Master of Comus

Paul was sitting upright now, his brows drawn together in a straight line. The blue eyes had lost their smile. The mouth had straightened and the chin was clenched.

'I will not argue with all that,' he said coldly. 'I do, however, dispute your right to haul me over the coals in front of a girl we neither of us knew a week ago.'

'I chose to speak in front of Leonie for a reason,' Argon said harshly. 'Bearing in mind your past record, I have decided, having now met Leonie and seen what sort of girl she is, to leave everything to her.'

Paul made no sound. Leonie, totally astounded, made a movement of angry protest. 'No!' She stared at her great-grandfather. 'You can't do that! That isn't fair. You've promised Paul all these years...'

Paul interrupted her fiercely. 'Please! I can fight my own battles. I don't need a woman to do it for me. My great-grandfather has the right to dispose of his property as he sees fit. I don't need his money. My company has not gone bankrupt, even though he is right when he says it has not been too successful. I can manage to survive with what I have now.'

'But I don't want the beastly money!' She glared at him, her face now reflecting all the passionate nature he had suspected.

He shrugged. 'That is beside the point. You have as much right to it as I have. The people who run the companies now will go on doing so for ever. You will only need to sit tight and let the money accumulate.'

Leonie looked at Argon. 'I'm sorry. I appreciate the gesture, but I truly do not want you to do this. I would hate it.'

He smiled at her. 'You have a good heart, but Paul has had his chance to prove himself, and has failed. I could not allow the family fortune to be squandered on his pleasure. Having met you, I am sure you would be far more careful with my money.'

'I'm sure Paul will change when...' she began.

'He is thirty, not a boy,' Argon broke in flatly. T, too, thought that he would change, settle down, become more responsible. But the years have passed and Paul goes on in the same way. All he cares for is pleasure.'

Paul stood up. 'I accept your decision, Argon. I'll leave you to talk to Leonie alone.'

'No,' she protested, rising, too. 'Argon, please, don't do this ...'

'There is another way,' Argon said softly.

She turned to look down at him hopefully. 'Yes?'

Paul waited, too, his hand on the door. Argon looked from one to the other, his eyes watchful.

'Marriage,' he said.

The word dropped into a silence which lengthened. Then Paul wrenched open the door and went out of the room like a charging lion. Argon called him back in a sharp, angry voice, and Paul stopped dead, his back to them.

Leonie was scarlet with mortification and anger. Before she could speak Argon went on quickly. 'By a marriage between the two of you I could provide for your future and be sure that the Caprel fortune would be secure. You are not so close in blood that it should matter—you are only second cousins. Paul has shown no signs of choosing a wife for himself, and you, Leonie, have no husband in mind. I realise that arranged marriages are a thing of the past, but I am sure you will both realise how sensible this arrangement would be.'

'Sensible!' Paul's voice was smothered, hot with rage. He still stood with his back to them so that Leonie could not see hi

s face.

'All I ask is that you consider the idea,' Argon said gently. 'Take your time. But remember, I am very old, and I may not live much longer. I want to get the matter settled soon,'

'What if we refuse?' Leonie asked huskily.

Argon shrugged. 'I shall leave everything to you.'

She swallowed. 'I could refuse the inheritance.'

'I will provide for that contingency. I can always leave my money to found museums, remember.'

She was horrified. 'You can't mean you would cut Paul out altogether! Leave the money away from the family?'

Argon's jaw set. 'I mean just that.'

'He could dispute the will,' she protested.

Argon laughed. 'Paul would not do that. He has too much pride.'