not want to talk about Maisie in front of the doctor. She stood up and took Hugh outside. 'She left.'
'Did you send her away?' he demanded.
Augusta was inclined to tell him not to speak to her in that tone of voice, but she decided there was nothing to be gained by angering him: her victory over him was already total, though he did not know it. She said in a conciliatory tone: 'If I had thrown her out, do you not think she would have been waiting in the street to tell you so? No, she left of her own accord, and she said she would write to you tomorrow.'
'But she said she would still be here when I got back with the doctor.'
'Then she changed her mind. Have you never known a girl of her age to do that?'
Hugh looked bewildered, but he did not know what to say next.
Augusta added: 'No doubt she wished to extricate herself as quickly as possible from the embarrassing position in which you had put her.'
That seemed to make sense to him. 'I suppose you made her feel so uncomfortable that she couldn't bear to remain in the house.'
'That will do,' she said severely. 'I don't wish to hear your opinions. Your uncle Joseph will see you first thing in the morning, before you leave for the bank. Now good night.'
For a moment it seemed as if he would argue. However, there was really nothing for him to say. 'Very well,' he muttered at last. He turned into his room.
Augusta went back into Edward's room. The doctor was closing his bag. 'No real damage,' he said. 'His nose will feel tender for a few days, and he may have a black eye tomorrow; but he's young, and he'll soon heal.'
'Thank you, Doctor. Hastead will see you out.'
'Good night.'
Augusta bent over the bed and kissed Edward. 'Good night, dear Teddy. Go to sleep, now.'
'Very well, Mother dear. Good night.'
She had one more task to perform.
She went down the stairs and entered Joseph's room. She was hoping he would have gone to sleep waiting for her, but he was sitting up in bed, reading the Pall Mall Gazette. He put it aside immediately and lifted the covers to let her in.
He embraced her immediately. It was quite light in the room: dawn had broken without her noticing it. She closed her eyes.
He entered her quickly. She put her arms around him and responded to his movements. She thought of herself when she was sixteen, lying on a riverbank in a raspberry-pink dress and a straw hat, being kissed by the young earl of Strang; only in her mind he did not stop at kissing her, but lifted her skirts and made love to her in the hot sunshine, with the river lapping at their feet....
