Free A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer Page A

Lydia’s expense. On the only occasion when he had ventured to suggest various ways of retrenchment to her, such as the substitution of a more modest maid for her staggeringly expensive dresser, she had put him utterly to rout by replying that she had considered this expedient, but that when she had asked herself if Poor Papa would have wished her to make this dismal change she had received an unequivocal answer: he would not have wished it at all.
    ‘And you can’t argue about that,’ had observed Lydia, ‘because it’s true! He would merely have said: “Pooh! Non-sense!”’
    One of the economies which Adam feared his mother might practise was in the matter of Lydia’s coming-out. Lady Lynton’s disposition was not social; she had never enjoyed large parties; and it seemed probable that she would make penury an excuse for neglecting this part of her maternal duties. The thought just flickered in Adam’s mind that if he were himself married, and in affluent circumstances, his wife would be able to launch Lydia into society.
    The thought vanished; he dipped his dry pen in the ink-well, and ended his letter to Lydia rather abruptly, not regaling her, as he had intended, with an account of his interview with Mr Chawleigh.
    The afternoon was disagreeably enlivened by a note sent round by hand from Wimmering’s place of business. That harassed practitioner had received a disturbing communication disclosing yet another obligation incurred by the late Lord Lynton. He very much feared that it would have to be met. No documents relating to the transaction were in his possession; he wrote in haste to enquire whether the present Viscount had discovered any relevant matter amongst his father’s private papers.
    Adam, realizing that persons committing suicide were not necessarily insane, set about the task of sifting, yet again, the mass of his volatile parent’s papers.
    He was engaged on this labour when he received a visit from Lord Oversley.
    ‘I have only a few minutes to spare,’ Oversley said, grasping his hand, ‘but I felt I ought to make a push to see you, in case you should act hastily, before I’d had a chance to represent to you – You’ve seen Chawleigh, I know: he came to call on me directly afterwards. He’s taken a fancy to you: I thought he might.’
    ‘Much obliged to him!’ returned Adam. ‘I would I could return the compliment!’
    ‘Ah!’ said his lordship. ‘That’s what I was afraid of. Just as well I decided to snatch a moment to see you!’
    ‘Good God!’ exclaimed Adam. ‘You can’t have supposed – you of all people! – that there was the least chance I should – Why, it’s unthinkable!’
    ‘Then I don’t scruple to tell you, Adam, that you’re not the man I took you for!’ said his lordship. ‘I’ll also tell you that if you whistle down the wind the best chance you’ll ever have offered you to save Fontley, provide for your sisters, and bring yourself off clear of debt, I shall think so much the worse of you that I shall be glad, instead of sorry, that you’re not my son-in-law!’ He saw Adam stiffen, and said in a milder tone: ‘I know it’s a mighty hard thing to do, and not the match anyone would have chosen for you, but the ugly truth is, boy, that you’re in the devil’s own mess! I say in all sincerity that you owe it to your name to seize any honourable chance that offers of bringing yourself about.’
    ‘Honourable?’ Adam ejaculated. ‘Selling myself to a wealthy Cit’s daughter? Oh, no! Not myself: my title!’
    ‘Pooh! No need for any Cheltenham tragedies! It’s a fair bargain, and one that’s being struck more often than you know. Yes, yes, you have formed what you believe to be a lasting passion for Julia! Lord, if we were all to marry our first loves what a plague of ill-assorted marriages there would be! Put her out of your mind! You may believe me when I tell you that she’s no more fitted to be the wife of a marching officer than