A Safe House

13

They had drinks on the front terrace and chatted with other dinner guests. When dinner was announced, they were shown to seats at the center table, which could be expanded from four to twelve seats. Stone reckoned there were eight at the table that evening.

A man of about sixty was seated to Stone’s left, and they introduced themselves.

“You’re an American, are you?” the man asked. “But you’re a member here?”

Stone thought that was obvious, given his uniform. “Yes, I have a house on the Beaulieu River, Windward Manor.”

“I know the place. I knew the former owner; God rest his soul.”

“Yes, I bought the place from him a few months before his death, but he remained in residence until then.”

“Have you done much with the place?”

“No, it underwent a major renovation just before I bought it. It’s in about as perfect condition as a house could be, I think.”

“What work do you do?” the man asked.

“I’m an attorney, with the firm of Woodman & Weld, in New York.”

“I know them. That fellow Eggers.”

“Yes, we were at law school together. He brought me aboard.”

“I’m a Lord Justice,” he said, “something like a supreme court justice in your country.”

“I’ll tell Bill Eggers I saw you.”

“Many Americans are such nice people, but I saw a man being given lunch in the House of Lords dining room yesterday, and he was wearing, of all things, a cowboy hat, like in the pictures. I inquired of the manager why he had not been thrown out and was told he was an American senator. Can you imagine?”

“I’m afraid I can,” Stone said. “My dinner guest was once married to him, and he appears to be trying to track her down over here. We’ve had to take steps at my house.”

“I hope the steps include a good twelve-bore,” the man said. “That’s what the fellow deserves, turning up at the House of Lords dressed like that.”

“I have a very nice brace of Purdeys,” Stone said.

“Ha! Just the thing for him!”

“I hope it won’t come to that, but you never know these days.”

“A man who would come to the House of Lords in a cowboy hat deserves whatever he gets. And if you came before my bench, I would dismiss the charges immediately!”

“That’s comforting to know,” Stone said. “If they come for me, I’ll mention it to my barrister.” On second thought Stone thought he knew somebody better to mention it to. After dinner, he called Dino at the Connaught.

“Bacchetti.”

“We’re expecting you tomorrow,” Stone said.

“In the afternoon. Where are you? I hear babble.”

“That’s called conversation over here. We’re at the Squadron, and I heard something that I thought that fellow at Page Six should know.”

“Henry what’s-his-name?”

“The very one. My dinner companion, a member of the House of Lords, told me that yesterday he saw a man in a cowboy hat having lunch in their dining room. He was outraged!”

“That sounds like our boy,” Dino said. “It’s early yet in New York. I’ll give him a ring.”

“You do that. Let’s see how long it takes to resonate.”

“See you tomorrow.” They hung up.

Stone and Jenna had their port and Stilton and turned in fairly early. He told her about his conversation at the table.

“Exactly like him!” she said. “The man is an embarrassment to everybody he knows!”

They rose fairly early, packed, breakfasted, and motored out into the Solent. Stone had an uneasy feeling about being away from the house, and he wanted to get back early. They cruised up the Beaulieu and tied up at his dock, then drove a golf cart up to the house. Major Bugg met them on the front steps.

“I’m glad you’re back,” he said. “I spent the night on a cot in the library and walked regular rounds with one of your new shotguns. Everything was all right. But I feel better with you in residence.”

“Thank you, Major,” Stone said. “Mr. and Mrs. Bacchetti will be back this morning. We’ll have dinner at seven. Please let Cook know.”

“Of course.”

“Now, you go home and get some good sleep.”

Bugg put away his shotgun and left the house.

Dino and Viv arrived in the Range Rover with the London papers. One of the tabloids featured a photograph of Wallace Slade lunching, à la Stetson, at the House of Lords. “U.S. Senator Outrages Lords!” the headline shouted.

Stone grinned broadly. “Anything in the International New York Times?”

“Not yet. Maybe tomorrow.”

“You two need a nap after your drive,” Stone said. “Drinks at six-thirty. No need to dress, it’s just us.”

“See you then,” Dino said, and they went upstairs.

Stone and Jenna went upstairs to nap, too, and ended up not napping.