This Was A Man

39

‘You asked to see me, chairman.’

‘Can you hang on for a moment, Victor, while I sign this cheque? In fact, you can be the second signatory.’

‘Who’s it for?’

‘Karin Barrington, following her triumph in the London Marathon.’

‘Quite right,’ said Victor, taking out his pen and signing with a flourish. ‘A fantastic effort. I don’t think I could have done it in a week, let alone in under four hours.’

‘And I’m not even going to try,’ said Seb. ‘But that wasn’t why I needed to see you.’ His tone changed, once the small talk the English so delight in before getting to the point had been dispensed with. ‘I need you to step up to the plate and take on more responsibility.’

Victor smiled, almost as if he knew what the chairman was about to suggest.

‘I want you to become deputy chairman of the bank, and my right hand.’

Victor didn’t attempt to hide his disappointment. Seb wasn’t surprised, and only hoped he would come round, if not immediately, at least in the long term.

‘So who’ll be your chief executive?’

‘I intend to offer that job to John Ashley.’

‘But he’s only been with the bank for a couple of years, and rumour has it that Barclays are about to invite him to head up their Middle East office.’

‘I’ve heard those rumours too, which only convinced me we couldn’t afford to lose him.’

‘Then offer him the deputy chairmanship,’ said Victor, his voice rising. Sebastian couldn’t think of a convincing reply. ‘Not that there would be much point,’ continued Victor, ‘because you know only too well he would see that role as nothing more than window dressing, and rightly turn it down.’

‘That isn’t how I see it,’ said Seb. ‘I consider it to be not only a promotion, but an announcement that you are my natural successor.’

‘Balls. Have you forgotten we’re the same age? No, if you make Ashley the CEO, everyone will assume you’ve decided he’s your natural successor, not me.’

‘But you’d still be in charge of foreign exchange, which is one of the bank’s most lucrative departments.’

‘And reports directly to the CEO, in case you’ve forgotten.’

‘Then I’ll make it clear that in future you report directly to me.’

‘That’s nothing more than a sop, and everyone will know it. No, if you don’t feel I’m up to being managing director, you’ve left me with no choice but to resign.’

‘That’s the last thing I want,’ said Sebastian, as his oldest friend gathered his papers and left the room without another word. Victor closed the door quietly behind him.

‘That went well,’ said Seb.

‘You’ve been putting it off for years,’ said Karin after she’d read the letter.

‘But I’m over sixty,’ protested Giles.

‘It’s the Castle versus the Village,’ she reminded him, ‘not England against the West Indies. In any case, you’re always telling me how much you wished I’d seen your cover drive.’

‘In my prime, not in my dotage.’

‘And,’ continued Karin, ignoring the outburst, ‘you gave your word to Freddie.’ Giles couldn’t think of a suitable reply. ‘And let’s face it, if I can run a marathon, you can certainly turn out for a village cricket match.’ Words that finally silenced her husband.

Giles read the letter once more and groaned as he sat down at his desk. He extracted a sheet of paper from the rack, removed the top from his pen and began to write.

‘Aren’t they magnificent?’ the young man said as he admired the seven drawings that had been awarded the Founder’s Prize.

‘Do you think so?’ replied the young woman.

‘Oh yes! And such a clever idea to take the seven ages of woman as her theme.’

‘Oh, I missed that,’ she said, looking at him more closely. The young man’s clothes rather suggested he hadn’t looked in a mirror before leaving for work that morning. Nothing matched. A smart Harris Tweed jacket paired with a blue shirt, green tie, grey trousers and brown shoes. But he displayed a warmth and enthusiasm for the artist’s work that was quite infectious.

‘As you can see,’ he said, warming to the task, ‘the artist has taken as her subject a woman running a marathon, and has depicted the seven stages of the race. The first drawing is on the starting line, when she’s warming up, apprehensive but alert. In the next,’ he said, pointing to the second drawing, ‘she’s reached the five-mile mark, and is still full of confidence. But by the time she’s reached ten miles,’ he said, moving on to the third drawing, ‘she’s clearly beginning to feel the pain.’

‘And the fourth?’ she asked, looking more carefully at the drawing, which the artist had described as ‘the wall’.

‘Just look at the expression on the runner’s face, which leaves you in no doubt that she’s beginning to wonder if she’ll be able to finish the course.’ She nodded. ‘And the fifth shows her just clinging on as she passes what I assume must be her family cheering. She’s raised an arm to acknowledge them, but even in the raising of that arm, with a single delicate line the artist leaves you in no doubt what a supreme effort it must have been.’ Pointing to the sixth drawing, he continued effusively, ‘Here we see her crossing the finishing line, arms raised in triumph. And then moments later, in the final drawing, she collapses on the ground exhausted, having given everything, and is rewarded with a medal hung around her neck. Notice that the artist has added the yellow and green of the ribbon, the only hint of colour in all seven drawings. Quite brilliant.’

‘You must be an artist yourself.’

‘I wish,’ he said, giving her a warm smile. ‘The nearest I ever got was when I won an art prize at school and decided to apply for a place at the Slade, but they turned me down.’

‘There are other art colleges.’

‘Yes, and I applied to most of them — Goldsmiths, Chelsea, Manchester. I even went up to Glasgow for an interview, but always with the same result.’

‘I’m so sorry.’

‘No need to be, because I finally asked a member of one of the interviewing panels why they kept rejecting me.’

‘And what did they say?’

‘Your A-level results were impressive enough,’ the young man said, holding the lapels of his jacket and sounding twenty years older, ‘and you are clearly passionate about the subject and have buckets of energy and enthusiasm, but sadly something is missing. “What’s that?” I asked. “Talent,” he replied.’

‘Oh, how cruel!’

‘No, not really. Just realistic. He went on to ask if I’d considered teaching, which only added salt to the wound, because it reminded me of George Bernard Shaw’s words, those who can, do, those who can’t, teach. But then I went away and thought about it, and realized he was right.’

‘So now you’re a teacher?’

‘I am. I read Art History at King’s, and I’m now teaching at a grammar school in Peckham, where at least I think I can say I’m a better artist than my pupils. Well, most of them,’ he added with a grin.

She laughed. ‘So what brings you back to the Slade?’

‘I go to most of the student exhibitions in the hope of spotting someone with real talent whose work I can add to my collection. Over the years I’ve picked up a Craigie Aitchison, a Mary Fedden and even a small pencil sketch by Hockney, but I’d love to add these seven drawings to my collection.’

‘What’s stopping you?’

‘I haven’t had the courage to ask how much they are, and as she’s just won the Founder’s Prize, I’m sure I won’t be able to afford them.’

‘How much do you think they’re worth?’

‘I don’t know, but I’d give everything I have to own them.’

‘How much do you have?’

‘When I last checked my bank balance, just over three hundred pounds.’

‘Then you’re in luck, because I think you’ll find they’re priced at two hundred and fifty pounds.’

‘Let’s go and find out if you’re right, before someone else snaps them up. By the way,’ he added as they turned to walk towards the sales counter, ‘my name’s Richard Langley, but my friends call me Rick.’

‘Hi,’ she said as they shook hands. ‘My name’s Jessica Clifton, but my friends call me Jessie.’

40

‘If you pull your sweater down,’ said Karin, ‘no one will notice that you can’t do up the top button.’

‘It’s twenty years since I last played,’ Giles reminded her, as he pulled in his stomach and made one final attempt to do up the top button of a pair of Archie Fenwick’s cricket trousers.

Karin burst out laughing when the button popped off and landed at her feet. ‘I’m sure you’ll be fine, my darling. Just remember not to run after the ball, because it could end in disaster.’ Giles was about to retaliate when there was a knock at the door.

‘Come in,’ he said, quickly placing a foot on the rebellious button.

The door opened and Freddie, dressed neatly in crisp whites, entered the room. ‘I’m sorry to bother you, sir, but there’s been a change of plan.’

Giles looked relieved, as he assumed he was about to be dropped.

‘The butler, our skipper, has cried off at the last minute, a pulled hamstring. As you played for Oxford against Cambridge, I thought you’d be the obvious choice to take his place.’

‘But I don’t even know the other members of the team,’ protested Giles.

‘Don’t worry, sir. I’ll keep you briefed. I’d do the job myself, but I’m not sure how to set a field. Could you be available to take the toss in about ten minutes? Sorry to have disturbed you, Lady Barrington,’ he said before rushing back out.

‘Do you think he’ll ever call me Karin?’ she said after the door closed.

‘One step at a time,’ said Giles.

When Giles first saw the large oval plot of land set like a jewel in the castle’s grounds, he doubted if there could be a more idyllic setting for a game of cricket. Rugged forest covered the hills which surrounded a couple of acres of flat green land that God had clearly meant to be a cricket pitch, if only for a few weeks a year.

Freddie introduced Giles to Hamish Munro, the local bobby and the Village captain. At forty, he looked in good shape, and certainly would not have had any trouble buttoning up his trousers.

The two captains walked out on to the pitch together just before two o’clock. Giles carried out a routine he hadn’t done for years. He sniffed the air, before looking up at the sky. A warm day by Scottish standards, a few stray clouds decorated an otherwise blue horizon, no rain and, thankfully, no harbingers of rain. He inspected the pitch — a tinge of green on the surface, good for fast bowlers — and finally he glanced at the crowd. Much larger than he’d expected, but then it was a local derby. About a couple of hundred spectators were sprinkled around the boundary rope waiting for battle to commence.

Giles shook hands with the opposing captain.

‘Your call, Mr Munro,’ he said before spinning a pound coin high into the air.

‘Heads,’ declared Munro, and they both bent down to study the coin as it landed on the ground.

‘Your choice, sir,’ said Giles, staring at the Queen.

‘We’ll bat,’ said Munro without hesitation, and quickly returned to the pavilion to brief his team. A few minutes later a bell rang and two umpires in long white coats emerged from the pavilion and made their way slowly on to the field. Archie Fenwick and the Rev. Sandy McDonald were there to guarantee fair play.

A few moments later, Giles led his unfamiliar band of warriors out on to the pitch. He set an attacking field, with sotto voce advice from Freddie, then tossed the ball to Hector Brice, the Castle’s second footman, who was already scratching out his mark some twenty yards behind the stumps.

The Village’s opening batsmen strolled out on to the pitch, rotating their arms, and running on the spot, affecting a nonchalant air. The local postman asked for middle and leg, and once he’d made his mark, the vicar declared, ‘Play!’

The Village openers made a brisk start, scoring 32 before the first wicket fell to Ben Atkins, the farm manager — a sharp catch in the slips. Hector then followed up with two quick wickets and it was 64 for 3 after fifteen overs had been bowled. A fourth innings partnership was beginning to take hold between the publican Finn Reedie and Hamish Munro, when Freddie suggested that Giles should turn his arm over. A call to arms the captain hadn’t seriously considered. Even in his youth, Giles had rarely been asked to bowl.

His first over went for eleven, which included two wides, and he was going to take himself off but Freddie wouldn’t hear of it. Giles’s second over went for seven, but at least there were no wides and, to his surprise, in his third, he captured the important wicket of the publican. An LBW appeal to which the tenth Earl of Fenwick pronounced ‘Out!’ Giles thought he’d been a little fortunate, and so did Reedie.

‘Leg before pavilion more like,’ muttered the publican as he passed the earl.

One hundred and sixteen for 4. The first footman continued with his slow leg cutters from one end, accompanied by Giles’s attempt at military medium from the other. The Village went in to tea at 4.30 p.m., having scored 237 for 8, which Hamish Munro clearly felt was enough to win the match, because he declared.

Tea was held in a large tent. Egg and cress sandwiches, sausage rolls, jam tarts and scones topped with clotted cream were scoffed by all, accompanied by cups of hot tea and glasses of cold lime cordial. Freddie ate nothing, as he pencilled the Castle team’s batting order into the scorebook. Giles looked over his shoulder and was horrified to see his name at the top of the list.

‘Are you sure you want me to open?’

‘Yes, of course, sir. After all, you opened for Oxford and the MCC.’

As Giles padded up he wished he hadn’t eaten quite so many scones. A few moments later, he and Ben Atkins made their way out on to the pitch. Giles took guard, leg stump, then looked around the field, displaying an air of confidence that belied his true feelings. He settled down and waited for the first delivery from Ross Walker, the local butcher. The ball fizzed through the air and hit Giles firmly on the pad, plum in front of the middle stump.

‘Howzat!’ screamed the butcher confidently, as he leapt in the air.

Humiliation, thought Giles, as he prepared to return to the pavilion with a golden duck.

‘Not out,’ responded the tenth Earl of Fenwick, saving his blushes.

The bowler didn’t hide his disbelief and began to shine the ball furiously on his trousers before preparing to deliver the next ball. He charged up and hurled the missile at Giles a second time. Giles played forward, and the ball nicked the outside edge of his bat, missing the stump by inches before running between first and second slip to the boundary. Giles was off the mark with a scratchy four, and the butcher looked even angrier. His next ball was well wide of the stumps, and somehow Giles survived the rest of the over.

The farm manager turned out to be a competent if somewhat slow-scoring batsman, and the two of them had mustered 28 runs before Mr Atkins was caught behind the wicket off the butcher’s slower ball. Giles was then joined by a cow-hand who, although he had a range of shots worthy of his calling, still managed to notch up 30 in a very short time before being caught on the boundary. Seventy-nine for 2. The cow-hand was followed by the head gardener, who clearly only played once a year. Seventy-nine for 3.

Three more wickets fell during the next half hour, but somehow Giles prospered, and with the score on 136 for 6, the Hon. Freddie came out to join him at the crease, greeted by warm applause.

‘We still need another hundred,’ said Giles, glancing at the scoreboard. ‘But we have more than enough time, so be patient, and only try to score off any loose balls. Reedie and Walker are both tiring, so bide your time, and make sure you don’t give your wicket away.’

After Freddie had taken guard, he followed his captain’s instructions to the letter. It quickly became clear to Giles that the boy had been well coached at his prep school and, fortunately, had a natural flair, known in the trade as ‘an eye’. Together they passed the 200 mark to rapturous applause from one section of the crowd, who were beginning to believe that Castle might win the local derby for the first time in years.

Giles felt equally confident as he steered a ball through the covers to the far boundary, which took him into the seventies. A couple of overs later, the butcher came back on to bowl, no longer displaying his earlier cockiness. He charged up to the wicket and released the ball with all the venom he possessed. Giles played forward, misjudged the pace and heard the unforgiving sound of falling timber behind him. This time the umpire wouldn’t be able to come to his rescue. Giles made his way back to the pavilion to rapturous applause, having scored 74. But as he explained to Karin as he sat down on the grass beside her and unbuckled his pads, they still needed 28 runs to win, with only three wickets in hand.

Freddie was joined in the middle by his lordship’s chauffeur, a man who rarely moved out of first gear. He was aware of the chauffeur’s record and did everything in his power to retain the strike and leave his partner at the non-striking end. Freddie managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over until the chauffeur took a pace back to a bouncer and trod on his stumps. He walked back to the pavilion without the umpire’s verdict needing to be called upon.

Fourteen runs were still needed for victory when the second gardener (part-time) walked out to join Freddie in the middle. He survived the butcher’s first delivery, but only because he couldn’t get bat on ball. No such luck with the last delivery of the over, which he scooped up into the hands of the Village captain at mid-off. The fielding side jumped in the air with joy, well aware they only needed one more wicket to win the match and retain the trophy.

They couldn’t have looked more pleased when Hector Brice walked out and took his guard before facing the last ball of the over. They all recalled how long he’d lasted the previous year.

‘Don’t take a single, whatever you do,’ was Freddie’s only instruction.

But the Village captain, a wily old bird, set a field to make a single tempting. His troops couldn’t wait for the footman to quickly return to the line of fire. The butcher hurled the missile at Hector, but somehow the second footman managed to get bat on ball, and he watched it trickling towards backward short leg. Hector wanted to take a single, but Freddie remained resolutely in his place.

Freddie was quite happy to face the Village spinner for the penultimate over of the match, and hit him for 4 off his first ball, 2 off the third, and 1 off the fifth. Hector only needed to survive one more ball, leaving Freddie to face the butcher for the final over. The last ball of the over was slow and straight and beat Hector all ends up, but just passed over the top of the stumps before ending up in the wicket-keeper’s gloves. A sigh of relief came from those seated in the deckchairs, while groans erupted from the Village supporters.

‘Final over,’ declared the vicar.

Giles checked the scoreboard. ‘Only seven more needed, and victory is ours,’ he said, but Karin didn’t reply because she had her head in her hands, no longer able to watch what was taking place in the middle.

The butcher shone the ragged ball on his red-stained trousers as he prepared for one final effort. He charged up and hurled the missile at Freddie, who played back and nicked it to first slip, who dropped it.

‘Butter fingers,’ were the only words the butcher muttered that were repeatable in front of the vicar.

Freddie now had only five balls from which to score the seven runs needed for victory.

‘Relax,’ said Giles under his breath. ‘There’s bound to be a loose ball you can put away. Just stay calm and concentrate.’

The second ball took a thick outside edge and shot down to third man for two. Five still required, but only four balls left. The third might have been called a wide, making the task easier, but the vicar kept his hands in his pockets.

Freddie struck the fourth ball confidently to deep mid-on, thought about a single, but decided he couldn’t risk the footman being left with the responsibility of scoring the winning runs. He tapped his bat nervously on the crease as he waited for the fifth ball, never taking his eyes off the butcher as he advanced menacingly towards his quarry. The delivery was fast but just a little short, which allowed Freddie to lean back and hook it high into the air over square leg, where it landed inches in front of the rope before crossing the boundary for four. The Castle’s supporters cheered even louder, but then fell into an expectant hush as they waited for the final delivery.

All four results were possible: a win, a loss, a tie, a draw.

Freddie didn’t need to look at the scoreboard to know they needed one for a tie and two for a win off the final ball. He looked around the field before he settled. The butcher glared at him before charging up for the last time, to release the ball with every ounce of energy he possessed. It was short again, and Freddie played confidently forward, intending to hit the ball firmly through the covers, but it was faster than he anticipated and passed his bat, rapping him on the back pad.

The whole of the Village team and half of the crowd jumped in the air and screamed, ‘Howzat!’ Freddie looked hopefully up at the vicar, who hesitated only for a moment before raising his finger in the air.

Freddie, head bowed, began the long walk back to the pavilion, applauded all the way by an appreciative crowd. Eighty-seven to his name, but Castle had lost the match.

‘What a cruel game cricket can be,’ said Karin.

‘But character-forming,’ said Giles, ‘and I have a feeling this is a match young Freddie will never forget.’

Freddie disappeared into the pavilion and slumped down on a bench in the far corner of the dressing room, head still bowed, unmoved by the cries of ‘Well played, lad’, ‘Bad luck, sir’, and ‘A fine effort, my boy’, because all he could hear were the cheers coming from the adjoining room, assisted by pints being drawn from a beer barrel supplied by the publican.

Giles joined Freddie in the home dressing room and sat down on the bench beside the desolate young man.

‘One more duty to perform,’ said Giles, when Freddie eventually looked up. ‘We must go next door and congratulate the Village captain on his victory.’

Freddie hesitated for a moment, before he stood up and followed Giles. As they entered the opposition’s changing room, the Village team fell silent. Freddie went up to the policeman and shook him warmly by the hand.

‘A magnificent victory, Mr Munro. We’ll have to try harder next year.’

Later that evening, as Giles and Hamish Munro were enjoying a pint of the local bitter in the Fenwick Arms, the Village skipper remarked, ‘Your boy played a remarkable innings. Far finer teams than ours will suffer at his hand, and I suspect in the not-too-distant future.’

‘He’s not my boy,’ said Giles. ‘I only wish he was.’

41

‘Did you know that Jessica has a new boyfriend?’ said Samantha.

Sebastian always booked the same corner table at Le Caprice where his conversation wouldn’t be overheard and he had a good view of the other guests. It always amused him that the long glass mirrors attached to the four pillars in the centre of the room allowed him to observe other diners, while they were unable to see him.

He had no interest in film stars he barely recognized, or politicians who were hoping to be recognized, or even Princess Diana, whom everyone recognized. His only interest was in keeping an eye on other bankers and businessmen to see who they were dining with. Deals that it was useful for him to know about were often closed over dinner.

‘Who are you staring at?’ asked Samantha, after he didn’t respond.

‘Victor,’ he whispered.

Sam looked around, but couldn’t spot Seb’s oldest friend. ‘You’re a peeping Tom,’ she said after finishing her coffee.

‘And what’s more, they can’t see us,’ said Seb.

‘They? Is he having dinner with Ruth?’

‘Not unless she’s lost a couple of inches around her waist and put them on her chest.’

‘Behave yourself, Seb. She’s probably a client.’

‘No, I think you’ll find he’s the client.’

‘You’ve inherited your father’s vivid imagination. It’s probably quite innocent.’

‘You’re the only person in the room who’d believe that.’

‘Now you have got me intrigued,’ said Sam. She turned round once again, but still couldn’t see Victor. ‘I repeat, you’re a peeping Tom.’

‘And if I’m right,’ said Seb, ignoring his wife’s remonstration, ‘we have a problem.’

‘Surely Victor’s got the problem, not you.’

‘Possibly. But I’d still like to get out of here without being seen,’ he said, taking out his wallet.

‘How do you plan to do that?’

‘Timing.’

‘Are you going to cause some kind of diversion?’ she teased.

‘Nothing as dramatic as that. We’ll stay put until one of them goes to the loo. If it’s Victor, we can slip out unnoticed. If it’s the woman, we’ll leave discreetly, not giving him any reason to believe we’ve spotted them.’

‘But if he does acknowledge us, you’ll know it’s quite innocent,’ said Sam.

‘That would be a relief on more than one level.’

‘You’re rather good at this,’ said Sam. ‘Experience possibly?’

‘Not exactly. But you’ll find a similar plot in one of Dad’s novels, when William Warwick realizes the witness to a murder must have been lying, and has to get out of a restaurant unnoticed if he’s going to prove it.’

‘What if neither of them goes to the loo?’

‘We could be stuck here for a very long time. I’ll get the bill,’ said Seb, raising a hand, ‘just in case we have to make a dash for it. And I’m sorry, Sam, but did you ask me something just before I became distracted?’

‘Yes, I wondered if you knew Jessica’s got a new boyfriend.’

‘What gives you that idea?’ said Seb, as he checked the bill before handing over his credit card.

‘She never used to care how she looked.’

‘Isn’t that par for the course for an art student? She always looks to me as if she’s been dressed by Oxfam, and I can’t say I’ve noticed any change.’

‘That’s because you don’t see her in the evening, when she stops being an art student and becomes a young woman, and doesn’t look half bad.’

‘The daughter of her mother,’ said Seb, taking his wife’s hand. ‘Let’s just hope the new guy is an improvement on the Brazilian playboy, because I can’t see the Slade being quite so understanding a second time,’ he said as he signed the credit slip.

‘I don’t think that will be a problem this time. When he came to pick her up, he was driving a Polo, not a Ferrari.’

‘And you have the nerve to call me a peeping Tom? So when do I get the chance to meet him?’

‘That might not be for some time because so far she hasn’t even admitted she has a boyfriend. However, I’m planning—’

‘Action stations. She’s heading towards us.’

Seb and Sam went on chatting as a tall, elegant young woman passed their table.

‘Well, I like her style,’ said Sam.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Men are all the same. They just look at a woman’s legs, figure and face, as if they’re in a meat market.’

‘And what does a woman look for?’ asked Seb defensively.

‘The first thing I noticed was her dress, which was simple and elegant, and definitely not off the peg. Her bag was stylish without screaming a designer label, and her shoes completed a perfect ensemble. So I hate to disabuse you, Seb, but as we say in the States, that’s one classy dame.’

‘Then what’s she doing with Victor?’

‘I have no idea. But like most men, if you see a friend with a beautiful woman, you immediately assume the worst.’

‘I still think it would be best if we slip out unnoticed.’

‘I’d much rather go over and say hello to Victor, but if you—’

‘There’s something I haven’t told you. Victor and I aren’t exactly on speaking terms at the moment. I’ll explain why once we’re back in the car.’

Seb stood up and navigated a circuitous route around the restaurant, avoiding Victor’s table. When the maître d’ opened the front door for Samantha, Seb slipped him a five-pound note.

‘So what is it I ought to know about?’ asked Sam, once she’d climbed into the car and taken the seat next to him.

‘Victor’s angry because I didn’t make him chief executive.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ said Sam, ‘but I can understand how he felt. Who did you appoint as CEO?’

‘John Ashley,’ said Seb, as he turned into Piccadilly and joined the late-night traffic.

‘Why?’

‘Because he’s the right man for the job.’

‘But Victor’s always been a good and loyal friend, especially when you were down.’

‘I know, but that’s not a good enough reason to appoint someone as the CEO of a major bank. I invited him to be my deputy chairman, but he took umbrage and resigned.’

‘I can understand that too,’ said Sam. ‘So what are you doing to keep him on the board?’

‘Hakim flew over from Copenhagen to try and get him to change his mind.’

‘Did he succeed?’ asked Sam as Seb halted at a red light.

Giles was dashing out of the chamber to keep an appointment when he saw Archie Fenwick standing outside his office. He didn’t slow down.

‘If it’s about the government’s proposed grain subsidies, Archie, could you make an appointment? I’m already late for the chief whip.’

‘No, it isn’t,’ said Archie. ‘I came down from Scotland this morning in the hope you might have time to discuss a personal matter.’ Code for Freddie.

‘Of course,’ said Giles, who continued on into his office and said to his secretary, ‘Make sure I’m not disturbed while I’m with Lord Fenwick.’ He closed the door behind him. ‘Can I get you a whisky, Archie? I even have your own label,’ he said, holding up a bottle of Glen Fenwick. ‘Freddie gave me a case at Christmas.’

‘No, thank you. Although you won’t be surprised that it’s Freddie I’ve come to talk to you about,’ said Archie, sitting down on the other side of the desk. ‘But remembering how busy you are, I’ll try not to take too much of your time.’

‘If you had wanted to discuss the problems facing the Scottish agricultural industry, I can spare you five minutes. If it concerns Freddie, take your time.’

‘Thank you. But I’ll get straight to the point. Freddie’s headmaster called me yesterday evening to say the boy failed his common entrance exam to Fettes.’

‘But when I read his most recent end-of-term report, I even wondered if he might win a scholarship.’

‘So did the headmaster,’ said Archie, ‘which is why he called for his papers. It quickly became clear he’d made no effort to pass.’

‘But why? Fettes is one of the best schools in Scotland.’

‘In Scotland may be the answer to your question,’ said Archie, ‘because he sat a similar exam for Westminster a week later, and came out in the top half dozen.’

‘I don’t think we need to call on the assistance of Freud to fathom that one out,’ said Giles. ‘So all I need to know is whether he wants to be a day boy or a boarder.’

‘He put a cross in the box marked day boy.’

‘It’s a long way for him to commute to Fenwick Hall and back every day, and as Westminster is a stone’s throw from our front door, I think he might have been trying to tell us something.’ Archie nodded. ‘In any case, he’s already selected his bedroom,’ Giles added as the phone on his desk began to ring.

He grabbed it and listened for a moment before he said, ‘Sorry, chief, something came up, but I’ll be with you in a moment.’ He put the phone down and said, ‘Why don’t you join Karin and me for dinner in Smith Square this evening, and we can thrash out the details.’

‘I don’t know how to thank you,’ said Archie.

‘It’s me who should be thanking you.’ Giles stood up and headed for the door. ‘It’s the only piece of good news I’ve had all day. I’ll see you around eight.’

‘Any hope of discussing the government’s proposed grain subsidy at some time?’ Archie asked, but Giles didn’t reply as he quickly left the office.

‘What’s Cunard’s spot price this morning?’ asked Seb.

‘Four pounds twelve. Up two pence on yesterday,’ replied John Ashley.

‘That’s good news all round.’

‘Do you think your mother ever regrets selling Barrington’s?’

‘Daily. But luckily she’s so overworked at the Department of Health that she doesn’t have much time to think about it.’

‘And Giles?’

‘I know he’s extremely grateful for the way you’ve handled the family portfolio, because it allows him to pursue his first love.’

‘Battling against your mother?’

‘Something like that.’

‘What about your aunt Grace?’

‘She thinks you’re a vulgar capitalist, or at least that’s how she describes me, so I can’t believe she’d consider you any better.’

‘But I’ve made her a multi-millionaire,’ protested Ashley.

‘Indeed you have, but that won’t stop her marking her pupils’ homework tonight while nibbling on a cheese sandwich. But on her behalf, John, well done. Is there anything else we need to discuss?’

‘Yes, I’m sorry to say there is, chairman, and I’m not quite sure how to handle it.’ Ashley opened a file marked private and shuffled through some papers. Seb was surprised to see that a man who’d played front row for the Harlequins, and never hesitated to face any member of the board head on, was now clearly embarrassed.

‘Spit it out, John.’

‘A Miss Candice Lombardo has recently opened an account with the bank, and her guarantor is the deputy chairman.’

‘So that’s her name,’ said Seb.

‘You know her?’

‘Let’s just say I’ve come across her. So what’s the problem?’

‘She withdrew five thousand pounds yesterday, without having a penny in her account, to purchase a mink coat from Harrods.’

‘Why did you clear the cheque?’

‘Because Victor has guaranteed her overdraft and I don’t have the authority to put a stop on it without consulting him.’

‘Cedric Hardcastle will be turning in his grave,’ said Seb, looking up at the portrait of the bank’s founding chairman. ‘He used to be fond of saying never say never, unless you’re asked to sign a personal guarantee.’

‘Should I have a word with Victor?’

Seb leant back and thought about the suggestion for a few moments. Hakim had managed to convince Victor to remain on the board, and even take up the post of deputy chairman, so the last thing Seb needed was to give him any reason to change his mind.

‘Do nothing,’ he eventually said. ‘But keep me briefed if Miss Lombardo presents any more cheques.’

Ashley nodded, but didn’t make a note in his file.

‘I thought you’d also want to know,’ he continued, ‘that your daughter’s account is overdrawn by £104.60. Not a large amount, I know, but you did ask me to brief you, following—’

‘I did indeed,’ said Seb. ‘But to be fair, John, I’ve just paid her a thousand pounds for seven of her drawings.’

Ashley opened a second file and checked another bank statement. ‘She hasn’t presented that cheque, chairman. In fact, her only recent deposit was for two hundred and fifty pounds from a Richard Langley.’

‘The name doesn’t mean anything to me,’ said Seb. ‘But keep me informed.’ Ashley frowned. ‘What does that look mean?’

‘Just that on balance, I’d prefer to deal with the chairman of Cunard than your daughter.’

42

The four of them sat in the drawing room looking distinctly uncomfortable.

‘It’s so nice to meet you at last,’ said Samantha, pouring Richard a cup of tea.

‘You too, Mrs Clifton,’ said the young man who sat nervously opposite her.

‘How did you two meet?’ asked Seb.

‘We bumped into each other at the Slade Founder’s Prize exhibition,’ said Jessica.

‘I go to all the college art shows,’ said Richard, ‘in the hope of spotting a new talent before they’re snapped up by a West End dealer, when I’ll no longer be able to afford them.’

‘How very sensible,’ said Samantha, as she offered her guest a cucumber sandwich.

‘Picked up anything worthwhile recently?’ asked Sebastian.

‘A coup,’ said Richard, ‘a veritable coup. A set of remarkable line drawings by an unknown artist, entitled The Seven Ages of Woman, that won the Founder’s Prize. I couldn’t believe my luck when I heard the price.’

‘Forgive me for mentioning it,’ said Seb, ‘but I’m surprised you can afford a thousand pounds on a teacher’s salary.’

‘I didn’t pay a thousand pounds, sir, just two hundred and fifty. And I only just had enough left in my account to take the artist out to supper.’

‘But I thought—’ Seb didn’t complete the sentence when he noticed Samantha glaring at him and his daughter looking embarrassed. He decided to change tack. ‘I’d be willing to offer you a couple of thousand for those drawings. Then you can take the artist out for supper regularly.’

‘They’re not for sale,’ said Richard, ‘and they never will be.’

‘Three thousand?’

‘No, thank you, sir.’

‘Perhaps you’d consider a deal, Richard. If you were ever to give up my daughter, you’d sell the drawings back to me for two thousand pounds.’

‘Sebastian!’ said Samantha sharply. ‘Richard is Jessica’s friend, not a client, and in any case it’s outside banking hours.’

‘Not a hope, sir,’ said Richard. ‘I don’t intend to part with either your daughter or the drawings.’

‘You can’t win them all, Pops,’ said Jessica with a grin.

‘But if Jessie were to give you up,’ said Seb, as if he was chasing a million-pound deal, ‘would you reconsider then?’

‘Forget it, Pops. That’s not going to happen. You’ve lost the drawings, and you’re about to lose your daughter, because I’m planning to move in with Richard,’ she said, taking his hand.

Sebastian was about to suggest that perhaps... when Samantha jumped in.

‘That’s wonderful news. Where will you be living?’

‘I have a flat in Peckham,’ said Richard, ‘quite near where I work.’

‘But we’re looking for something bigger,’ said Jessica.

‘To rent, or buy?’ asked Seb. ‘Because in current market conditions, I would recommend—’

‘I would recommend,’ said Samantha, ‘that they should be allowed to make up their own minds.’

‘Much more sensible to buy,’ said Seb, ignoring his wife, ‘and with my two thousand, you’d have enough to put down a deposit.’

‘Just ignore him,’ said Samantha.

‘I always do,’ said Jessica, standing up. ‘Must dash, Pops, we’re off to the ICA to see an exhibition of ceramics Richard thinks looks promising.’

‘And can still afford,’ added Richard. ‘But if you do have two thousand to invest, sir, I would recommend—’

Samantha laughed, but Richard looked as if he was already regretting his words.

‘Bye, Pops,’ said Jessica. She bent down, kissed her father on the forehead and slipped an envelope into his inside pocket, hoping Richard wouldn’t notice.

Richard thrust out his hand and said, ‘Goodbye, sir. It was nice to meet you.’

‘Goodbye, Richard. I hope you enjoy the exhibition.’

‘Thank you, sir,’ said Richard as Samantha accompanied them both to the door.

While Seb waited for her to return, he took the envelope out of his pocket, opened it and extracted his own cheque for a thousand pounds. First time he’d ever been outbid by the underbidder.

‘I think I could have handled that better,’ suggested Seb when Samantha returned to the drawing room.

‘That’s an understatement, even by British standards. But I’m more interested in what you thought of Richard.’

‘Nice enough chap. But no one will ever be good enough for Jessie.’ He paused for a moment before adding, ‘I’ve been wondering what to give her for her twenty-first. Perhaps I ought to buy her a house?’

‘That’s the last thing you’re going to do.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because it will simply remind Richard that he’s penniless and will only make him feel beholden to you. In any case, Jessica is every bit as stubborn as you are. She’d turn the offer down, just as she did your two thousand.’

Seb handed Samantha the cheque, which only made her laugh even louder, before suggesting, ‘Perhaps we should allow them to lead their own lives. We might even be surprised how well they get on without us.’

‘But I only meant—’

‘I know what you meant, my darling, but I’m afraid your daughter trumped you,’ she said as the phone began to ring.

‘Ah, I have a feeling that will be Richard wanting to know if I’d be willing to raise my offer to four thousand.’

‘More likely to be your mother. I told her we were meeting Jessica’s new boyfriend for the first time, so she’s bound to want to know what we think.’ She picked up the phone.

‘Good evening, Mrs Clifton. It’s John Ashley.’

‘Hello, John. Has the bank burnt down?’

‘Not yet, but I do need a word with Seb fairly urgently.’

‘The bank’s burnt down,’ said Samantha, handing the phone to her husband.

‘You wish. John, what can I do for you?’

‘Sorry to bother you this late, chairman, but you asked me to alert you if Miss Lombardo presented any more large cheques.’

‘How much this time?’

‘Forty-two thousand.’

‘Forty-two thousand pounds?’ Seb repeated. ‘Hold up the payment for now, and if Victor doesn’t turn up tomorrow, I’ll have to speak to our legal team. And, John, go home. As my wife keeps reminding me, it’s outside banking hours, so there’s nothing more you can do about it tonight.’

‘A problem, my darling?’ asked Samantha, sounding genuinely concerned.

‘Yes, I’m afraid so. Do you remember that woman we saw dining with Victor at the Caprice?’ he said, picking the phone back up and beginning to dial.

‘How could I possibly forget?’

‘Well, I think she’s taking him to the cleaners.’

‘Are you calling Victor?’

‘No, Arnold Hardcastle.’

‘That bad?’

‘That bad.’

‘Hi, Jessie, I’m glad you were able to make it,’ he said, giving her a hug.

‘There’s no way I would have missed it, Grayson.’

‘Congratulations on winning the Founder’s Prize,’ he said. ‘I bet it won’t be long before a West End gallery is showing your work.’

‘From your lips to God’s ears,’ said Jessica as the artist turned away to talk to another student.

‘What do you really think?’ whispered Richard, as they strolled around the gallery.

‘It’s a great show, even if I’m not sure about the teddy bear.’

‘I wasn’t talking about his teddy bear. How do you think the meeting with your parents went?’

‘As I told you, Mom thought you were dishy. You’re a lucky girl, were her exact words.’

‘I’m not sure your father felt the same way.’

‘No need to worry about Pops,’ said Jessica as she stared at a magnificent vase. ‘Once Mom starts to work on him, he’ll come round.’

‘I hope so, because it won’t be too long before we have to tell him.’

The chairman, the chief executive and the bank’s in-house lawyer were seated around an oval table in Sebastian’s office at eight o’clock the following morning.

‘Any sign of Victor?’ was Seb’s first question.

‘No one’s seen him since Friday night,’ said John Ashley. ‘He told his secretary he was going on a business trip but would be back in time for the board meeting.’

‘But that’s not for another ten days,’ said Seb. ‘Doesn’t Carol have any idea where he is?’

‘No, and he didn’t leave a contact number.’

‘That’s unlike Victor,’ said Seb.

‘Carol told me he’s never done it before.’

‘Curiouser and curiouser.’

‘Do you think the time has come to call in Barry Hammond?’ suggested Ashley. ‘I’m sure it wouldn’t take him long to track Victor down, and also to find out everything there is to know about Miss Candice Lombardo.’

‘No, we can’t have a private detective investigating the deputy chairman of the bank,’ said Seb. ‘Is that understood?’

‘Yes, chairman. But Miss Lombardo presented another cheque yesterday for immediate clearance,’ said Ashley as he opened her growing file.

‘How much this time?’ asked Arnold.

‘Forty-two thousand,’ said Ashley.

‘Do you have any idea what it’s for?’

‘No, chairman, I do not,’ replied Ashley.

Seb studied a balance sheet that had never been in the black and was about to utter a single word to let his inner team know exactly how he felt, but thought better of it.

‘What’s our legal position?’ he asked, turning to the bank’s in-house lawyer.

‘If the account is in funds, or the guarantor is good for that amount, we have no choice but to clear the cheque within forty-eight hours.’

‘Then let’s hope Victor returns soon, or at least contacts us in the next couple of days.’

‘Isn’t there a paper trail of any sort?’ asked Arnold. ‘Phone calls, credit cards, hotel bills, plane tickets, anything?’

‘Nothing so far,’ said Ashley. ‘His secretary has instructions to call me the moment she hears from him, but I’m not hopeful, because I have a feeling that if we do find Victor, Miss Lombardo won’t be far behind.’

‘There’s one other person who might know where he is,’ said Arnold.

‘Who?’ asked Seb.

‘His wife.’

‘Absolutely not,’ said Seb. ‘Ruth is the last person I want contacted under any circumstances.’

‘In which case, chairman,’ said Arnold, ‘we have no choice but to clear the latest cheque within forty-eight hours, unless you want me to report the whole matter to the Bank of England and ask if we can hold up any further payments until Victor returns.’

‘No, allowing the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street to wash our dirty linen in public would be worse than telling Ruth. Clear the cheque, and let’s hope Miss Lombardo doesn’t present another one before Victor shows up.’

‘She’s what?’ said Sebastian.

‘Pregnant,’ repeated Samantha.

‘I’ll kill him.’

‘You’ll do nothing of the sort. In fact, when you next see Richard, you’ll congratulate him.’

‘Congratulate him?’

‘Yes, and leave them both in no doubt how delighted you are.’

‘Why the hell would I do that?’

‘Because the alternative doesn’t bear thinking about. To lose your daughter and never be able to see your grandchild. Just in case you’ve forgotten, you’ve experienced something similar before, and I don’t need to go through that again.’

‘Are they going to get married?’ asked Sebastian, changing tack.

‘I didn’t ask.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because it’s none of my business. Anyway, I’m sure they’ll let us know when they’re good and ready.’

‘You’re being very calm, in the circumstances.’

‘Of course I am. I’m looking forward to being a grandmother.’

‘Oh my God,’ said Seb. ‘I’m going to be a grandfather.’

‘And to think the FT described you as one of the sharpest minds in the City!’

Sebastian grinned, took his wife in his arms and said, ‘I sometimes forget, my darling, how lucky I am to have married you.’ He switched on the light on his side of the bed and sat up. ‘We ought to give my mother a call and warn her she’s about to become a great-grandmother.’

‘She already knows.’

‘So was I the last person to be told?’

‘Sorry. I needed to get all the troops on side before you heard the news.’

‘This just hasn’t been my week,’ said Seb, turning the light out.

‘I’ve found out what the forty-two thousand pounds was for, chairman,’ said John Ashley.

‘I’m all ears,’ said Seb.

‘It’s a down payment on a building in South Parade that used to be an escort agency.’

‘That’s all I need. So who’s the agent?’

‘Savills.’

‘Well, at least we know the chairman.’

‘I’ve already had a word with Mr Vaughan. He tells me he’ll be presenting a cheque signed by Miss Lombardo, in full and final settlement for the property, later today, and politely reminded me that if the sale doesn’t go through, Miss Lombardo will lose her deposit.’

‘Let’s hope Victor is back in time for the board meeting, otherwise by the end of next week she’ll probably have taken over the Playboy Club.’

43

‘What’s the meaning of the word “martinet”?’ asked Freddie, looking up from his prep.

‘A stickler for discipline,’ replied Karin. ‘I think you’ll find the word derives from the French.’

‘How come your English is so good, Karin, when you grew up in Germany?’

‘I always enjoyed languages when I was at school, so when I went to university I studied Modern Languages and became an interpreter, which is how I met Giles.’

‘Have you thought about what you’re going to read when you go up to university?’ asked Giles, looking up from his evening paper.

‘PPC,’ said Freddie.

‘I’m aware of politics, philosophy and economics,’ said Karin, ‘but I’ve never heard of PPC.’

‘Politics, philosophy and cricket. It’s a well-known degree course at Oxford.’

‘Yes, but not for martinets,’ said Giles, ‘and I suspect that were you to look up the word in the Revised Oxford Shorter, you’d find that Lieutenant Colonel Martinet has been replaced by Margaret Thatcher as the primary source.’

‘Take no notice of him,’ said Karin. ‘He’ll use any excuse to have a go at the Prime Minister.’

‘But the press seem to think she’s doing rather a good job,’ said Freddie.

‘Much too well for my liking,’ admitted Giles. ‘The truth is, we had her on the ropes until the Argentinians invaded the Falklands, but ever since then, even though the bullets are still coming at her from every direction, like James Bond, she always seems to duck at the right moment.’

‘And what about the Under Secretary of State for Health?’ asked Freddie. ‘Will she have to duck now you’re back on the front bench?’

‘The bullets are just about to hit her,’ said Giles with some relish.

‘Giles, behave yourself. It’s your sister you’re talking about, not the enemy.’

‘She’s worse than the enemy. Don’t forget that Emma’s a disciple of the blessed Margaret of Grantham. But when she presents the government’s latest NHS bill to the Upper House, I intend to dismantle it clause by clause, until she’ll consider resignation a blessed relief.’

‘I should be careful if I were you, Giles,’ said Karin. ‘I suspect that having served as the chairman of a major hospital, Emma just might be better informed about the health service than you are.’

‘Ah, but you forget the debate won’t be taking place in a hospital boardroom, but on the floor of the House of Lords where I’ve been lying in wait for some time.’

‘Perhaps you’d be wise to heed Grace’s warning,’ said Karin, ‘that Emma might trip you up on the details, because unlike most politicians she’s actually been at the coalface.’

‘I do believe you’re a closet Tory,’ said Giles.

‘I most certainly am not,’ said Karin. ‘I came out of the closet years ago, and it was Emma who converted me.’

‘Traitor.’

‘Not at all. I fell in love with you, not the Labour Party.’

‘For better or worse.’

‘Worse in that particular case.’

‘I’m sorry to interrupt you, but I only wanted to know the meaning of the word “martinet”.’

‘Ignore Giles,’ said Karin. ‘He’s always the same just before a major debate, especially when his sister’s involved.’

‘Can I come and watch?’ asked Freddie.

‘Depends which party you’re going to support,’ said Giles.

‘The party that convinces me it has the better policy.’

‘That’s original,’ said Karin.

‘Perhaps now’s not the time to tell you that I’ve joined the Young Conservatives,’ said Freddie.

‘You’ve done what?’ asked Giles, reeling back and clinging on to the mantelpiece.

‘And it gets worse.’

‘How can it possibly get worse?’

‘We’ve just held a mock election at school, and I stood as the Tory candidate.’

‘And what was the result?’ demanded Giles.

‘You don’t want to know.’

‘He not only won by a landslide,’ said Karin, ‘but he now wants to follow in your footsteps and become a Member of Parliament. Just a pity he won’t be sitting on your side of the House.’

A silence followed that few government ministers had ever managed to impose upon the Rt Hon. the Lord Barrington of Bristol Docklands.

‘When Mr Kaufman arrives, Tom, would you ask him to drop into my office before the board meeting?’

‘Of course, sir,’ said the doorman, as he saluted the chairman.

Seb made his way quickly across the lobby to the lifts. Although eight hadn’t yet struck, when he stepped out at the top floor, John Ashley and Arnold Hardcastle were already waiting for him in the corridor.

‘Good morning, gentlemen,’ said Seb, striding past them and into his office. ‘Please, have a seat. I thought we should discuss tactics before Victor arrives — assuming he does arrive. Let’s start with you, John. Any further news?’

Ashley opened a file that was becoming thicker by the day. ‘The cheque for £320,000 has been presented. However, Mr Vaughan has agreed that we needn’t clear it immediately as we’re still within the settlement period.’

‘That’s considerate of him,’ said Seb, ‘but then we have been a reliable customer for many years. What do you think we should do, John, if Victor fails to turn up?’

‘Call in Barry Hammond and instruct him to track Victor down wherever he is, because I’ve no doubt he’ll also find the girl there too.’

‘That has its own risks,’ suggested Arnold.

‘Outweighed, in my opinion,’ said John, ‘by the consequences of allowing her to milk Victor dry.’

‘An unfortunate metaphor,’ said Seb, checking his watch. ‘He’s cutting it fine.’

There was a gentle tap on the door and all three of them looked up expectantly. The door opened and Rachel entered the chairman’s office.

‘Some of the directors have already arrived and are waiting for you in the boardroom,’ said his secretary as she handed a copy of the agenda to Seb.

‘Is Mr Kaufman among them, Rachel?’

‘No, chairman, I haven’t seen him this morning.’

‘Then I suggest we join our colleagues,’ said Seb, after glancing at the agenda. ‘I propose that we say nothing about Miss Lombardo until we’ve had a chance to speak to Victor privately.’

‘Agreed,’ said the CEO and the bank’s legal advisor in unison.

All three men rose without another word, made their way out of the chairman’s office and headed for the boardroom, where they joined their colleagues.

‘Good morning, Giles,’ said Seb, who hadn’t called his uncle by his first name until he’d become chairman. ‘Am I to understand that you and my mother are no longer on speaking terms, now the NHS bill has been given its first reading?’

‘That is correct, chairman. The only discourse we will have in the future is across the despatch box.’

Seb smiled, but couldn’t stop himself from continually glancing towards the door. The other directors took their places around the boardroom table but the chair at the far end of the room remained unoccupied. Like his mother, Seb believed in starting board meetings on time. He checked his watch. One minute to nine. He took his seat at the head of the table and said, ‘Good morning, gentlemen. I will ask the company secretary to read the minutes of the last meeting.’

Mr Whitford rose from his place on the right of the chairman and delivered the minutes as if he were reading the lesson at his local church.

Seb tried to concentrate but kept glancing in the direction of the door, although he wasn’t hopeful, as he’d never known Victor to be late for a board meeting. When Mr Whitford sat down, Seb forgot to ask his fellow directors if they had any questions. He simply mumbled, ‘Item number one,’ and was about to call on the chief executive to present his monthly report when the boardroom door was flung open and a flustered deputy chairman rushed in.

Even before he’d taken his seat, Victor said, ‘I apologize, chairman. My flight was delayed because of fog. We must have passed over this building a dozen times before we were allowed to land.’

‘It’s not a problem, Victor,’ said Seb calmly. ‘You’ve only missed the reading of the minutes of the last meeting, and I was about to move on to item number one, the government’s new banking regulations. John?’

Ashley opened a file and looked down at the copious notes he had prepared and the precis he was about to share with his colleagues. ‘It seems that bankers,’ he began, ‘are now ranked alongside estate agents and Members of Parliament as the least trusted members of the community.’

‘Then all I have to do is become an estate agent,’ said Giles, ‘and I’ll have managed all three.’

‘What’s the bottom line?’ said Seb, after the laughter had died down.

‘We can expect further scrutiny into the bank’s daily affairs, and far tougher inspections from the regulatory bodies, along with a string of new regulations. Geoffrey Howe is determined to show he’s a new broom cleaning up the City.’

‘Conservative governments always are, but it’s usually forgotten after a few well-chosen homilies from the chancellor at the lord mayor’s banquet.’

Seb found his mind drifting again, as the directors began to voice their predictable views, the one exception being Giles, who even now he could never second-guess. He snapped back to the real world when he realized his fellow directors were all staring at him.

‘Item number two?’ prompted the company secretary.

‘Item number two,’ said Seb. ‘Lord Barrington has just returned from Rome, and I believe he has some rather exciting news to share with us. Giles?’

Giles briefed the board on his recent visit to the Eternal City, where he’d held meetings with Mr Menegatti, the chairman of the Cassaldi Bank, with a view to the two institutions forming a long-term partnership. His report was followed by a discussion among the directors, which Seb summed up with the recommendation that Giles, along with a select team, should take the discussions to the next stage and find out if a substantive proposal for a merger could be agreed on that both chairmen would feel able to recommend to their boards.

‘Congratulations, Giles,’ said Seb. ‘We’ll look forward to your next report. Perhaps now we should move on to item number three.’ But his mind began to wander again as he considered the only item that would be on the agenda when he later had a private meeting with his deputy chairman. Although he had to admit that Victor looked a damn sight more relaxed than he felt.

Seb was relieved when the company secretary finally asked, ‘Any other business?’

‘Yes,’ announced Victor, from the far end of the table. Seb raised an eyebrow. ‘Some of my colleagues may have been wondering where I’ve been for the past ten days, and I feel I owe you all an explanation.’ Certainly three of the directors agreed with him.

‘When I became deputy chairman,’ Victor continued, ‘among the responsibilities the chairman gave me was to look into how the bank dealt with its charitable donations. I’m bound to say I assumed that would not be a demanding task. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong. I quickly discovered that the bank simply doesn’t have a policy, and that by the standards of our competitors we’re not only found wanting but, frankly, mean. I would not have realized just how mean if Lady Barrington hadn’t approached me to ask for the bank’s support when she was running the marathon. When she produced her list of sponsors, I felt ashamed. She’d raised more money from Barclays, Nat West and Dr Grace Barrington than she managed from Farthings Kaufman. That also caused me to take a greater interest in the charity she was supporting.’

The deputy chairman had captured the attention of the entire board.

‘The charity concerned sends missions to Africa where its distinguished heart surgeon, Dr Magdi Yacoub, operates on young children who would otherwise have no hope of survival.’

‘What exactly is a mission?’ asked Mr Whitford, who had been writing down the deputy chairman’s every word.

‘A mission comprises five people — a surgeon, a doctor, two nurses and a manager, all of whom give their services for nothing, often sacrificing their holidays to carry out this vital work. Lady Barrington suggested I meet a Miss Candice Lombardo, who is an active member of the charity’s board, so I invited her to join me for dinner.’ Victor smiled at the chairman.

‘Why do I know that name?’ asked the company secretary.

‘Miss Lombardo,’ said Clive Bingham, ‘was voted the most desirable woman on the planet by the readers of GQ magazine and, if the tabloids are to be believed, she’s currently having a fling with Omar Sharif.’

‘I have no idea if that’s true,’ said Victor. ‘All I can tell you is that when we had dinner, it quickly became clear how committed she was to the cause. Miss Lombardo invited me to join her on a trip to Egypt to witness first-hand the work Dr Yacoub and his team were carrying out in that country. That’s where I’ve been for the past ten days, chairman. And I confess, I spent much of my time either fainting or being sick.’

‘The deputy chairman fainted?’ said Clive in disbelief.

‘On more than one occasion. I can assure you, watching a young child having their chest cut open isn’t for the fainthearted. By the time I got on the plane to come home, I was resolved to do more, a great deal more. As a result of that trip, I will be recommending to the board that we take on the role of being the charity’s bankers, with no charges. I have already agreed to become its honorary treasurer.’

‘To use your words, a great deal more,’ said Seb. ‘What else can the bank do to help?’

‘We could start by making a substantial contribution to the Marsden charitable trust, so they can continue their work without having to live from hand to mouth.’

‘Do you have a sum in mind?’ asked Giles.

‘Half a million a year for the next five years.’ There were one or two gasps from around the table before Victor continued, ‘Which I know the board will be pleased to learn qualifies for forty per cent tax relief.’

‘How do you think our shareholders will react to us giving such a large amount to charity?’ asked John Ashley.

‘If Mr Kaufman were to address the AGM,’ suggested Seb, ‘I suspect they’d say it isn’t enough.’

One or two of the board members nodded, while others smiled.

‘But we would still have to explain how the money is being spent,’ said the company secretary. ‘After all, that would be no more than our fiduciary duty.’

‘I agree,’ said Victor, ‘and if I am allowed to address our shareholders on the subject at the AGM, I’m sure I wouldn’t need to remind them that recently the bank made over eleven million pounds on the Harrods takeover by Mr Al Fayed. However, I must confess that without the board’s approval, I made a down payment on a property in South Parade behind the Royal Marsden, so the charity can set up its headquarters near the hospital. I was able to pick it up at a knock-down price, because the premises had previously been used by an escort agency.’

‘Why didn’t you give the board advance notice of the purchase?’ asked Seb. ‘A phone call would have been quite sufficient, so our executive directors could have discussed your proposal before today’s board meeting. Instead, you appear to have presented us with a fait accompli.’

‘I apologize, chairman, but I failed to mention that Princess Diana, a friend of Dr Yacoub’s, was also on the trip to Egypt, and we were asked by her security team not to reveal our location or the names of anyone else on the trip.’

‘Quite right,’ said Giles. ‘We don’t need to telegraph the IRA.’

‘And I assumed,’ continued Victor, looking directly at Seb, ‘that if a real emergency were to arise, you wouldn’t have hesitated to call my wife, the one person who knew exactly where I was.’

Three of the directors nodded in agreement.

‘Finally,’ said Victor, ‘I know you’ll all be delighted to hear that Professor Yacoub will be holding a press conference at the Marsden next Thursday to announce that Princess Diana has agreed to be the charity’s patron.’

‘Bravo,’ said Clive. ‘That can only be good for the bank’s image.’

‘That’s not my sole purpose for wanting to support such a worthwhile cause,’ said Victor sharply.

‘Possibly not,’ said Arnold, ‘but while the chancellor is still thrashing about, it won’t do us any harm.’

‘Perhaps you’d write up a proposal for our consideration at next month’s board meeting,’ said Seb, ‘and distribute it early enough for us to give it some serious thought.’

‘I drafted an outline summary while I was circling above you this morning, chairman, and once I’ve completed it, I’ll send copies to all board members.’

Several directors were nodding, as Victor closed the file in front of him.

‘Thank you,’ said Seb. ‘Now all we have to decide is the date of the next meeting.’

Diaries were consulted and, once a date had been agreed, Seb brought the meeting to a close.

‘Could you spare me a moment, Victor,’ he said, as he gathered up his papers.

‘Of course, chairman.’ Victor followed Seb out of the room, down the corridor and into the chairman’s office. He was just about to close the door behind him when he noticed that John Ashley and Arnold Hardcastle were following close behind.

Once all four of them were seated around the oval table, Seb tentatively began by saying, ‘One or two of us became quite concerned, Victor, when during your absence three cheques were presented for clearance by a Miss Lombardo, whom Arnold, John and I had never heard of.’

‘Never heard of?’ said Victor. ‘Which planet have you been living on?’

When none of them attempted to defend themselves, the penny dropped.

‘Ah,’ he said, looking like a man who had a straight flush, ‘so you all assumed—’

‘Well, you must try to see it from our perspective,’ said Arnold defensively.

‘And to be fair,’ said Victor, ‘I don’t suppose Miss Lombardo makes the front page of the FT that often.’

The other three directors burst out laughing.

‘I confess I didn’t have the board’s approval to purchase the building and, fearing that we might lose it while it was still at such a low price, I allowed Miss Lombardo to open an account, which I guaranteed.’

‘But that doesn’t explain the five thousand pounds she paid for a mink coat from Harrods,’ said John Ashley, a little sheepishly.

‘A birthday present for Ruth that I didn’t want her to know about. By the way, is that why you were trying to get in touch with me?’

‘Certainly not,’ said Seb. ‘We just wanted you to know that Giles may have pulled off a major coup in Rome, before you read about it in the press.’

‘Good try,’ said Victor. ‘But I’ve known you far too long, Seb, to fall for that one. I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I won’t mention the subject again, as long as you back my proposal to support the charity at the next board meeting.’

‘That sounds like blackmail.’

‘Yes, I do believe it is.’

‘I should have listened to my wife in the first place,’ mumbled Seb.

‘That might have been wise, all things considered,’ said Victor. ‘I wasn’t planning to mention to the board that Samantha winked at me when you were making your ridiculous exit from the Caprice.’