Best Kept Secret

45





THE FRONT DOORBELL rang at one minute to ten, and Karl answered it.

‘Good morning, sir,’ he said. ‘How may I help you?’

‘I have an appointment with Mr Martinez at ten o’clock.’

Karl gave a slight bow and stood aside to allow the visitor to enter. He then led him across the hall, tapped on the study door and said, ‘Your guest has arrived, sir.’

Martinez rose from behind his desk and thrust out a hand. ‘Good morning. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.’

As Karl closed the study door and made his way to the kitchen, he passed Bruno, who was chatting on the phone.

‘. . . my father’s given me a couple of tickets for the men’s semi-final at Wimbledon tomorrow, and he suggested I invite you.’

‘That’s very decent of him,’ said Seb, ‘but I’ve got an appointment to see my tutor in Cambridge on Friday, so I don’t think I’ll be able to make it.’

‘Don’t be so feeble,’ said Bruno. ‘There’s nothing to stop you coming up to London tomorrow morning. The match doesn’t start until two, so as long as you can get here by eleven, you’ll have more than enough time.’

‘But I still have to be in Cambridge by midday the following day.’

‘Then you can stay here overnight, and Karl can drive you to Liverpool Street first thing Friday morning.’

‘Who’s playing?’

‘Fraser versus Cooper, promises to be a sizzler. And if you’re really good, I’ll drive you to Wimbledon in my snazzy new car.’

‘You’ve got a car?’ said Sebastian in disbelief.

‘An orange MGA, drophead coupé. Dad gave it to me for my eighteenth.’

‘You jammy bastard,’ said Sebastian. ‘My pa gave me the complete works of Proust for mine.’

Bruno laughed. ‘And if you behave yourself, on the way I might even tell you about my latest girlfriend.’

‘Your latest?’ mocked Sebastian. ‘You’ve got to have had at least one before you can have a “latest”.’

‘Do I detect a twinge of envy?’

‘I’ll let you know after I’ve met her.’

‘You’re not going to get the chance, because I won’t be seeing her again until Friday, and by then you’ll be on the train to Cambridge. See you around eleven tomorrow.’

Bruno put the phone down and was on his way to his room when the study door opened and his father appeared, an arm around the shoulder of a military-looking gentleman. Bruno wouldn’t have considered eavesdropping on his father’s conversation, if he hadn’t heard the name Barrington.

‘We’ll have you back on the board in no time,’ his father was saying as he accompanied his guest to the front door.

‘That’s a moment I will savour.’

‘However, I want you to know, major, that I’m not interested in the occasional raid on Barrington’s simply to embarrass the family. My long-term plan is to take over the company and install you as chairman. How does that sound?’

‘If it brings down Giles Barrington at the same time, nothing would please me more.’

‘Not just Barrington,’ said Martinez. ‘It’s my intention to destroy every member of that family, one by one.’

‘Even better,’ said the major.

‘So the first thing you must do is start buying Barrington shares as and when they come on the market. The moment you have seven and a half per cent, I’ll put you back on the board as my representative.’

‘Thank you, sir.’

‘Don’t call me sir. I’m Pedro to my friends.’

‘And I’m Alex.’

‘Just remember, Alex, from now on you and I are partners and have only one purpose.’

‘Couldn’t be better, Pedro,’ said the major as the two men shook hands. When he walked away, Don Pedro could have sworn he heard him whistling.

When Don Pedro stepped back into the house, he found Karl waiting for him in the hall.

‘We need to have a word, sir.’

‘Let’s go to my office.’

Neither man spoke again until the door was closed. Karl then repeated the conversation he’d overheard between Bruno and his friend.

‘I knew he’d find those Wimbledon tickets irresistible.’ He picked up the phone on his desk. ‘Get me Diego,’ he barked. ‘And now let’s see if we can tempt the boy with something even more irresistible,’ he said as he waited for his son to come on the line.

‘What can I do for you, Father?’

‘Young Clifton has risen to the bait and will be coming up to London tomorrow and going to Wimbledon. If Bruno can persuade him to take up my other offer, can you have everything in place by Friday?’



Sebastian had to borrow his mother’s alarm clock to make sure he was up in time to catch the 7.23 to Paddington. Emma was waiting for him in the hall and offered to drive him to Temple Meads.

‘Are you expecting to see Mr Martinez when you’re in London?’

‘Almost certainly,’ said Sebastian, ‘as it was his suggestion I join Bruno at Wimbledon. Why do you ask?’

‘No particular reason.’

Sebastian wanted to ask why Mama seemed to be so concerned about Mr Martinez, but suspected that if he did he’d only get the same response. No particular reason.

‘Will you have time to see Aunt Grace while you’re in Cambridge?’ his mother asked, rather too obviously changing the subject.

‘She’s invited me to tea at Newnham on Saturday afternoon.’

‘Don’t forget to give her my love,’ Emma said as they drew up outside the station.

On the train, Sebastian sat in a corner of the carriage, trying to work out why his parents seemed to be so concerned about a man they’d never met. He decided to ask Bruno if he was aware of any problem. After all, Bruno had never sounded convinced about him going to Buenos Aires.

By the time the train pulled into Paddington, Sebastian was no nearer to solving the mystery. He handed in his ticket to the collector at the barrier, walked out of the station and across the road, not stopping until he reached No. 37. He knocked on the door.

‘Oh my goodness,’ said Mrs Tibbet when she saw who it was standing on the doorstep. She threw her arms around him. ‘I never thought I’d see you again, Seb.’

‘Does this establishment do breakfast for impecunious university freshmen?’

‘If that means you’re going to Cambridge after all, then I’ll see what I can rustle up.’ Sebastian followed her inside. ‘And close the door behind you,’ she added. ‘Anybody would think you were born in a barn.’

Sebastian nipped back and shut the front door, before heading down the stairs to join Tibby in the kitchen. When Janice saw him, she said, ‘Look what the cat dragged in,’ and gave him a second hug followed by the best breakfast he’d had since he’d last sat in that kitchen.

‘So what have you been up to since we last saw you?’ asked Mrs Tibbet.

‘I’ve been to Argentina and met Princess Margaret.’

‘Where’s Argentina?’ asked Janice.

‘It’s a long way away,’ said Mrs Tibbet.

‘And I’ll be going up to Cambridge in September,’ he added between mouthfuls. ‘Thanks to you, Tibby.’

‘I hope you didn’t mind me getting in touch with your uncle. And what made matters worse, he ended up having to come to me in Paddington.’

‘Thank God you did,’ said Sebastian. ‘Otherwise I might still be in Argentina.’

‘And what brings you to London this time?’ asked Janice.

‘Missed you both so much I had to come back,’ said Seb. ‘And where else would I get a decent breakfast?’

‘Pull the other one, it’s got bells on,’ said Mrs Tibbet as she forked a third sausage on to his plate.

‘Well, there was one other reason,’ admitted Sebastian. ‘Bruno’s invited me to Wimbledon this afternoon for the men’s semi-final, Fraser versus Cooper.’

‘I’m in love with Ashley Cooper,’ said Janice, dropping her dishcloth.

‘You’d fall in love with anyone who reached the semis,’ chided Mrs Tibbet.

‘That’s not fair! I’ve never been in love with Neale Fraser.’

Sebastian laughed, and didn’t stop laughing for the next hour, which was why he didn’t turn up at Eaton Square until nearly half past eleven. When Bruno opened the door, Seb said, ‘Mea culpa, but in my defence, I was held up by two of my girlfriends.’



‘Take me through it one more time,’ said Martinez, ‘and don’t leave out any details.’

‘A team of three experienced drivers have carried out several practice runs during the past week,’ said Diego. ‘They’ll be doing a final time check later this afternoon.’

‘What can go wrong?’

‘If Clifton doesn’t take up your offer, the whole exercise will have to be called off.’

‘If I know that boy, he won’t be able to resist it. Just be sure I don’t bump into him before he leaves for Cambridge in the morning. Because I can’t guarantee I wouldn’t throttle him.’

‘I’ve done my best to make sure your paths don’t cross. You’re having dinner at the Savoy this evening with Major Fisher, and tomorrow you have an appointment in the city first thing in the morning, when you’ll be briefed by a company lawyer on your legal rights once you’ve acquired seven and a half per cent of Barrington’s.’

‘And in the afternoon?’

‘We’re both going to Wimbledon. Not to watch the women’s final, but to give you ten thousand alibis.’

‘And where will Bruno be?’

‘Taking his girlfriend to the cinema. The film starts at two fifteen and ends around five, so he won’t hear the sad news about his friend until he gets back in the evening.’



When Sebastian climbed into bed that night, he couldn’t get to sleep. Like a silent film, he reran everything that had taken place during the day frame by frame: breakfast with Tibby and Janice; a trip to Wimbledon in the MG, before watching a nail-biting semi-final with the fourth set finally going to Cooper, 8-6. The day ended with a visit to Madame JoJo’s on Brewer Street, where he was surrounded by a dozen Gabriellas. Something else he wouldn’t be telling his mother.

And then, to top it all, on the way home Bruno asked him if he’d like to drive the MG to Cambridge the next day rather than go by train.

‘But won’t your father object?’

‘It was his idea.’



When Sebastian came down to breakfast the following morning, he was disappointed to find that Don Pedro had already left for a meeting in the City, as he wanted to thank him for all his kindness. He would write to him as soon as he got back to Bristol.

‘What an amazing time we had yesterday,’ said Sebastian as he filled a bowl with cornflakes and took a seat next to Bruno.

‘To hell with yesterday,’ said Bruno, ‘I’m far more worried about today.’

‘What’s the problem?’

‘Do I tell Sally how I feel about her, or do I just assume she already knows?’ Bruno blurted out.

‘That bad?’

‘It’s all right for you. You’re so much more experienced in these matters than I am.’

‘True,’ said Sebastian.

‘Stop smirking, or I won’t let you borrow the MG.’

Sebastian tried to look serious. Bruno leant across the table and asked, ‘What do you think I should wear?’

‘You should be casual, but smart. A cravat rather than a tie,’ suggested Sebastian as the phone in the hall began ringing. ‘And don’t forget that Sally will also be worrying about what she should wear,’ he added as Karl entered the room.

‘There’s a Miss Thornton on the line for you, Mr Bruno.’

Sebastian burst out laughing as Bruno slipped meekly out of the room. He was spreading some marmalade on a second piece of toast when his friend returned a few minutes later and greeted him with the words, ‘Damn, damn, damn.’

‘What’s the matter?’

‘Sally can’t make it. Says she’s got a cold and is running a temperature.’

‘In the middle of the summer?’ said Sebastian. ‘Sounds to me as if she’s looking for an excuse to call it all off.’

‘Wrong again. She said she’ll be fine by tomorrow, and can’t wait to see me.’

‘Then why not come to Cambridge with me, because I’m not fussed about what you wear?’

Bruno grinned. ‘You’re a poor substitute for Sally, but the truth is I’ve got nothing better to do.’