Lady of Fortune by Graham Masterton Read Free Book Online Page B

because of our family jealousies?’
    â€˜I said enough,’ said Thomas Watson. ‘I warn you, laddie – enough!’
    â€˜Father, I beg your pardon, but if Dougal is to persist, then I’ll have to answer him,’ said Robert.
    â€˜
Enough
!’ bellowed Thomas Watson.
    Dougal threw down his fork. ‘That’s always the way, isn’t it, in this family? If it looks like somebody’s coming too close to the embarrassing truth of a situation, then it’s always“enough!” Well, father, enough of your “enough!” Let Robert have his say, and then we’ll see whether there’s any justification for his denying my loan for Albion, or not. Let’s hear if he’s got a reason that makes any sense at all.’
    â€˜You stupid taupie!’ shouted Robert. ‘I’ve a bank to run, not a charity for lost causes! The motor-car is going to go the same way as the steam omnibus, and all those other hare-brained schemes for running a vehicle without a horse! I might just as well throw the money into the Water of Leith, and enjoy myself watching it float.’
    â€˜Who’s a taupie, you stuffed-up gaberlunzie?’ snapped Dougal. ‘You’ll take that back, or I’ll buff your beef!’
    Thomas Watson’s temper broke. He threw back his chair, seized the half-carved gigot of lamb, and smacked it around Dougal’s head in a splatter of juices. Then he hurled the joint clear across the dining-room, and stalked to the door. His face was grotesque with fury, like a Celtic mask.
    â€˜I’ll not sit with wrangling animals!’ he roared. ‘Nor with the animals’ dame!’ And with that, he slammed the door so violently that the walls quaked, and the chandelier jingled, and he stormed off, as he always did when he was in a temper, to the library. The four of them – Robert, Dougal, Effie, and their mother – waited like a wax tableau until they heard the double doors of the library collide and bang shut.
    Dougal ruefully nursed his cheek with his napkin. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘I certainly received more than my fair apportionment of mutton today, didn’t I? Right in the ear, too.’
    Robert stood up. ‘Och, you think you’re very witty and sonsie, don’t you?’ he breathed. ‘Well, I can tell you something, brother, you’ve torn it now, right enough. This is our Sabbath luncheon, not a brawling-pit.’
    â€˜Who was it brought up Albion?’ demanded Dougal.
    â€˜Don’t start again,’ Robert warned him. ‘You should never have talked business to begin with.’
    â€˜When else can I talk business?’ Dougal protested. ‘You’re always too busy to talk to me during the week, and father’s always out, or engaged with his clients, or off to his club. Neither of you will ever give me the chance to speak my mind, ever, and how the de’il can I advance myself and learn to be a banker unless I speak my mind? Tomorrow morning it’s the usual weekly policy meeting, and all of your toadies like Mr Cramond and Mr McGillivray will approve anything youwant them to approve, and anything you say. “We cast our vote for Master Robert,” they’ll all pipe up, and that will mean an end to Albion and an end to everything else I’ve been trying to do. You’re squashing me down, Robert, and this is the only opportunity I ever get to say so in front of father. So don’t go blaming me!’
    Fiona Watson rang the bell for Mrs McNab. She was trembling, as if she had influenza, and her face was as grey as gruel. Effie reached across the tablecloth and comfortingly touched her arm.
    â€˜Mother,’ she said. ‘Don’t you fret. Everything will be all right.’
    â€˜You think so?’ asked her mother, hopelessly.
    Robert said, ‘I think it’s up to me to go to Father and convey our apologies, don’t you? You