Next in Line (William Warwick, #5)(51)

Ross retired to his usual discreet table behind a pillar. When the two of them strolled out onto the dance floor shortly afterwards, it would have been obvious to any casual observer they were lovers. The bobbing ponytail still irritated Ross. He wrote nothing down, but would make a full report to William in the morning. He knew William was keeping the commander up to date so that no one was left out of the loop.

Once again, Diana left the club just after midnight. As she stepped out onto the pavement, she found several photographers waiting to greet her.

Ross did his best to protect her from the more persistent of them as she scrambled into the back of the car, but they still pursued her, cameras flashing, until the Jaguar turned the corner into St James’s only to find one of them waiting by the traffic lights as they slowed down at the top of Piccadilly. Ross clocked that it was the same one who’d been waiting outside Tramp when she’d arrived there earlier that evening.

‘Do you know the name of that photographer, Ross?’

‘Yes, ma’am. Alan Young.’

‘Poor man, standing out there just in case I turn up.’

‘I wouldn’t waste your sympathy on him, ma’am. He’s the best-paid snapper in Fleet Street, and he only takes photos of you.’

They travelled on in silence for some time before the Princess eventually said, ‘I’ll be spending the weekend with Jamil at his home in Sussex. It’s not on the official schedule, of course, but I hope you’ll be kind enough to make the usual arrangements.’

‘Of course, ma’am,’ said Ross without hesitation, although he’d been looking forward to spending a weekend with Jojo. He’d planned a trip to the cinema to see The Little Mermaid – ending up at her favourite ice cream shop. Thank God for William and Beth, he thought as the car swung into Kensington Palace Gardens.

? ? ?

‘I thought Jojo was meant to be spending the weekend with Ross,’ said Beth as she strapped the three children into their car seats.

William climbed behind the wheel. ‘Change of plan. Seems the Princess needs him for a special assignment.’

‘What could be more special than Jojo?’ asked Beth, not letting him off the hook.

‘Well, she won’t be spending the weekend with Prince Charles,’ was all William had to say on the subject.

‘Are you telling me Diana’s having an affair?’ whispered Beth as they set off for Nettleford.

‘I’m not telling you anything,’ said William.

Beth was about to protest when Artemisia said, ‘What’s an affair?’

William and Beth remained silent, but were rescued by Peter asking, ‘How long before we get there?’ even before they’d reached the first set of traffic lights.

‘About an hour,’ said William. ‘But you always enjoy spending the day with your grandparents.’

‘Why doesn’t Grandpops have a TV?’ asked Peter.

Beth and William were trying to come up with a suitable response, when Jojo asked plaintively, ‘Will Daddy be there?’

‘No, he won’t,’ said Artemisia. ‘He’s spending the weekend with my friend, the Princess of Wales.’

‘But I know he’s got next weekend off,’ said William, ‘when he still intends to take you to see The Little Mermaid, and if you’re very good, you may even get your favourite double chocolate sundae.’

Jojo clapped her hands.

‘What are you up to next week,’ asked Beth, ‘other than spying on the Princess?’

‘Don’t even ask,’ replied William, lowering his voice. ‘The Commissioner has an appointment with the Prince of Wales tomorrow morning, and none of us has any idea how he’ll react when he hears what his senior protection officer has been up to for the past eleven years.’

‘They’ll want to make sure nothing gets into the press that will embarrass the Queen. Although I have a feeling the Prince of Wales will know only too well that Diana’s playing away from home.’

‘Princess Diana,’ said Artemisia, correcting her mother.

‘Well, at least you must be looking forward to next week,’ said William. ‘The museum should be packing them in after all those five-star reviews for the Frans Hals exhibition in this morning’s papers.’

‘I would be, if the new director didn’t spend so much of his time trying to undermine me in front of the rest of the staff.’

‘Don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll come round, given time.’

‘I doubt it. We’ve barely exchanged a civil word since the day he took over, and there doesn’t seem to be anything I can do to appease him.’

‘What does appease mean?’ asked Artemisia.

‘Falling in with someone else’s views to please them,’ said Beth, looking around to see that Peter and Jojo had fallen asleep.

‘I sympathize,’ said William. ‘Especially remembering how well you got on with Tim Knox.’

‘Don’t remind me. And it doesn’t help that Sloane’s asked to see me first thing tomorrow morning, leaving me to stew over the weekend wondering what he’s annoyed about this time.’

‘Perhaps he wants to congratulate you on the successful opening of the Frans Hals exhibition?’

‘Don’t bet on it. Much more likely he’s found something new to grumble about.’