He realized that she was flirting and he was failing to respond. The truth was that he was too involved with Rachel. He certainly did not love her, but he was deeply engrossed by his relationship with her and she absorbed all his sexual energy. To compensate for his distraction he held Augusta's hand for a moment as she passed him a cup of tea. 'You're flattering me,' he said softly.
'No doubt I am. But something is worrying you, I can tell.'
'Dear Mrs. Pilaster, as perceptive as always. Why do I ever imagine I can hide anything from you?' He released her hand and took his tea. 'Yes, I'm a little tense about the Santamaria railroad.'
'I thought the partners had agreed to that.'
'They have, but these things take so long to organize.'
'The financial world moves slowly.'
'I understand that, but my family doesn't. Papa sends me cables weekly. I curse the day the telegraph reached Santamaria.'
Edward came in bursting with news. 'Antonio Silva's back!' he said before he had closed the door behind him.
Augusta paled. 'How do you know?'
'Hugh saw him.'
'That's a blow,' she said, and Micky was surprised to see that her hand was shaking as she put down her cup and saucer.
'And David Middleton is still asking questions,' said Micky, recalling Middleton's conversation with Hugh at the duchess of Tenbigh's ball. Micky was pretending to be worried, but in truth he was not altogether displeased. He liked to have Edward and Augusta reminded, from time to time, of the guilty secret they all shared.
'It's not just that,' Edward said. 'Antonio's trying to sabotage the Santamaria railroad bond issue.'
Micky frowned. Tonio's family had opposed the railway scheme back home in Cordova, but they had been overruled by President Garcia. What could Tonio possibly do here in London?
The same question occurred to Augusta. 'How can he do anything?'
Edward handed his mother a sheaf of papers. 'Read that.'
Micky said: 'What is it?'
'An article Tonio plans to publish in The Times about your family's nitrate mines.'
Augusta skimmed the pages rapidly. 'He claims that life as a nitrate miner is unpleasant and dangerous,' she said derisively. 'Who ever supposed it was a garden party?'
Edward said: 'He also reports that women are flogged and children shot for disobedience.'
She said: 'But what has this to do with your bond issue?'
'The railway is to carry nitrate to the capital. Investors don't like anything controversial. Many of them will already be wary of a South American bond. Something like this could scare them off completely.'
Micky was shaken. This sounded like very bad news. He asked Edward: 'What does your father say about all this?'
'We're trying to get another bank to come in with us on the deal, but basically we're going to let Tonio publish and see what happens. If the publicity causes a crash in South American stocks we'll have to abandon the Santamaria railroad.'
Damn Tonio to hell. He was clever--and Papa was a fool, to run his mines like slave camps and then expect to raise money in the civilized world.
But what was to be done? Micky racked his brains. Tonio had to be silenced, but he would not be persuaded or bribed. A chill descended over Micky's heart as he realized he would have to use cruder, riskier methods.
He pretended to be calm. 'May I see the article, please?'
Augusta handed it to him.
The first thing he noticed was the hotel address at the top of the paper. Putting on an air of insouciance that he did not feel, he said: 'Why, this is no problem at all.'
Edward protested: 'But you haven't read it yet!'
'I don't need to. I've seen the address.'
'So what?'
'Now that we know where to find him, we can deal with him,' Micky said. 'Leave it to me.'
Chapter THREE
MAY
Section 1
SOLLY LOVED TO WATCH Maisie getting dressed.
Each evening she would put on her dressing jacket and summon her maids to pin her hair up and thread it with flowers or feathers or beads; then she would dismiss the servants and wait for her husband.
Tonight they were going out, which they did most evenings. The only time they stayed in, during the London season, was when they were giving a party. Between Easter and the end of July they never dined alone.
He came in at half-past six, in his dress trousers and white waistcoat, carrying a large glass of champagne. Maisie's hair was decorated with yellow silk flowers tonight. She slipped out of her bedroom gown and stood naked in front of the mirror. She did a pirouette for Solly's benefit then began to dress.
First she put on a linen chemise with a neckline embroidered with flowers. It had silk tapes at the shoulders to tie it to her dress so that it would not be seen. Next she drew on fine white woolen stockings and fastened them just above her knees with elastic garters. She stepped into a pair of knee-length loose cotton lawn drawers with pretty braiding at the hems and a drawstring waist, then put on yellow silk evening slippers.
Solly picked up her corset from its frame and helped her into it, then drew the laces tight at the back. Most women were helped to dress by one or two maids, for it was impossible for a woman to manage the elaborate corset and gown alone. However, Solly had learned to perform these services himself rather than go without the pleasure of watching.
Crinolines and bustles were no longer in fashion, but Maisie put on a cotton petticoat with a flounced train and a ruffled hem to support the train of her gown. The petticoat was fastened at the back with a bow, and Solly tied it.
At last she was ready for the gown. It was of yellow-and-white striped silk taffeta. The bodice was loosely draped, which flattered her large bosom, and caught at the shoulder with a bow. The rest of the garment was similarly swagged and caught at the waist, knee and hem. It took a maid all day to iron it.
She sat on the floor and Solly lifted the dress over her so that she was sitting inside it like a tent. Then she stood up carefully, putting her hands through the armholes and her head through the neck. Together she and Solly arranged the folds of the drapery until they looked right.
She opened her jewelry box and took out a diamond-and-emerald necklace and
