False Impression Read online

  What she did say was, ‘You’d better get a marriage licence tomorrow. You can have the wedding reception here, if you like.’

  ‘I thought you’d tell me it’s a preposterous idea to think of her and me.’

  ‘You thought you needed my blessing. And Leon’s. Well, you have it.’ She glanced at her watch and checked she had her keys in her evening bag. Leon said he’d send his car for her at eight, and it was one minute to. She was unaccountably nervous. She hadn’t seen him for so long. Well, it wasn’t really so very long, but it certainly felt like it.

  Keith muttered, ‘I don’t deserve it.’

  ‘Who does?’ A car horn tooted. ‘And there’s my lift. Orlando—’ calling out – ‘don’t forget to put the alarm on after Keith leaves!’

  An old-fashioned restaurant, spacious and quiet. A reputation for simple English food, perfectly cooked. No frills. No flambés. No temperaments flying around.

  Leon was waiting for her. She was glad she’d dressed up in the new midnight-blue silk and had worn her diamond pendant, for he was in black tie and looked fabulous. Sleek. Pleased with himself? Mm. Yes. So, what had he been up to?

  He kissed her cheek. They were shown to their table. A good table, discreetly lit. He said, ‘Are you very angry with me for neglecting you?’

  Yes, she was. She excused him. ‘You’ve been busy.’

  Menus were laid in front of them. He said, ‘I thought you’d better hear the news from me, before it hits the papers.’

  Aha. Now, let’s guess. ‘You never really wanted to be an international tycoon, did you? It was forced upon you, and you had to do what you could. Successfully, the papers say.’

  ‘Some good luck. Some good advice. I miss Adamsson more than I can say.’

  ‘But you’ve appointed someone else. You must have done, or the value of your shares in the market would have plummeted.’

  ‘You’ve been keeping track?’ He was pleased.

  She frowned. ‘You have to wait till probate is granted to get rid of the international side of the company, don’t you?’

  ‘Negotiations are under way.’ The waiter hovered. ‘Bea, what would you like to eat?’

  They ordered. The menus disappeared.

  She said, ‘You’re tired of your toys and want to throw them out of the pram?’

  ‘It will take time, but yes, that’s just what I’m doing. I shan’t be the loser by it. Sybil will get some shares and so will Bernice, who refuses to go to live with her mother. She’s devoted to Sybil, and Sybil to her. A good result, don’t you agree? They are talking about boarding schools at the moment. Bernice is keen to go where they give students a good grounding in maths. She plans to live with Sybil between times.’

  Bea didn’t raise the subject of Keith’s pre-wedding nerves. He’d get over them. She hoped. ‘What will happen to the big house and offices?’

  ‘For the time being Sybil and Bernice will live there. I’ve moved back into my old quarters at the big house, and the Barbican flat is usable once more. Neither is satisfactory. Hotel life doesn’t suit me.’

  Was he angling to move in with her? Ten days ago she’d have said ‘yes’. Now she was not so sure. ‘What about the UK division of Holland?’

  ‘I am having talks with various people about selling the lot. Fortunately, I had made myself aware of the strengths and weaknesses of each of my companies before recent events overtook us. We are now discussing how many of the old managers should be kept, how many made redundant and so on.’

  ‘Redundancies? That’s what Jennifer and her fellow conspirators in maintenance were so worried about. That’s what drove them to join in the conspiracy against you.’

  ‘There are bound to be redundancies, but we’re arranging for good pay-offs. Sybil will manage the conversion of the big house into flats to be sold off, retaining the largest one for herself and Bernice. That’s her next project. The training college is being fenced off from the estate and given a new entrance. It’s safe in Anna’s hands, don’t you think?’

  ‘Are you ready to retire? No, of course you aren’t.’

  ‘Are you?’

  ‘Of course not.’ No, she certainly was not!

  They accepted their starters. Duck pate. Delicious.

  She ought to be able to work it out. He had money. He would have no responsibilities, work-wise. His family was provided for. Ah, she had it. ‘A charity. You’re going to work for a charity. Now, don’t tell me. It won’t be one of the big, well-established, well-run organizations. They don’t need you. It won’t be one of the little ones that raises a few thousands every year and has limited effect. No, you’ll choose one which has the potential to do a lot of good but which is struggling for various reasons. I know!’ She mentioned a name. ‘Their chairman and secretary have recently been caught up in nasty scandals. That’s where you’ll go.’

  ‘Well done. Of course, you’re right. The downside is that I’ll still need a woman on my arm for social purposes. Would you object to becoming Mrs Holland?’

  ‘Strenuously,’ said Bea, paying him out for her neglect of her. ‘I have no intention of marrying again. Tell me, did I guess correctly? Was Briscoe offered a knighthood?’

  ‘A life peerage. He did consider it but decided he couldn’t be bothered. Angharad found out by reading his mail, and that’s when she started to put the pressure on him. I’m sad that the end of his life was so difficult.’

  ‘You rescued him in the end. That must be some consolation.’

  ‘I was too slow. When he lashed out at me, I was hurt. I didn’t stop to think. I reacted just as Angharad intended I should and left him to her tender mercies. It was only when you spelled it all out to me that I saw how much I’d let him down.’

  She put her hand over his on the table. ‘If you hadn’t had the strength to overcome that barrier, if you hadn’t loved him, deeply and truly, he’d have died in despair, without seeing you or Sybil or Dilys again. You must forgive yourself, because he has forgiven you.’

  The waiter removed their plates and poured wine. A good red.

  He kept his eyes on his glass. ‘So, mind-reader mine, tell me where I’m going to settle?’

  She frowned. Sipped wine. Admired the diamond in her engagement ring. ‘You don’t like hotel life, and you won’t need to go flitting around the world when things calm down. You sold your house in the country, didn’t you? And you don’t want to be stuck out at the old Holland place. You’ll buy a house in town. A good one. With room for offices. And, perhaps, a dog? I see you walking the dog in the park every day to keep your weight down.’ Which was a nasty crack, as he had perhaps put on a couple of pounds recently.

  He looked self-conscious. ‘Too many business breakfasts, lunches and dinners. I’ve put in an offer for a house in the next street to you. Back to back with you. My garden wall is also yours. I thought we might cut a door through some time.’

  Bea said, ‘You can’t do that without my consent.’

  ‘Of course not.’ He didn’t seem fazed by her rejection of his idea. He said, ‘The house has been used for business purposes before, and they don’t object to some rooms being used for a charity. I think I draw the line at a dog. What would your cat Winston say if I dropped in every day with a dog in tow?’

  ‘Miaow,’ said Bea, accepting her rare fillet of steak and frites. ‘This looks good.’

  ‘Salad on the side, madam?’

  ‘Certainly. I have to watch my weight.’ And, when the waiter had withdrawn, ‘All right, I withdraw my suggestion about a dog.’

  ‘To the future.’ He lifted his glass to her in a toast.

  ‘Agreed.’

  ‘But,’ he said, attending to his steak, ‘I can’t sit on the secret any longer. I, too, was offered something in the next Honours List. Not by Lethbury, but through someone else. It’s only a knighthood and not a life peerage, but it would still make you Lady Holland.’

  Bea’s fork clattered on to the floor, to be retrieved by a pained-looki
ng waiter, who provided her with a clean one.

  Leon hid amusement. ‘Take your time. I’m in no hurry.’

  ‘You are, without doubt, the most irritating man I have ever met!’

  ‘I’ll take that as a “yes”, then, shall I?’