Marigold Chain (6 page)

‘
You –
you’re mad!’ he shouted.

‘
Mind
your own business,’ snapped Ashton. And then, to Alex,
‘Well?’

‘
Can’t do
it,’ announced Freddy positively. ‘Can’t stake a lady.’

‘
I’ll
stake what I choose.’

Danny wagged a
solemn finger at Alex.

‘
Wouldn’t
take him if I were you,’ he advised. ‘You haven’t seen her. Might
be a hag.’

Freddy blinked,
much impressed by this logic, and then shook his head
regretfully.

‘
She
ain’t,’ he said simply. ‘But that’s not the point.’

Ashton was
losing patience.

‘
Enough!
Will you cover, Deveril – or haven’t you the nerve for
it?’

Alex’s eyes had
never left Ashton’s face. He raised one brow and said, ‘My friend,
I have the nerve for more or less anything.’

It was all
Giles had been waiting for.

‘
This is
absurd,’ he said coldly. ‘Ashton – you can’t toss your sister into
the pot like a handful of coins. Her dowry isn’t yours to dispose
of and she can’t be made to marry anyone just because you’re in
debt. As for you, Alex, are you too drunk to realise how utterly
stupid you’re being?’

Alex laughed a
shade wildly.

‘
Oh I
realise, sweetheart. I’m just not sure that I care.’ He turned to
Ashton. ‘Produce your stake. I’ll take you.’

Ashton relaxed
and summoned his servant.

‘
Fetch my
sister,’ he ordered.

The man
goggled.

‘
But –
it’s late, sir. Miss Chloë retired some hours ago.’

‘
Then
wake her up. Go to it – hurry!’

The man gave up
and went out.

Richard
Stavely, who had stood through this discussion in a trance-like
stupor, suddenly roused himself to protest.

‘
You’ve
no right! It – it’s disgusting and I won’t let you do it!’ And,
stepping valiantly forth, he tripped over the fallen chair and
measured his length.

Danny and
Freddy inspected him with professional interest.

‘
Looks
like he’s knocked himself out,’ observed Daniel.

‘
Out
cold,’ corroborated Freddy cheerfully. ‘Pity.’

And, pleased to
find themselves in agreement, they drank a toast.

Waiting for
Ashton’s sister to make an appearance, Giles informed Colne and
Hassall that it was time they left and, since his tone brooked no
argument, they gathered up their cards and departed, muttering.

When they had
gone, Giles made another attempt to make Ashton and Alex see sense.
Ashton ignored him. Alex leaned back in his chair, whistling; then,
like the others, he turned and, unlike them, remained seated as the
door opened and a girl came in.

Daughter of
Ralph Ashton’s second wife, Marguerite, Chloë Herveaux was just
twenty and though, as Freddy had said, she was not a hag, neither
was she precisely beautiful. Of medium height, fine-boned and
slender, she had grace and a certain distinction which was nothing
to do with her shabby dress. But her face was one of character,
rather than loveliness. Narrow, arched brows were set above dark
brown eyes, wide and intelligent; her nose was short and straight,
her lips firm, her chin determined. And the long hair falling down
to her waist was unfashionably straight and the colour of
newly-beaten copper.

She stood quite
still, hands clasped loosely in front of her and surveyed the
company. Her glance lit upon Freddy and a tiny smile touched her
mouth.

‘
Good
evening, Mr Iverson,’ she said, as calmly as if it was perfectly
normal to be roused from bed at midnight to attend her brother’s
bachelor evenings.

Freddy bowed
politely. ‘Servant, Mistress Chloë.’

The dark gaze
transferred itself to Giles, widened, moved quickly to Daniel and
on to Alex where it stayed for a moment. Mr Beckwith’s brows rose
sharply and Mr Fawsley frowned as if trying to place her. Mr
Deveril looked back at her with interest but no other discernible
expression. She restored her attention to Giles, who swept her an
elegant bow.

‘
Mistress
Ashton … we have met before, I think. But perhaps you don’t
remember?’

‘
Yes I
do,’ she averred. ‘Only I don’t know how to address you. And my
name is not Ashton – it’s Herveaux.’

‘
My
apologies.’ He smiled engagingly. ‘My name is Beckwith. And this Mr
Fawsley – and, over there, Mr Deveril.’

She directed a
brief smile at Danny, passed over Alex and curtsied to Giles. Then
she turned to her brother and her eyes became quite blank.

‘
Well,
James? What am I doing here at this hour?’

For a second,
Ashton had the grace to look embarrassed but he conquered it.

‘
You’re
here,’ he said slurring his words a little, ‘because I’ve chosen to
stake you.’

‘
Plait-il?’

‘
I said
I’ve staked you. You’re to be my pledge in a game of
dice.’

She stared at
him uncomprehendingly. ‘If this is some sort of joke – ‘

‘
It’s
not. But if I win, nothing changes as far as you are
concerned.’

‘
That’s
no comfort,’ she said coldly. Then, ‘And if you lose?’

He reached for
his glass to avoid looking at her.

‘
Your
hand and marriage portion go to the winner.’

There was a
long silence during which Chloë’s expression changed to one of
blistering contempt.

‘
I see.
And to which of these … gentlemen,’ she gestured swiftly round the
room, ‘goes the delightful opportunity of winning me? Not
all
of them, surely?’

‘
No. Only
one,’ said Alex, coming slowly to his feet. ‘Myself.’

Giles saw her
composure crack – but only a little. A sudden flush stained her
cheeks and the small capable hands clenched over each other; then
she drew a long breath and was in control again.

‘
Ah
well,’ she said, in apparent resignation. ‘One cannot have
everything.’

Her eyes
wandered past him and perceived the recumbent form of Mr Stavely,
as though for the first time. Her brows rose.

‘
Why is
Richard lying on the floor?’

Freddy and
Danny exchanged warning glances.

‘
He’s
tired,’ said Freddy.

‘
Thought
he’d take a nap,’ added Danny helpfully.

‘
Oh? I
had thought it must be the brandy. But perhaps it’s better than
usual?’

Giles swallowed
a laugh and began to feel a certain admiration.

Ashton,
meanwhile, was becoming belligerent again.

‘
Enough
of this piffling talk – it’s wasting time. Shake the
bones.’

‘
One
moment,’ interrupted Chloë. ‘Do I have any choice in
this?’

‘
No,’
snapped her brother.

‘
Yes,’
said Giles. ‘Of course you do.’

She looked at
him enquiringly.

‘
You
can’t be bartered in this way against your will. It is quite
reprehensible. So if you wish to halt this lunacy now – all you
have to do is say so. And I will see to it that your decision is
respected.’

His reward was
an unexpectedly charming smile.

‘
Thank
you.’ The smile disappeared as she turned to look at Alex. ‘And you
… Mr Deveril, wasn’t it? We don’t know each other and my dowry is
no great fortune. So why would you accept a wager of this kind? Or
are you just as drunk as my brother?’

Alex made an
expansive gesture, swayed slightly and said grandly, ‘Drunk or
sober, wager or dare, I never refuse a challenge.’ And dropped back
into his chair.

She looked at
him and sighed.

‘
Oh dear.
That doesn’t sound like promising husband material, does
it?’

Alex laughed
and reached for the brandy.

She ignored him
and, turning back to Giles, said ‘So. I may refuse to take part in
this charade … and stay here. And trust that my brother, having
conceived this original idea, does not seek to repeat it on another
occasion when I may be less fortunate in being offered
protection.’

‘
There is
that,’ Mr Beckwith admitted reluctantly.

‘
Yes. I
am not inclined to rely on it. Of course, if Mr Deveril loses, it
may happen again anyway. And next time the gentleman concerned may
be an ancient, or poxed, or – worse still – one such as my brother
himself.’ She eyed Ashton dispassionately. ‘All things considered,
I think I prefer to take my chance now. At least when he is sober,
I imagine Mr Deveril is usually in full possession of his
faculties.’

‘
Much
obliged to you, Marigold,’ slurred Alex, raising his glass to
her.

Chloë ignored
him again and looked across at her brother.

‘
Very
well. Throw your dice, James. I consent.’

‘
Wait.’
Giles frowned. ‘I won’t ask if you know what you are doing. I can
appreciate your situation only too well. But are you sure this is
wise?’

She shrugged
easily and said with an effort equally invisible, ‘No. But it’s
clear that I’d be very stupid to stay here.’

‘
You
don’t know Alex.’

‘
You
don’t know my brother. And this, believe me, is the last
straw.’

Brown eyes met
grey and then Giles acknowledged defeat.

‘
Do you
at least have somewhere to go?’

She nodded, ‘In
the morning. Little Tom’s family will take me in for a time. His
mother knows how things are in this house.’

‘
Well,
then. If you are quite decided, I shall take my leave. I’m afraid
that I derive no amusement whatsoever from games of this
sort.’

She smiled
again, but this time it was tense, automatic.

‘
No. I
understand.’ She held out her hand. ‘Goodbye – and thank
you.’

He bowed and
gallantly kissed her fingers.

‘
Au revoir, mademoiselle
. I shall hope to meet
you again in more pleasant circumstances.’ And before she could
reply, he turned, nodded perfunctorily to his host, and
left.

Chloë faced her
brother. ‘Well? What are you waiting for?’

Alex, who had
watched all this in dreamy silence, suddenly laughed.

‘
What
indeed?’ He reached for the dice-box, shook it, and
threw.

Freddy peered
at the dice. ‘Five and four,’ he announced.

Ashton followed
suit and cast a six and a deuce.

‘
First
throw to Mr Deveril,’ said Danny boisterously. ‘Take a wager,
Freddy? I’ll lay ten guineas on Alex.’

‘
Can’t,’
said Freddy morosely. ‘And I wouldn’t take you if I
could.’

Alex grinned
and threw again – a three and a five. Ashton replied with a pair of
sixes.

‘
One
all,’ sang Danny.

Mr Deveril
picked up the box for the last time and threw.

‘
Quatre
trey,’ called Freddy, not to be outdone. ‘Shouldn’t have much
trouble beating that.’

It was evident
that Ashton thought so too. What his sister thought was less
obvious but her knuckles glowed white with pressure as she watched
him make the deciding cast. He threw; Freddy and Danny craned over
to count the spots, then, ‘Quatre deuce,’ shouted Danny. ‘Alex
wins!’

Ashton sat
still, frowning at the dice as if staring at them would change the
outcome. Then slowly lifting his head, he met Alex’s eyes, and saw,
behind the haze of intoxication, pure contempt.

Very carefully,
Alex rose and made Chloë a deep if unsteady bow.

‘
Madam, I
have won your hand in fair play. Will you come with me?’

Shock drained
the blood from her skin.

‘
N-now?
You want me to leave with you
now
?’

‘
Naturally. You just shaid –
said
– you couldn’t stay here.’

‘
I know.
But I didn’t expect … I thought that in the morning …’ She stopped
and then said desperately, ‘It’s the middle of the
night!’

‘
Nowhere
near it, m’dear. Not much past eleven yet.’ Rocking slightly, Alex
held onto the back of his chair and offered her a rare, genuine
smile. ‘So will you come?’

Her colour
returned and a sort of madness took hold of her.

‘
Yes,
sir. If you wish. Are we going now?’

He nodded, half
laughing.

‘
Then I
will get my cloak,’ she said calmly and went out of the
room.

In the short
time she was away, Ashton stared at Alex with bleary hatred but no
one spoke. Then she was back, her cloak draped over her shoulders
and a small bag in her hand.

‘
I am
ready,’ was all she said.

Ashton glared
at her from beneath lowered brows.

‘
Then go
– and good riddance! But don’t think you can come crawling back
here!’

She surveyed
him distantly. ‘I won’t crawl and I won’t come back,’ she said
flatly. ‘I would sooner starve in a ditch.’ She looked at Alex.
‘Shall we go?’

He smiled again
and scooped up coins and promissory notes haphazardly into his
pocket. ‘Upon the instant. Let’s shake the dust of these unhallowed
halls from our feet and take to the road.’

And followed by
Danny and Freddy, he threw an arm about her waist and swept her out
of the house, singing as he went.