‘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.’