This Was a Man (The Clifton Chronicles #7)(97)

‘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?’