The Twisted Sword by Winston Graham Read Free Book Online

held up, held back, quite unconsciously, by a cool and rational brain, so that she had remained unstirred at the prospect of marrying Valentine, a charming young man who did not love her - and only marginally stirred by the concentrated devotion of Jeremy who wanted her and no other woman in the world. The jam had been broken, luckily for Jeremy, by Jeremy, just in time. And it was truly broken; once given way, she had given way with it. She had a beautiful body and she seemed to delight in offering it to her husband whenever he had the fancy, chastely, provocatively, wildly, however her mood took her. They made love together until exhaustion overtook them. But there was no satiety. They agreed together too, almost too eagerly, happily, without reserve. Nothing she did was wrong in his eyes, nothing he did in hers. Even the appearance twice of Lisa Dupont, his former mistress, cast no cloud. It was an affair that had taken place when he had given up all hope of Cuby. He had no eyes for Lisa now, and after the second meeting she shrugged her shoulders and drifted away. Cuby said: 'A pretty girl, but I think she will get plump. I'm happy that you prefer me.'
    They lived well. Jeremy had money in the bank in Brussels - product of an escapade he preferred not to think about - and when that was gone he borrowed more. Cuby, reared on a spendthrift brother, was for making economies, but Jeremy said there was money coming to him at home from the profits of Wheal Leisure, and they could run up bills here in the expectation of settling them when he left the army. When would that be? Fairly soon, he thought. With all Europe at peace the regiment was likely soon to be disbanded; though he had heard rumours that the Allies were not agreeing well at the Congress in Vienna, and it was likely that the British Government would choose to keep some troops in Europe for the time being. For preference he would like to stay on until October, which would mean he would have served two years. Then, if all went well, he might be able to sell his commission, though it was not a fashionable regiment, and return home to Cornwall for Christmas. In the meantime, life in Brussels was very good. In spite of the little thought she gave to what she had left behind, a slight shadow on Cuby's life was that she had heard nothing from Caerhays at all - not a word - so when a letter did eventually come she broke the seal nervously and took the letter to the window to read. It was from her mother.
    My dearest daughter, I do not know what senses you took leave of to induce you to run away in the deceitful and secretive way you did. Your brother and I - not to mention Clemency - were deeply upset, indeed deeply grieved at the circumstances of your Elopement. The letter you left behind really explained nothing indeed you have expressly said you cannot explain it yourself. And your later letters, though more detailed, have really added little to the first. I do not believe by anything we did or said that we might suppose we had forfeited your confidence. You gave us all the impression that you were happy at home and contented at the prospect of marriage to Valentine Warleggan. When that fell through, through no fault of ours, it seemed that you were quite content - as we were - until some other equally suitable match presented itself. Instead you have chosen Mr Jeremy Poldark. A pleasant young man and a Gentleman. He has made himself very agreeable on his visits here, and Clemency, I know, speaks highly of him. I cannot - we cannot any of us - wish you anything but the utmost Happiness. Shall you make your home in Brussels? We have, as you know, sad memories of Walcheren, where your brother was lost. It is a great cause for relief that the war is over at last, and so long as the Victors do not fall out we may look forward to a period of prolonged Peace. Augustus is in London still at the Treasury, and I have written to tell him of your marriage. I believe John is to go