“So that really explains what I want to say,” continued Reggie blandly. “It's about money. I understand that when Brenda was in a very agitated state just after the death of her child, she consented to some verbal arrangement with you about settlements.”
“Yes, I'm allowing her five hundred a year.”
“Well you know I don't think that you have any right to take advantage of her generosity in that way. It was most imprudent of her to consider your proposal — she admits now that she was not really herself when she did so.”
“What does she suggest instead?”
“Let's go outside and have coffee.”
When they were settled in front of the fire in the empty smoking room, he answered, “Well I've discussed it with the lawyers and with the family and we decided that the sum should be increased to two thousand.”
“That's quite out of the question. I couldn't begin to afford it.”
“Well, you know, I have to consider Brenda's interests. She has very little of her own and there will be no more coming to her. My mother's income is an allowance which I pay under my father's will. I shan't be able to give her anything. I am trying to raise everything I can for an expedition to one of the oases in the Lybian desert. This chap Beaver has got practically nothing and doesn't look like earning any. So you see — ”
“But, my dear Reggie, you know as well as I do that it's out of the question.”
“It's rather less than a third of your income.”
“Yes but almost every penny goes on the estate. Do you realize that Brenda and I together haven't spent half the amount a year on our personal expenses. It's all I can do to keep things going as it is.”
“I didn't expect you'd take this line, Tony. I think its extremely unreasonable of you. After all it's absurd to pretend in these days that a single man can't be perfectly comfortable on four thousand a year. It's more than I've ever had.”
“It would mean giving up Hetton.”
“Well I gave up Brakeleigh, and I assure you, my dear fellow, I never regret it. It was a nasty wrench at the time of course, old association and everything like that, but I can tell you this, that when the sale was finally through I felt a different man, free to go where I liked …”
“But I don't happen to want to go anywhere else except Hetton.”
“There's a lot in what these labour fellows say, you know. Big houses are a thing of the past in England I'm afraid.”
“Tell me, did Brenda realize when she agreed to this proposal that it meant my leaving Hetton.”
“Yes, it was mentioned I think. I daresay you'll find it quite easy to sell to a school or something like that. I remember the agent said when I was trying to get rid of Brakeleigh that it was a pity it wasn't Gothic because schools and convents always go for Gothic. I daresay you'll get a very comfortable price and find yourself better off in the end than you are now.”
“No. It's impossible,” said Tony.
“You're making things extremely awkward for everyone,” said Reggie. “I can't understand why you are taking up this attitude.”
“What is more I don't believe that Brenda ever expected or wanted me to agree.”
“Oh yes, she did, my dear fellow. I assure you of that.”
“It's inconceivable.”
“Well, said Reggie, puffing at his cigar. “There's more to it than just money. Perhaps I'd better tell you everything. I hadn't meant to. The truth is that Beaver is cutting up nasty. He says he can't marry Brenda unless she's properly provided for. Not fair on her, he says. I quite see his point on a way.”
“Yes, I see his point,” said Tony. “So what your proposal really amounts to is that I should give up Hetton in order to buy Beaver for Brenda.”
“It's not how I should have put it,” said Reggie.
“Well I'm not going to and that's the end of it. If that's all you wanted to say, I may as well leave you.”
“No, it isn't quite all I wanted to say. In fact I think I must have put things rather badly. It comes from trying to respect people's feelings too much. You see I wasn't so much asking you to agree to anything as explaining what our side propose to do. I've tried to keep everything on a friendly basis but I see it's not possible. Brenda will ask for alimony of two thousand a year from the Court and on our evidence we shall get it. I'm sorry you oblige me to put it so bluntly.”
“I hadn't thought of that.”
“No, nor had we to be quite frank. It was Beaver's idea.”
“You seem to have got me in a fairly hopeless position.”
“It's not how I should have put it.”
“I should like to make absolutely sure that Brenda is in on this. D'you mind if I ring her up.”
“Not at all, my dear fellow. I happen to know she's at Marjorie's tonight.”
“Brenda, this is Tony … I've just been dining with Reggie.”
“Yes, he said something about it.”
“He tells me that you are going to sue for alimony. Is that so?”
“Tony, don't be so bullying. The lawyers are doing everything. It's no use coming to me.”
“But did you know that they proposed to ask for two thousand?”
“Yes. They did say that. I know it sounds a lot but …”
“And you know exactly how my money stands don't you? You know it means selling Hetton, don't you? … hullo, are you still there?”
“Yes, I'm here.”
“You know it means that?”
“Tony, don't make me feel a beast. Everything has been so difficult.”
“You do know just what you are asking?”
“Yes … I suppose so.”
“All right, that's all I wanted to know.”
“Tony, how odd you sound … don't ring off.”
He hung up the receiver and went back to the smoking room. His mind had suddenly become clearer on many points that had puzzled him. A whole Gothic world had come to grief … there was now no armour, glittering in the forest glades, no embroidered feet on the greensward; the cream and dappled unicorns had fled …
Reggie sat expanded in his chair. “Well?”
“I got on to her. You were quite right. I'm sorry I didn't believe you. It seemed so unlikely at first.”
“That's all right, my dear fellow.”
“I've decided exactly what's going to happen.”
“Good.”
“Brenda is not going to get her divorce. The evidence I provided at Brighton isn't worth anything. There happens to have been a child there all the time. She slept both nights in the room I am supposed to have occupied. If you care to bring the case I shall defend it and win, but I think when you have seen my evidence you will drop it. I am going away for six months or so. When I come back, if she wishes it, I shall divorce Brenda without settlements of any kind. Is that clear?”
“But look here, my dear fellow.”
“Goodnight. Thank you for dinner. Good luck to the excavations.”
On his way out of the club he noticed that John Beaver of Brat's Club was up for election.
“Who on earth would have expected the old boy to turn up like that?” asked Polly Cockpurse.
“Now I understand why they keep going on in the papers about divorce law reform,” said Veronica. “It's too monstrous that he should be allowed to get away with it.”
“The mistake they made was in telling him first,” said Souki.
“It's so like Brenda to trust everyone,” said Jenny.
“I do think Tony comes out of this pretty poorly,” said Marjorie.
“Oh I don't know,” said Allan. “I expect your ass of a brother put the thing wrong.”
CHAPTER FIVE
In Search of a City