‘You make me feel quite guilty,’ said Giles.
‘I would hope so, Giles. But then I joined the Labour Party long before you did.’
‘That still leaves another couple of million to be accounted for,’ said Emma.
‘I know it’s out of character, but I went on a shopping spree with Jessica.’
‘My God, what did she spend it on?’ asked Emma. ‘Diamonds and handbags?’
‘Certainly not,’ said Grace with some feeling. ‘A Monet, a Manet, two Picassos, a Pissarro and a Lucian Freud, who she assures me is the coming man, as well as a Bacon of a Screaming Pope I wouldn’t want to hear deliver a sermon. Plus a Henry Moore maquette entitled King and Queen, which I’ve long admired, along with a Barbara Hepworth and a Leon Underwood. However, I refused to buy an Eric Gill, after I was told that he’d slept with his daughters. It didn’t seem to worry Jessica — you can’t deny real talent, she kept reminding me — but I put my foot down. My final purchase was the artwork for a Beatles record cover by Peter Blake, which I gave to Jessica as a reward for her knowledge and expertise. She knew exactly which galleries to visit, and bargained with the dealers like an East End barrow boy. I wasn’t sure whether to be proud or ashamed of her. And I must confess, I hadn’t realized spending money could be quite so exhausting.’
Emma and Giles burst out laughing. ‘You put us both to shame,’ said Emma. ‘I can’t wait to see the collection. But where will you display it?’
‘I think I’ve found an ideal house in Trumpington with enough wall space to hang all the paintings, and a large enough garden for the statues to be well displayed. So in future, it will be my turn to invite you to stay for the weekend. I haven’t closed the deal yet, but I’ve set Sebastian on to the poor estate agents and left him to settle the price. Although I can’t believe he’ll do any better than Jessica — she’s convinced that my art collection will turn out to be a more lucrative investment than stocks and shares, which she reminded her father you can’t hang on a wall. He tried to explain to her the difference between “appreciation” and “appreciate”, but he got nowhere.’
‘Bravo,’ said Emma. ‘I only hope there’s the odd Monet left over for me, because I’d also intended to ask Jessica’s advice, although to tell you the truth I still haven’t decided what to do with my windfall. I’ve had three meetings with Hakim Bishara and Seb, but I’m no nearer to making up my mind. Having lost one chairmanship, I’ve been concentrating on the government’s new NHS reform package and its consequences for the Royal Infirmary.’
‘That bill will never see the light of day if Margaret Thatcher wins the election,’ said Giles.
‘Amen to that,’ said Emma. ‘But it remains my responsibility to prepare my fellow board members for the consequences should Labour be returned to power. I don’t intend to leave my successor, whoever he or she may be, to pick up the pieces.’ She paused, before adding, ‘Any other business?’
From under the table Giles produced magnificent models of the Buckingham and the Balmoral, along with a bottle of champagne. ‘My dearest Emma,’ he said, ‘Grace and I will be forever in your debt. Without your leadership, dedication and commitment, we would not be in the privileged position we now find ourselves. We will be eternally grateful.’
Three tumblers that normally held water were filled to the brim with champagne by Giles, but Emma couldn’t take her eyes off the two model ships.
‘Thank you,’ she said as they raised their glasses. ‘But I confess I’ve enjoyed every moment and I’m already missing being chairman. I also have a surprise for you. Cunard have asked me to join their board, so I too would like to make a toast.’ She rose from her place, and raised her glass.
‘To Joshua Barrington, who founded the Barrington Shipping Line in 1839, and made a profit of thirty-three pounds, four shillings and tuppence in his first year as chairman, but promised the shareholders more.’
Giles and Grace raised their glasses.
‘To Joshua Barrington.’
‘Perhaps the time has come for us to celebrate the recent birth of my great-nephew, Jake,’ said Giles, ‘who Seb hopes will be the next chairman but one of Farthings Bank.’
‘Would it be too much to hope that Jake might consider doing something more worthwhile than being a banker?’ said Grace.
5
‘How good was your source?’
‘Unimpeachable. And he wrote down what he overheard, word for word.’
‘Well, I can’t pretend, chairman,’ admitted Matron, ‘that I haven’t heard rumours of this kind before, but never anything that could be substantiated. The one nurse who did make an official complaint resigned a week later.’
‘What options do we have?’ asked Emma.
‘Do you know anything about the nurse, other than the conversation that was overheard?’
‘I can tell you that the alleged assault took place in the laundry room on the third floor.’
‘That might cut it down to half a dozen nurses.’
‘And she’d been on ward rounds with Dr Hands earlier that morning.’
‘When was that?’
‘Yesterday.’
‘Then we’re probably down to two or three nurses at most.’
‘And she was West Indian.’
‘Ah,’ said Matron. ‘I wondered why Beverley had a black eye, and now I know. But she’d have to make an official complaint for us to consider opening an ethics enquiry.’
‘How long would that take?’
‘Six to nine months, and even then, as there were clearly no witnesses, I wouldn’t give you much of a chance.’
‘So it’s back to square one and Dr Hands can continue on his merry way while we do nothing about it.’
‘I’m afraid so, chairman, unless...’
‘Many congratulations on the successful takeover,’ said Margaret Thatcher when Emma came on the line, ‘although I can’t imagine it was an easy decision.’
‘I was torn in half,’ admitted Emma. ‘But the board, my family and all our professional advisors were unanimous in advising me to accept Cunard’s offer.’
‘So how are you filling your time, now you’re no longer chairman of Barrington’s?’
‘I still have a few more months before I hand over the chairmanship of the Royal Infirmary, but after last night’s vote of no confidence in the government, it looks as if I’ll be spending most of my time running around the West Country trying to make sure you end up in Downing Street.’
‘I’d rather you were running around the whole country doing the same job,’ said Mrs Thatcher.
‘I’m not sure I understand.’
‘If you switch on your television, you’ll see the Prime Minister being driven into Buckingham Palace for an appointment with the Queen. Mr Callaghan will be seeking her permission to prorogue Parliament so he can call a general election.’
‘Has a date been fixed?’
‘Thursday May the third. And I want you to take on your brother head-on.’
‘What do you have in mind?’
‘As you probably know, he’s once again in charge of Labour’s marginal-seats campaign. Those fifty or sixty key constituencies that will determine the outcome of the election. I think you’d be the ideal person to do the same job for the Tory party.’
‘But Giles has vast experience of election campaigns. He’s a consummate politician—’