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“And I’m sure you will,” said Susan. “I’m only sorry that Alex is considering resigning at such an important moment in the company’s history.”
Emma stopped just as she was about to get into the car and turned back to face her. “Alex is thinking of resigning?”
“I assumed you knew about it.”
“I had no idea,” said Emma. “When did he tell you this?”
“He didn’t. I just happened to see a letter on his desk tendering his resignation, which surprised me because I know how much he enjoys being on the board. But as the letter was dated August the twenty-first, perhaps he still hasn’t made up his mind.”
“I’d better have a word with him.”
“No, please don’t,” pleaded Susan. “I wasn’t meant to see the letter.”
“Then I won’t say a word. But can you remember the reason he gave?”
“I can’t recall his exact words, but there was something about his first duty being to the shareholders and that, as a matter of principle, someone had to let them know that the company could be facing bankruptcy. But now I’ve heard your speech, that doesn’t make sense.”
“When will you be seeing Alex again?”
“I hope never,” said Susan.
“Then can we keep this between ourselves?”
“Yes, please. I wouldn’t want him to find out that I’d talked to you about the letter.”
“Neither would I,” said Emma.
* * *
“Where will you be at nine a.m. on Monday the seventeenth?”
“Where you’ll find me at nine o’clock every morning, keeping an eye on the two thousand jars of fish paste as they came off the line every hour. But where would you like me to be?”
“Close to a phone, because I’ll be calling to advise you to make a substantial investment in a shipping company.”
“So your little plan is falling into place.”
“Not quite yet,” replied Cedric. “There’s still some fine-tuning to be done, and even then I’ll need to get my timing spot on.”
“If you do, will Lady Virginia be angry?”
“She’ll be absolutely livid, my darling.”
Bingham laughed. “Then I’ll be standing by the phone at one minute to nine on Monday,” he checked his diary, “the seventeenth of August.”
* * *
“Did you pick the cheapest thing on the menu because I’m paying the bill?”
“No, of course not,” said Sebastian. “Tomato soup and a lettuce leaf have always been my favorites.”
“Then let me try and guess what your second favorites might be,” said Samantha, looking up at the waiter. “We’ll both have the San Daniele with melon followed by two steaks.”
“How would you like your steak, madam?”
“Medium rare, please.”
“And you, sir?”
