“As long as we all stick to the party line, he says we’re home and dry.”
“And he doesn’t think it’s likely they’ll call me?”
“He’d be surprised if they did. But I do feel,” continued Virginia, “that if, as Sir Edward suggested, I’m likely to be awarded fifty thousand, we should split it down the middle. I’ve asked my lawyers to draw up an agreement to that effect.”
“That’s most generous, Virginia.”
“No more than you deserve, Alex.”
32
SEBASTIAN WAS sitting in the bath when the phone rang. Only one person would have considered calling him at that hour in the morning. Should he jump out of the bath and run into the hall, leaving a small stream in his wake, or should he get on with washing himself, as his mother was sure to call again in a few minutes’ time? He stayed put.
He was right, the phone went again while he was in the middle of shaving. This time he walked out into the hall and picked up the receiver. “Good morning, Mother,” he said, before she’d had a chance to speak.
“Sorry to call you so early, Seb, but I need your advice. How do you think I should vote when Desmond Mellor stands for deputy chairman?”
“I haven’t changed my mind since we discussed this subject last night, mother. If you vote against Mellor and he wins, that will undermine your position. If you abstain and the vote’s tied, you’ll still have the casting vote. But if you vote for him—”
“I would never do that.”
“Then you have two choices. Personally I’d vote against, so that he if loses he’ll have no choice but to resign. By the way, Ross Buchanan doesn’t agree with me. He thinks you should abstain and keep your options open. But I don’t have to remind you what happened the last time you did that, when Fisher stood for chairman.”
“It’s different this time. Mellor’s given me his word that he won’t vote for himself.”
“In writing?”
“No,” admitted Emma.
“Then it’s not a word I’d rely on.”
“Yes, but if I—”
“Mum, if I don’t finish shaving, you won’t even get my vote.”
“Yes, sorry. I’ll think about what you said. See you at the board meeting.”
Seb smiled as he put the phone down. What a complete waste of time that was when he knew she’d already decided to abstain. He checked his watch. Just enough time to grab a bowl of muesli and boil himself an egg.
* * *
“What did he say?” asked Harry as he passed his wife a cup of tea.
“He said I should vote against, but that Ross thinks I should abstain. So I’m none the wiser.”
“But only last night you told me you were confident of winning.”
“By six votes to four, even if I abstain.”
“Then I think you should abstain.”
“Why?”
“Because I agree with Ross. If you vote against Mellor and lose, it would make your position untenable. However, I’m beginning to think I should postpone my trip to Leningrad until we know the outcome.”
“But if you don’t go today,” said Emma, “you’ll have to wait at least six months before you can get another visa. Whereas if you go now, you’ll be back well in time for the trial.”
“But if you were to lose the vote today…”