The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer Read Free Book Online

Whist or Commerce, and I find such parties quite abominable.’
    ‘That need not concern you, for whatever Sylvester’s views may have been, I feel sure that my mother will agree that it would be improper for you to go out in public immediately after his death.’
    ‘But if I am not to go to any parties, what then am I to do in Bath?’
    ‘Well, I suppose you will have to reconcile yourself to a period of quiet.’
    ‘Quiet?’ gasped Eustacie. ‘ More quiet? No, and no, and no!’
    He could not help laughing, but said: ‘Is it so terrible?’
    ‘Yes, it is!’ said Eustacie. ‘First I have to live in Sussex, and now I am to go to Bath – to play backgammon! And after that you will take me to Berkshire, where I expect I shall die.’
    ‘I hope not!’ said Shield.
    ‘Yes, but I think I shall,’ said Eustacie, propping her chin in her hands and gazing mournfully into the fire. ‘After all, I have had a very unhappy life without any adventures, and it would not be wonderful if I went into a decline. Only nothing that is interesting ever happens to me,’ she added bitterly, ‘so I dare say I shall just die in child-bed, which is a thing anyone can do.’
    Sir Tristram flushed uncomfortably. ‘Really, Eustacie!’ he protested.
    Eustacie was too much absorbed in the contemplation of her dark destiny to pay any heed to him. ‘I shall present to you an heir,’ she said, ‘and then I shall die.’ The picture suddenly appealed to her; she continued in a more cheerful tone: ‘Everyone will say that I was very young to die, and they will fetch you from the gaming-hell where you –’
    ‘Fetch me from where?’ interrupted Sir Tristram, momentarily led away by this flight of imagination.
    ‘From the gaming-hell,’ repeated Eustacie impatiently. ‘Or perhaps the Cock-Pit. It does not signify; it is quite unimportant! But I think you will feel great remorse when it is told to you that I am dying, and you will spring up and fling yourself on your horse, and ride ventre à terre to come to my death-bed. And then I shall forgive you, and –’
    ‘What in heaven’s name are you talking about?’ demanded Sir Tristram. ‘Why should you forgive me? Why should – What is this nonsense?’
    Eustacie, thus rudely awakened from her pleasant dream, sighed and abandoned it. ‘It is just what I thought might happen,’ she explained.
    Sir Tristram said severely: ‘It seems to me that you indulge your fancy a deal too freely. Let me assure you that I don’t frequent gaming-hells or cock-pits! Nor,’ he added, with a flicker of humour, ‘am I very much in the habit of flinging myself upon my horses.’
    ‘No, and you do not ride ventre à terre . It does not need that you should tell me so. I know!’
    ‘Well, only on the hunting-field,’ said Sir Tristram.
    ‘Do you think you might if I were on my death-bed?’ asked Eustacie hopefully.
    ‘Certainly not. If you were on your death-bed it is hardly likely that I should be from home. I wish you would put this notion of dying out of your head. Why should you die?’
    ‘But I have told you!’ said Eustacie, brightening at this sign of interest. ‘I shall –’
    ‘Yes, I know,’ said Sir Tristram hastily. ‘You need not tell me again. There will time enough to discuss such matters when we are married.’
    ‘But I thought it was because you must have an heir that you want to marry me?’ said Eustacie practically. ‘Grandpère explained it to me, and you yourself said –’
    ‘Eustacie,’ interposed Sir Tristram, ‘if you must talk in this extremely frank vein, I’ll listen, but I do beg of you not to say such things to anyone but me! It will give people a very odd idea of you.’
    ‘Grandpère,’ said Eustacie, with the air of one quoting a major prophet, ‘told me not to mind what I said, but on no account to be a simpering little innocente .’
    ‘It sounds to me exactly the kind of advice Sylvester would give you,’ said Shield.
    ‘And you sound