A Dangerous Fortune - Ken Follett [124]
Then Hugh appeared at Nora’s side and took her arm; the count drew himself up to his full height and stalked out; and an anxious group clustered protectively around the prince, hiding him from view. Conversation broke out around the room like a roll of thunder.
Augusta looked triumphantly at Micky.
“Brilliant,” he murmured with real admiration. “You’re brilliant, Augusta.” He squeezed her arm and led her off the dance floor.
Her husband was waiting for her. “That wretched girl!” he expostulated. “To cause a scene like that under the nose of the prince—she’s brought disgrace on the whole family, and doubtless lost us a major contract too!”
It was just the reaction Augusta had hoped for. “Now perhaps you’ll believe that Hugh can’t be made a partner,” she said triumphantly.
Joseph gave her an appraising stare. For one dreadful moment she feared she had overplayed her hand, and he had guessed that she had orchestrated the whole incident. But if the thought crossed his mind he must have dismissed it, for he said: “You’re right, my dear. You’ve been right all along.”
Hugh was steering Nora to the door. “We’re leaving, of course,” he said neutrally as they passed.
“We’ll all have to leave now,” Augusta said. However, she did not want them to go immediately. If no more was said tonight, there was a danger that tomorrow when people cooled off they might say the incident was not as bad as it had seemed. To guard against that, Augusta wanted more of a row now: hot tempers, angry words, accusations that could not easily be forgotten. She put a detaining hand on Nora’s arm. “I tried to warn you about Count de Tokoly,” she said accusingly.
Hugh said: “When such a man insults a lady on the dance floor, there isn’t much she can do other than cause a scene.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Augusta snapped. “Any well-bred young girl would have known exactly what to do. She should have said she felt unwell and sent for her carriage.”
Hugh knew this was true and he did not try to deny it. Once again Augusta worried that everyone might calm down and the incident would fizzle out. But Joseph was still angry, and he said to Hugh: “Heaven knows how much damage you’ve done to the family and the bank tonight.”
Hugh colored. “What precisely do you mean?” he said stiffly.
By challenging Joseph to back up the accusation Hugh was making things worse for himself, Augusta thought with satisfaction. He was too young to know that he should shut up and go home at this point.
Joseph grew more angry. “We’ve certainly lost the Hungarian account, and we’ll never again be invited to a royal event.”
“I know that perfectly well,” Hugh said. “I meant to ask why you said the damage has been done by me.”
“Because you brought into the family a woman who doesn’t know how to behave!”
Better and better, Augusta thought with malicious glee.
Hugh was bright red now but he spoke with controlled fury. “Let me get this straight. A Pilaster wife must be willing to suffer insult and humiliation at dances rather than do anything to jeopardize a business deal, is that your philosophy?”
Joseph was mightily offended. “You insolent young pup,” he raged. “What I’m saying is that by marrying beneath yourself you have disqualified yourself from ever becoming a partner in the bank!”
He said it! Augusta thought jubilantly. He said it!
Hugh was jolted into silence. Unlike Augusta he had not thought ahead, had not worked out the implications of the row. Now the significance of what had happened was sinking in, and she watched his expression change from rage, through anxiety and comprehension, to despair.
She fought to conceal a victorious smile. She had what she wanted: she had won. Later Joseph might regret his pronouncement but it was most unlikely he would withdraw it—he was too proud.
“So that’s it,” Hugh said at last, and he was looking at Augusta rather than Joseph. To her surprise she saw that he was close to tears. “Very well, Augusta. You win. I don’t know how it was done but I’ve no doubt you provoked this incident