Jo Beverley - [Malloren 02] Read Online Free Page B

joining the army. When his family protested—Hannah and Prudence adding tears to their pleas—he had gone off to London "to see a bit of the world."
    Portia remembered that they'd all been immensely relieved to have him engaged in such a safe activity. Of course, they'd imagined Oliver in picture galleries, attending Court, and meeting philosophers and writers in the coffee houses.
    Instead of intellectual speculations Oliver had been drawn into less lofty ones. He had soon been spending all his time in clubs and gaming hells, both winning and losing. Then had come the disastrous night when he had staked and lost Overstead to a Major Barclay.
    Major Barclay now featured in Portia's nightmares—a shallow, shifty individual, with leering eyes and a demonic grimace. And, of course, he must be a trickster and a cheat.
    Being a low-minded type, the major had little interest in a small estate in Dorset. He wanted cash and had agreed to let Oliver redeem his home for five thousand guineas. Oliver had failed to persuade any bank to lend him so much on the estate, however.
    Curse the major, and curse the bankers.
    Portia wished she had been able to attend the meeting at the banks, but of course it was unthinkable for a woman to take part in such business, even if the woman knew more of the estate than the man.
    But she had helped Sir Edward manage the estate and knew it could bear the loan.
    When the banks turned him down, Oliver had been inclined to give up, talking again about joining the army. He was sure he could earn advancement and be able to support his family in modest circumstances.
    Portia, however, had not been willing to surrender so easily. As a last resort, she had suggested applying for advice to their neighbor, the great Earl of Walgrave. She had hoped, of course, that he would advance Oliver the money, for he was very rich and was also Oliver's godfather. Unfortunately, the earl had not been at his estate, Walgrave Towers.
    Again, Oliver had been inclined to give up and prepare to hand the estate over to Barclay. Portia had fought on. She had discovered that the earl was in Maidenhead and had virtually dragged Oliver here. It was the worst luck that they had arrived at this rented house just as the earl was on the point of leaving. He had ordered them to stay here until he had time to attend to their affairs.
    It had sounded promising, but two days had passed with no news, so Oliver had gone out this evening to seek word. Surely he must have discovered something. "Did you find Lord Walgrave?" Portia asked.
    He shook his head. "He seems to have left Maidenhead and taken his entourage with him. Face facts, Portia. He's turning his back, too. It's hopeless."
    She reached over to grip his hand. "You can't just give up, Oliver. You still have a month to find the money."
    He laughed bitterly. "Where?"
    "Oh, Oliver, we have to keep trying. Perhaps we can follow the earl. Where did he go?"
    "Nobody knows. For heaven's sake, Portia, we can't go chasing after him like hounds on the scent. Do you never know when you're beaten? If Lord Walgrave had been willing to help us, he would have done so."
    "He was clearly busy...."
    "And always will be."
    "There must be something we can do."
    He drained his cup. "If there is, you must find it then, for I'm at a loss. The only way I can see to raise the wind would be to go to the moneylenders, and the interest they'd charge would break us anyway."
    "So, we go home, do we, and prepare to hand everything over to Major Barclay?"
    "What choice do we have?"
    Portia fixed him with a look. "We can chase after the earl like hounds on the scent."
    "Portia!"
    "Oliver, I will not give up until the very end. We will wait a few more days in case Lord Walgrave sends word, but if not I am going up to London to seek news of him. If you don't come, I will go on my own."
    * * *
    Oliver was most unhappy with the plan, and it took Portia nearly a week to get him to agree. Even as they waited in the inn yard