As the Crow Flies

“I need to talk to you urgently but it’s not something I feel I can discuss over the telephone,” she explained.

“I understand,” said the colonel, who paused for a moment before adding, “If you’re free why don’t

you join me for lunch at the In and Out? I’ll just change my booking to the Ladies’ Room.”

Daphne accepted the offer gratefully, and once she had checked her makeup Hoskins drove her to Piccadilly, arriving at the Naval and Military a few minutes after one.

The colonel was standing in the entrance hall waiting to greet her. “This is a pleasant surprise,” said Sir Danvers. “It’s not every day I’m seen lunching with a beautiful young woman. It will do my reputation at the club no end of good. I shall wave at every brigadier and general I come across.”

The fact that Daphne didn’t laugh at the colonel’s little aside brought about an immediate change in his demeanor. He took his guest gently by the arm and guided her through to the ladies’ luncheon room. Once he had written out their order and handed it to a waitress, Daphne removed Guy’s letter from her bag and without another word passed it over to her host.

The colonel fixed the monocle to his good eye and began to read, occasionally looking up at Daphne, only to observe that she hadn’t touched the Brown Windsor soup that had been placed in front of her.

“Rum business this,” he said, as he placed the letter in its envelope and handed it back to Daphne.

“I agree, but what do you suggest I do?”

“Well, one thing’s for certain, my dear, you can’t discuss the contents with Charlie or Becky. I also don’t see how you can avoid letting Trentham know that should the question of who fathered the child be put to you directly you would feel beholden to tell the truth.” He paused and took a sip of his soup. “I swear I’ll never speak to Mrs. Trentham again as long as I live,” he added without explanation.

Daphne was taken aback by this remark; until that moment she had not been aware that he had ever come across the woman.

“Perhaps we should use our combined efforts to come up with a suitable reply, my dear?” the colonel suggested after some further thought. He broke off to allow a waitress to serve up two helpings of the club’s dish of the day.

“If you felt able to help, I would be eternally grateful,” said Daphne nervously. “But first I think I ought to tell you everything I know.”

The colonel nodded.

“As I’m sure you’re only too aware it is I who am to blame for the two of them meeting in the first place…”

By the time Daphne had come to the end of her story the colonel’s plate was empty.

“I knew most of that already,” he admitted as he touched his lips with a napkin. “But you still managed to fill in one or two important gaps for me. I confess I had no idea Trentham was that much of a bounder. Looking back on it, I should have insisted on further collaboration before I agreed to allow his name being put forward for an MC.” He rose. “Now, if you’ll be good enough to amuse yourself for a few minutes by reading a magazine in the coffee room, I’ll see what I can come up with as a first draft.”

“I’m sorry to be such a nuisance,” said Daphne.

“Don’t be silly. I’m flattered that you consider me worthy of your confidence.” The colonel stood up and strode off into the writing room.

He didn’t reappear for nearly an hour, by which time Daphne was rereading advertisements for nannies in the Lady.

She hastily dropped the magazine back on the table and sat bolt upright in her chair. The colonel handed over the results of his labors, which Daphne studied for several minutes before speaking.

“God knows what Guy would do if I were to write such a letter,” she said at last.

“He’ll resign his commission, my dear, it’s as simple as that. And none too soon, in my opinion.” The colonel frowned. “It’s high time Trentham was made aware of the consequences of his misdeeds, not least because of the responsibilities he still has to Becky and the child.”

“But now that she’s happily married that’s hardly fair to Charlie,” Daphne pleaded.

“Have you seen Daniel lately?” asked the colonel, lowering his voice.

“A few months ago, why?”

“Then you’d better take another look, because there aren’t many Trumpers, or Salmons for that matter, who have blond hair, a Roman nose and deep blue eyes. I fear the more obvious replicas are to be found in Ashurst, Berkshire. In any case, Becky and Charlie will eventually have to tell the child the truth or they’ll only store up more trouble for themselves at some later date. Send the letter,” he said, tapping his fingers on the side table, “that’s my advice.”

Once Daphne had returned home to Lowndes Square she went straight up to her room. She sat down at her writing desk and, pausing only for a moment, began to copy out the colonel’s words.

When she had completed her task Daphne reread the one paragraph of the colonel’s deliberations that she had left out and prayed that his gloomy prognosis would not prove to be accurate.

Once she had completed her own version she tore up the colonel’s transcript and rang for Wentworth.