‘That was what I assumed. So you see, though our actions may have hastened the young man’s end, it was written for him already, because of his own actions. The world is a cleaner place without him in it.’
‘You did not place yourself in danger?’ his daughter asked.
‘On the contrary, I received thanks. My friend paid me the compliment of saying that he knew my discretion could be relied upon, and that he would not soon forget what I had done for him.’
‘That could be construed as a threat,’ Mrs Constantine said anxiously.
‘I choose not to take it so. My word is my bond and he knows it. He is not a monster, though he is ruthless, and most of all he is not a fool. We have an understanding. It is over, and you must both put the matter from your minds, as much as you are able.’
It was at this moment that Allegra, who had sharp ears, heard with a thrill of alarm a soft knocking at the basement door.
38
It was very late, long past the hour for respectable visitors, and everyone else in the house, including the servants, must be soundly asleep. Allegra could hardly be surprised that her grandfather insisted on answering the unexpected summons, and would not allow either of the women in the kitchen to accompany him. They rose, though, and stood by the door to the passage, listening. Two male voices: Schiavi’s low rumble, and another, still deep but younger, lighter. They both recognised it, and Mrs Constantine shot her daughter a sharp look that she could not fail to interpret.
‘I didn’t invite him here!’ she said hotly. ‘I have not communicated with him today. You know I have not, since I have not left your side. You make a great bustle over nothing, Mama. I daresay Mr Severin is just as anxious to learn what happened as we were, and how else is he to discover it but by coming here?’
Her mother snorted, but said nothing, and in a moment Max entered the room, pulling off his coat and tossing it aside. They resumed their seats, in some bizarre reiteration of the previous occasion they had all been here together.
Allegra could not deny that she was glad to see him, as it seemed she always was, but he did not look well. His dark hair was disordered, and his clothing too; he had removed his cravat at some earlier point in the day and his linen was sadly crumpled. His eyes were weary and his cheeks were shadowed with dark stubble; he had not shaved today, or perhaps for longer.
‘You’re drunk!’ Mrs Constantine said accusingly.
Max let out a harsh bark of laughter and raked his hair with his hand, disarranging it still further. ‘I was drunk at noon, madam,’ he corrected her, pronouncing each word with exaggerated care. ‘I was drunker at three. Drunker, or more drunk? By now – I have no idea what hour it might be, and I beg you not to put yourself to the trouble of telling me, for it is a matter of no significance whatsoever – I am in some other state for which I do not have adequate words. I do not say I have drunk myself sober…’
‘No, don’t,’ his reluctant hostess interjected tartly. ‘For I at least will not believe you.’
‘But I feel… I forget what I was about to say. I suppose that doesn’t signify either.’ He was looking at Allegra with a sort of exposed hunger in his face that made her shiver. The defences that he held so tightly to himself in normal circumstances seemed to have been stripped away, and all he displayed was a deep yearning that called up powerful echoes in her. It was impossible, what lay between them, he’d told her that himself, but it was still stronger than either of them could deny. She must be the sensible one here, because clearly he had passed some way beyond that. She rushed into speech before he could say anything else – anything hurtful or excessively intimate.
‘Grandfather has just been telling us that his acquaintance was in league with Mr Englishby in some criminal enterprises, it does not matter what. This man was much angered when hediscovered that his conspirator had been alluding to their association, even vaguely, as he did when he threatened me. Mr Smith feared such careless speech might lead to danger and exposure for him. Arrest, I imagine, and possibly the gallows or transportation. That was what…’
‘What caused Englishby’s death,’ Severin said sombrely.
‘Yes. My grandfather was a messenger only, not directly implicated, and counsels us not to feel guilty for our own involvement. I’m not sure if it has worked, for my mother or for me, but that is what he has said to us just now. I’m sure he’ll say the same to you, if that is the reason for your condition.’
His moods seemed erratic tonight; he was laughing again now, though not with anything that appeared to her like genuine amusement. ‘My condition…? Admirable woman. You are more discreet than your respected mother. I can only blame a small part of myconditionon our shared responsibility, though I am excessively glad to be informed that we need not feel it after all. But I have many reasons for regret and shame… that was just one, and by no means the most compelling.’
‘I know you have secrets,’ Allegra said crossly. ‘Many disreputable secrets. You’ve told me that before, as for that matter have others when they gossiped about you. I don’t know why you must come here in the middle of the night and allude to these secrets in such a provokingly mysterious fashion, even if you are drunk.’ It was as though she had forgotten that they were not alone here in the semi-darkness. ‘You don’t have any intention of marrying me – you have made that unflatteringly plain – nor even of telling me why you cannot. So you might as well go away now and leave me in peace. Keep your secrets – I’m sure I don’t care.’
‘Is that where you are?’ he asked, reaching out and taking her hand in his. His clasp was warm, perhaps even a little feverish. ‘In peace?’
‘Of course I’m not.’ She did not pull away, though she knew she should.
‘But Allegra, you are safe now. You can marry Milton.’
‘I am not going to do that.’
‘Eager, then.’
‘It’s none of your affair in any case, is it?’ She wasnotcrying.
Her grandfather said, so suddenly it made her start, ‘Tinette, let us leave the young people alone for a moment for some private speech. I will go on my way, and you should get some rest now that the danger has passed.Alpicininawill lock up securely when her visitor is gone.’
‘Private speech? I’m not leaving them alone together!’ Leontina protested, scoffing. ‘That’s how we found ourselves in this hellish coil in the first place!’
‘That’s not true, is it, ma’am?’ Max said. ‘I assure you, hideously drunk as I may be, I have no intention of ravishing your daughter on this kitchen table, admirably solid though it appears to be. In all honesty, I’m too bloody tired.’
‘One never does intend such things, in my experience,’ Schiavi said with a raffish grin, showing Allegra a swift glimpse of the charming young man her unknown grandmother had been unable to resist so many years ago. ‘And as for tired, bah – at your age, you have no conception of true weariness. But I am putting you on your honour,ragassol. Marry her, or let her be. You know those are your only choices. Life is hard – who knows this better than me? Say your goodbyes, if that is what you have come here for. We owe them that much, Tinette.’
