Barbara Taylor Bradford – The Complete Ravenscar Trilogy: The Ravenscar Dynasty, Heirs of Ravenscar, Being Elizabeth (страница 33)

‘That’s absolutely true about the travelling,’ Alfredo said. ‘And that was one of the complaints Mr Richard had about him. Masters has long ignored our mining interests abroad, has never gone to India, South Africa or South America, and he’s only once been to Carrara. Somehow, Masters has always managed to shove those field trips onto his underlings. I’ve long doubted his ability, and most people are at odds with him. As for the peculiar diet, I don’t know anything about that, and I don’t think it really matters.’ Shaking his head, Alfredo finished, ‘Everyone believes as I do, that he’s in that job because he’s the cousin of Henry Grant.’

‘My father said the same,’ Edward murmured, and glanced at Neville, laughed hollowly. ‘It’s a pity Aubrey Masters is in such good health.’

‘Isn’t it just,’ Neville responded, with a cold smile. ‘But please, don’t bring up that famous old phrase…who will rid me of this turbulent priest? Or whatever it was. We don’t need murder in the cathedral at this moment.’

‘Too true, Cousin. Let us not turn Masters into a martyr like Thomas à Becket.’

Alfredo changed the subject. ‘Earlier you asked me how long I would be in London, Mr Edward. I have another week of working at the head office, but I can stretch it to two weeks if you wish. I have a great deal to do on the situation in Carrara, and there are decisions to be made, so it could take longer.’

‘Do you think Masters will agree to your suggestion of purchasing new quarries?’

‘It’s a decision for the board. However, I believe they will listen to me. The old quarries are almost depleted. We must buy new ones to stay in business. What I think—’

Neville interrupted when he exclaimed, ‘I think you must try and stay here as long as you can, Oliveri. We need you to gather as much information as possible, since you’re our only inside man with access to everyone. You’re invaluable, you know, having been so long at Deravenels, and because you are so well trusted. And there is another reason…it allows me to breathe easier, knowing you are with Edward on a constant basis.’

Nodding, Alfredo answered, ‘I know, and I will do my best to extend my visit. I’m as anxious as you to know what they’re planning, and I agree, it’s good for me to be able to keep an eye on Mr Edward.’

Focusing on Neville, Amos said in a firm voice, ‘Mr Watkins, I know you worry about your cousin, but in my opinion I think Mr Deravenel is perfectly safe, sir. I doubt that John Summers will do anything to hurt him, or have him hurt by others. There’s been excessive gossip about the fire in Italy and the family losses. After all, your father and Mr Richard Deravenel were well-known figures in the business world. Summers is far too canny, too astute to do anything rash, he wouldn’t want to attract attention to himself or to the Grants. Not after the fire in Carrara. Nor would he want to stir up old animosities…The Grants are not particularly popular in the City. Some old hands haven’t forgotten about Henry Grant’s marauding grandfather.’

Something struck Edward, and he murmured, ‘That’s another thing, why not get some propaganda going about that old story? It won’t do us any harm to paint the Grants black, you know. Actually, it would gain us even more sympathy if we remind people about those events, don’t you think, Finnister?’

‘I do indeed, sir. I’ll get my chaps on to it at once.’

For the next hour the four men remained seated at the dining table, discussing their plans. And as the afternoon drew on they became confident of their success and of their ultimate triumph over their enemies.

EIGHTEEN

‘I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to attend the lunch yesterday,’ Will Hasling said, his gaze fixed on Edward, who was sitting opposite him in the hansom cab. ‘As I explained to you, I had to be in Leicestershire to meet with the family solicitors. About the legacy my aunt left me.’

‘So you said,’ Edward replied, then added, ‘I hope it was a decent inheritance.’

Will laughed. ‘Very decent indeed, Ned. Really generous. I was her only nephew, and as I told you, she never married, so there were no children. I was her sole heir. Anyway, I couldn’t get back to London until last night. How was the lunch with Neville and Oliveri?’

‘It went very well,’ Edward responded. ‘I was very impressed with this man Amos Finnister. He’s the private investigator Neville is using. I think he’s going to prove invaluable to us. He’s already dug up a lot of dirt, and, most importantly, he discovered that Henry Grant was incarcerated in two insane asylums. Finnister’s convinced Grant is actually insane.’

‘Good God!’ Will exclaimed, sitting up straighter, his amazement written across his startled face. ‘That is interesting news, and certainly it works in our favour.’

‘Yes, it does. Finnister has to make an attempt to get the medical records, because, as Oliveri pointed out, the board of Deravenels will only be convinced of his insanity by such records. They’ll want proof in order to believe.’

‘If then,’ Will muttered, ‘you know the place is riddled with his friends. They’ll defend him any way they can, do whatever it takes to keep him in power.’

‘Maybe they won’t be able to do that,’ Edward answered, and in a low, rapid voice began to tell Will about the lunch, and everything that had been said. And ultimately agreed upon.

Once Ned had finished speaking, Will sat back against the seat, looking thoughtful for a few moments, and then he shook his head. ‘Certainly this Amos Finnister chap has handed you a number of lethal weapons…such as the possibility to blackmail, circulate bad propaganda, those kind of things, but stealing the records might not be quite so easy.’

‘Neville assured me that if anyone can do it, it’s Finnister. Or rather, some of the men he employs. I get the impression they’re professional thieves.’

‘Well I certainly trust Neville’s judgement. By the way, have you told him I would like to work at Deravenels, once you’ve taken over?’

Edward began to laugh. ‘Another confident soul, I see, not even questioning the outcome. And yes, I have told him, and he was delighted. He even wondered aloud if you would consider working for him at the moment, until you could join me, and I said I would ask you.’

‘Neville wants me to work for him? Good God! But look here, Ned, what would I do?’ Will Hasling’s expression was one of total puzzlement.

‘Chiefly, you would be…my boon companion,’ Edward explained. ‘Except you wouldn’t be able to accompany me to work, to Deravenels. However, he does want you to be with me at all other times. He’s got a bee in his bonnet about my safety, even though Amos Finnister assured him they wouldn’t dare make a move against me, physically that is, at the moment. Finnister says that the fire in Carrara and those terrible deaths have brought attention to the Grants. There’s a lot of gossip going around about the tragedy, and about the Grants, too. Look, Will, Neville feels I shouldn’t be wandering around town alone, and he thinks you’re the best person to be at my side.

‘But he doesn’t have to employ me to do that, Ned! Surely he understands about our friendship.’

‘Of course he does. I suppose he wanted to put you on his payroll because he thinks you have to earn a living—’

‘That’s no longer necessary, because of the money my aunt has left me. It’s not a great fortune, Ned, but it’s enough to keep me quite comfortably, and my father still gives me a small allowance.’

Edward nodded, and said swiftly, ‘I hope you’re not offended by his offer of money.’

‘Don’t be silly, and the answer by the way is yes. I will certainly be your boon companion—that’s not work, it’s total pleasure.’

Both young men laughed, and then Will’s face changed, became solemn when he said in a serious voice, ‘Rest assured that I will protect you. With my life. And always. Because like Neville, I believe the Grants will eventually try to get you in some way. And I don’t want my best friend dead…I want him alive.’

Edward nodded, gave Will a somewhat wry smile. ‘And your friend wants to stay alive, I can assure you of that.’ There was a moment’s pause before Ned continued, ‘I’m certainly glad my mother decided to come to London, I’ve worried about them, especially the children. I’ll be much happier having them at Charles Street with me. Even though it is perfectly safe at Ravenscar. It’s well protected by its location, and the locals are devoted to us. Still, I have been concerned about them being there without me.’

‘That I understand, Ned, and you never know in life.’ Will sighed. ‘You just never know what might happen.’ He looked out of the window for a second, and then bringing his steady gaze back to Edward, he asked, ‘Do you think your mother was afraid there? Is that why she’s coming back to town today? Do you think she considered herself vulnerable at Ravenscar?’

‘No, I don’t, in all honesty. I know she’s always felt safe there, but from what she said on the telephone, last night, she became lonely in Yorkshire without my father. Also, she had previously engaged John Pennington to tutor the boys, and Perdita Willis to act as Meg’s governess for the next few months. For those reasons she wanted to return to London. Mind you, Will, she did say they have all missed me.’