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“Dicky.”
“Nice.”
“I’ll tell him you said so.”
“I’d rather you tell your adorable American wife to cease and desist.” Olivia shook her head slowly. “Honestly, I can’t imagine why she would stoop to something so low.”
“She’s a bit jealous, that’s all.”
“If anyone has a right to be jealous, it’s me. After all, Sarah’s the one who ended up with you.”
“Come now, Olivia. You don’t really mean that. I was just a comfortable place for you to lay your head while you found your footing here in London. Now you’re dating a pop star and your gallery is all the rage.”
“All because of our mutual friend?”
Christopher made no reply.
“I thought he retired,” said Olivia.
“It’s a private matter involving a man named Phillip Somerset.”
“ThePhillip Somerset?”
“Friend of yours?”
“I sat next to Phillip and his wife at Christie’s postwar and contemporary evening sale in New York a couple of years ago. The wife did some modeling before she hit the jackpot with Phillip. Laura is her name. Or is it Linda?”
“Lindsay.”
“Yes, that’s it. She’s quite young and unspeakably stupid. Phillip struck me as a real operator. He asked whether I wanted to invest in his fund. I told him I wasn’t in his league.”
“Wise move on your part.”
“Is there a problem?”
“Phillip is a bit like your old boyfriend. Shiny on the outside, dirty underneath. What’s more, there’s a rumor going around New York that his finances are rather shaky.”
“Another rumor?”
“This one happens to be true. Our mutual friend would like you to whisper it into the ear of a prominent London art adviser whose client list includes some of the richest collectors in the world.”
“How do you want me to play it?”
“A casual aside over an otherwise pleasant and businesslike lunch.”
“When?”
“Today.”
She glanced at her watch. “But it’s nearly eleven. Surely Nicky has a lunch date already.”
“Something tells me he’ll break it.”
Olivia reached for her mobile. “I’ll do it on one condition.”
“I’ll have a word with her,” said Christopher.
“Thank you.” Olivia dialed and raised the phone to her ear. “Hello, Nicky. It’s Olivia Watson calling. I know it’s terribly short notice, but I was wondering whether you happened to be free for lunch today... The Wolseley at one? See you then, Nicky.”
