Be Careful What You Wish For (The Clifton Chronicles 4)

“I thought you said it was casual tonight.”

“For the chairman, it’s never casual,” she said as they heard a knock.

“Of course it isn’t,” said Harry. He walked across to open the door and was greeted by the senior steward.

“Good evening, sir. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother has sent flowers for the chairman,” said Braithwaite, as if it happened every day.

“Lilies no doubt,” said Harry.

“How did you know that?” asked Emma as a heavily built young man entered the room carrying a large vase of lilies.

“The first flowers the Duke of York gave her, long before she became Queen.”

“Would you put them on the table in the center of the cabin,” Emma said to the young man as she looked at the card that had come with the flowers. She was about to thank him, but he’d already left.

“What does the card say?” asked Harry.

“‘Thank you for a memorable day in Bristol. I do hope my second home has a successful maiden voyage.’”

“What an old pro,” said Harry.

“Very thoughtful of her,” said Emma. “I don’t suppose the flowers will last much beyond New York, Braithwaite, but I’d like to keep the vase. A sort of keepsake.”

“I could replace the lilies while you’re ashore in New York, chairman.”

“That’s very thoughtful of you, Braithwaite. Thank you.”

* * *

“Emma tells me you want to be the next chairman of the board,” said Giles, taking a seat at the bar.

“Which board did she have in mind?” asked Sebastian.

“I presumed Barrington’s.”

“No, I think Mother still has a few gallons left in the tank. But if she asked me, I might consider joining the board.”

“That’s most considerate of you,” said Giles as the barman placed a whiskey and soda in front of him.

“No, I’m more interested in Farthings.”

“Don’t you think twenty-four is perhaps a little young to be chairman of a bank?”

“You’re probably right, which is why I’m trying to persuade Mr. Hardcastle not to retire before he’s seventy.”

“But you’d still only be twenty-nine.”

“That’s four years older than you were when you first entered Parliament.”

“True, but I didn’t become a minister until I was forty-four.”

“Only because you joined the wrong party.”

Giles laughed. “Perhaps you’ll end up in the House one day, Seb?”

“If I do, Uncle Giles, you’ll have to look across the floor if you hope to see me, because I’ll be sitting on the benches opposite. And in any case, I intend to make my fortune before I consider climbing that particular greasy pole.”

“And who is this beautiful creature?” asked Giles, climbing off his stool as Sam joined them.