The Fourth Estate

Armstrong sat down at his desk and dialed Sally’s number but no one answered. He continued to call her at least once a day, but all he got was a recorded message. At the end of the following week he ordered Fred to pay her monthly check.

“But I’ve already sent her a P45, as you instructed,” the chief accountant reminded him.

“Don’t argue with me, Fred,” said Armstrong. “Just pay it.”

In the fifth week temps began coming and going on a daily basis, some lasting only a few hours. But it was Sharon who opened the letter from Sally, to find a check torn in half and a note attached that read: “I have already been amply paid for last month’s work.”

* * *

When Keith woke the following morning, he was surprised to find Kate already in his dressing-gown, reading Mrs. Sherwood’s manuscript. She leaned across and gave him a kiss before handing over the first seven chapters. He sat up, blinked a few times, turned to the opening page and read the first sentence: “As she stepped out of the swimming pool, the bulge in his trunks started to grow.” He looked across at Kate, who said, “Keep reading. It gets steamier.”

Keith had finished about forty pages when Kate leapt out of bed and headed off toward the shower. “Don’t bother with much more,” she said. “I’ll tell you how it ends later.”

By the time she reappeared, Keith was halfway through the third chapter. He dropped the remaining pages on the floor. “What do you think?” he asked.

She walked across to the bed, pulled back the sheets and stared down at his naked body. “Judging from your reaction, either you still fancy me or I’d say we’ve got a bestseller on our hands.”

When Townsend went into breakfast about an hour later, only Kate and Mrs. Sherwood were at the table. They were deep in conversation. They stopped talking immediately he sat down. “I don’t suppose…” Mrs. Sherwood began.

“Suppose what?” asked Townsend innocently.

Kate had to turn away to avoid Mrs. Sherwood seeing the look on her face.

“That you might have dipped into my novel?”

“Dipped?” said Townsend. “I’ve read it from cover to cover. And one thing is clear, Mrs. Sherwood: no one at Schumann’s could possibly have looked at the manuscript, or they would have snapped it up immediately.”

“Oh, do you really think it’s that good?” said Mrs. Sherwood.

“I certainly do,” said Townsend. “And I can only hope, despite our unforgivably offhand response to your original submission, that you’ll still allow Schumann’s to make an offer.”

“Of course I will,” said Mrs. Sherwood enthusiastically.

“Good. However, may I suggest that this is not the place to discuss terms.”

“Of course. I quite understand, Keith,” she said. “Why don’t you join me in my cabin a little later?” She glanced at her watch. “Shall we say around 10:30?”

Townsend nodded. “That would suit me perfectly.” He rose as she folded her napkin and left the table.

“Did you learn anything new?” he asked Kate as soon as Mrs. Sherwood was out of earshot.

“Not a lot,” she said, nibbling on a piece of raisin toast. “But I don’t think she really believes you read the entire manuscript.”

“What makes you say that?” asked Townsend.

“Because she’s just told me that you had a woman in your cabin last night.”

“Did she indeed?” said Townsend. He paused. “And what else did she have to say?”

“She discussed the article in the Ocean Times in great detail, and asked me if…”

“Good morning, Townsend. Good morning, dear lady,” said the general as he took his seat. Kate gave him a broad smile and rose from her place.

“Good luck,” she said quietly.

“I’m glad to have this opportunity of a quiet word with you, Townsend. You see, the truth of the matter is that I have already written the first volume of my memoirs, and as I happen to have it with me on board, I wondered if you’d be kind enough to read it and give me your professional opinion.”

It took another twenty minutes for Townsend to escape a book he didn’t want to read, let alone publish. The general hadn’t left him much time to prepare for the meeting with Mrs. Sherwood. He returned to his cabin and went over Kate’s notes one final time before heading off for Mrs. Sherwood’s stateroom. He knocked on her door just after 10:30, and it was opened immediately.