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“And your first choice?”
“Bingham’s.”
“Bingham’s of Bond Street?”
“No, Bingham’s of Grimsby.”
“And what is Bingham’s famous for? Diamonds? Furs? Perfume?” she asked hopefully.
“Fish paste.”
“One or two jars?”
“One to start with, as I still need to see how this relationship develops.”
“I suppose that’s about as much as an out-of-work shop girl can hope for,” said Samantha, as she climbed out of bed. “And to think I dreamed of being a kept woman.”
“That comes later when I become chairman of the bank,” Sebastian said, following her into the bathroom.
“I may not be willing to wait that long,” said Samantha as she stepped into the shower. She was about to draw the curtain when Sebastian joined her.
“There isn’t enough room in here for both of us,” she said.
“Have you ever made love in a shower?”
“Wait and see.”
* * *
“Major, it was good of you to find the time to come and see me.”
“Not at all, Hardcastle. I was in London on business, so it’s worked out rather well.”
“Can I get you some coffee, old fellow?”
“Black, no sugar, thank you,” Fisher said as he took a seat on the other side of the chairman’s desk.
Cedric pressed a button on his phone. “Miss Clough, two black coffees, no sugar, and perhaps some biscuits. Exciting times, don’t you think, Fisher?”
“What in particular did you have in mind?”
“The naming of the Buckingham by the Queen Mother next month, of course, and a maiden voyage which should take the company into a whole new era.”
“Let’s hope so,” said Fisher. “Although there are still several hurdles to cross before I’ll be totally convinced.”
“Which is precisely why I wanted to have a word with you, old fellow.”
There was a quiet tap on the door, and Miss Clough entered carrying a tray with two cups of coffee. She placed one in front of the major, the other next to the chairman and a plate of fat rascals between them.
“Let me say straight away how sorry I was that Mr. Martinez decided to sell his entire shareholding in Barrington’s. I wondered if you were able to throw some light on what was behind the decision.”
Fisher dropped his cup back in its saucer, spilling a few drops. “I had no idea,” he mumbled.
“I’m so sorry, Alex, I rather assumed he would have briefed you before he took such an irreversible decision.”
“When did this happen?”
“Yesterday morning, moments after the Stock Exchange opened, which is why I gave you a buzz.” Fisher looked like a startled fox caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. “You see, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.” Fisher remained speechless, which allowed Cedric to prolong his agony a little longer. “I’ll be sixty-five in October, and although I have no plans to retire as chairman of the bank, I do intend to shed a few of my outside interests, among them my directorship of Barrington’s.” Fisher forgot about his coffee and listened intently to Cedric’s every word. “With that in mind, I’ve decided to resign from the board, and make way for a younger man.”
