[Harlequin] - Mary Nichols - The Last Gamble (txt), Ksiazki, txt
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the last gamblebymary nicholsBorn in Singapore, mary nichols came toEngland when she was three, and has spent most of her life in different partsof East Anglia. She has been a radiographer, school secretary, informationofficer and industrial editor, as well as a writer. She has three grown-upchildren and four grandchildren.Recent titles by the same author:.TO WIN THE LADYA DANGEROUS UNDERTAKINGDEVIL-MAY-DARETHE PRICE OF HONOURTHE DAN BURY SCANDALSTHE LAST GAMBLEMILLS BOONDID YOU PURCHASE THIS BOOK WITHOUT A COVER?If you did, you should be aware it is stolen property as it was reportedstolenand destroyed by a retailer. Neither the Author nor the publisher hasreceived any payment for this book.All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination ofthe author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same nameor names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known orunknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or inpart inany form. This edition is published by arrangement with HarlequinEnterprises H B. V. The text of this publication or any part thereof maynot be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic ormechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an informationretrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of thepublisher.This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of tradeor otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without theprior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other thanthat in which it is published and without a similar condition including thiscondition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.MILLS & BOON, the Rose Device and LEGACY OF LOVE are trademarks of thepublisher. Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road,Richmond, Surrey TW9 I SRISBN 0 263 79880 104. 961 I 82358Typeset in Great Britain by CentraCet, Cambridge Printed and bound in GreatBritain by BPC Paperbacks Limited, AylesburyCHAPTER ONE.OUTSIDE a watery sun shone in a pale sky and swallows twittered in the eaves,gathering for their autumn migration. Inside it was gloomy because thelibrary curtains had been drawn almost fully across the windows. The onlysound was the rhythmic ticking of the clock, even though there were twopeople in the room, an elderly man and a young lady dressed from head to toein black crepe.She was tiny, though perfectly proportioned. Her straight raven-dark hair,topped by a wisp of black lace, was drawn up into a Grecian knot, with one ortwo tendrils of curl left to frame an oval face which, in the last two weeks,had lost every vestige of colour. The silence seemed to stretch interminably."Miss Sanghurst," he said, at last."You do understand what I have been saying?""Yes." She looked up at him, green eyes wide with shock; otherwise, therewas no indication of how she felt. Her hands were perfectly still in her lap."I think I do. Is there nothing left?"He hated having to tell her that the father whose death she mourned hadgambled away her inheritance and left debts of such magnitude his passing hadchanged her almost overnight from a pampered, wealthy young lady into nothingshort of a pauper. But there had been no point in trying to soften the blowwith half-truths and platitudes, she would know the extent of it when hislordship's creditors, hearing of his demise, started knocking on the door."Nothing, I am afraid, except the money you inherited from your mother. Shemade sure he couldn't touch that.""She knew then?""What he was like? Yes, I am sure she did.""And yet she still loved him." It was a statement, not a question; she knewher mother had adored her father."I believe she did, and that he loved her. You know how much her deathaffected him.""Yes." Papa had shut himself away for days when her mother had died fouryears before. When he finally emerged, red-eyed and grey-faced, he had beena changed man, broody and curt instead of cheerful considerate as he hadhitherto been. And he started staying out at night, all night sometimes, asif he couldn't bear to be in the house without his wife. Until today Helenhad no idea he had spent those nights gambling. How could she have been keptin such ii ignorance?She had tried to understand how he felt about losing his wife, tried to makeit up to him, and occasionally he would pull himself together and they wouldand chat together and make plans. Last year they had been planning aEuropean Tour. She had unusually well-educated for a young lady and hadbeen: looking forward to learning more. It was meant to recompense her forher disappointment in not finding a husband.Her come-out the year before her mother's last' illness had been lavish andhe could never why none of the young eligibles of that year had offered.Several had shown an early interest, but th had been no proposal becauseHelen herself had encouraged them to think they would be looked favourably.She did not know why she was so particular, exe{ that she had a clear idea ofthe man she would like marry and would not accept anything less, and in tlshe had had the support of her mother. Her fat failed to understand that shedid not subscribe to premise that any husband was better than none at, Now,at four-and-twenty, she was almost an old mai{ In the event, their journeyhad been postpon because one of Papa's investments had failed. It vsomething to do with a ship carrying his merchand which had sunk on its wayfrom the Orient. He h assured her it was only a temporary setback and thwould go the following year.Now she never would."I wish he had told me the extent of it," she said could have made economies." Her father had stinted her, never complained when she asked him buy her anew gown or a bonnet. In truth, he positiw encouraged her to have whatevershe wanted. mother's inheritance, which had been invested to p vide herwith a tiny monthly allowance, was looked as pin money; she wasn't expectedto use it to clot herself."We could have let some of the staff go.. ," paused, as the full horror ofher circumstances borne home to her."Now, I imagine, they must all go " I'm afraid so. ""Even Daisy? She's been with me ever since I ca out of the schoolroom.""I am very sorry," he said."And this house?""It will have to be sold to pay his Lordships debts.""Oh. Then I shall have to repair to the country. We haven't been therefor two or three years, Papa never liked the Peterborough house, he said itwas draughty and isolated from Society. And he still thought I would make amatch if we stayed in town...""Miss Sanghurst," he interrupted before she could be carried away by herplans."The Peterborough house was sold last year. His Lordship was hoping themoney he realised on that would keep his dunners quiet for several months andpay for your tour but I am afraid he was overoptimistic."She looked up at him, her face betraying the horror and grief she had beenfeeling ever since her father had been discovered in the stables with hisbrains blown out. It was bad enough to have a father shoot himself, butsuddenly to learn that the security you have always enjoyed was no more to betrusted than a puff of wind must be truly terrifying.He had expected tears and wailing and a refusal to face the truth, but shehad been surprisingly strong for one so slight, taking each blow on herpretty little chin and then sticking it out just that bit more. Her head washigh and her back straight, but for how long?Surely she must break soon?"Then I must find employment. I can teach, I love children, you know.Or be a lady's companion. Or perhaps I can be a clerk or a seamstress. "Each suggestion was more abhorrent than the last, but she must do somethingto earn a living and it was no good being top-lofty about it."There is one other thing I must mention," he said, admiring her courage."His Lordship appointed a guardian for you.""A guardian?""Yes." He smiled at her astonishment."Every young lady, however mature she considers herself to be, needs someoneto care for her and protect her if she should be so unlucky as to lose bothher parents.Your father made this provision some time ago. ""Who is he?" Ever since her father's death, she had accepted the fact thatshe was alone in the world, that she had no relatives, and must fend forherself, even though the full extent of it had only just been communicated toher by the lawyer--she was not only alone but almost penniless.She had many friends, but none she could call dose, so who could possiblyhave agreed to take her on? It would be a heavy responsibility, especiallyas she brought nothing with her. Instead of being the considerable heiresseveryone believed her to be, she was a nobody, dependent on the charity ofher sponsors and everyone would know it. The idea did not appeal to her atall."The Earl of Strathrowan.""I know no one of that name.""I believe he was a great friend of your father's when they served togetherin India. You were only a baby at the time, so you would not remember.""I certainly do not. Is he still out in India? Am I expected to go to himthere?" Was there to be no end to the revelations being heaped upon her?She didn't think she could take many more without collapsing under the weightof them. Mourning a father she apparently did not know at all, was badenough, but how much worse the humiliation of being foisted on a str...
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