Private Lives

‘It’s where alliances are formed. People come down to mix with like-minded other people. Achievers. And of course they come to have fun.’

‘I’m looking forw

ard to it.’

She didn’t have to wait long. The house was on the fringes of Buckinghamshire, which was just over an hour out of the city. The taxi swung through a pair of gateposts, each topped with a rampant stag, then into parkland dotted with ancient oak and beech and finally up a long drive leading to a white mansion with long gabled windows.

‘It’s beautiful,’ she said, as the cab pulled up and they clambered out. ‘How often do you come here?’

Johnny threw his arm around her and laughed.

‘I knew it!’ he said triumphantly. ‘You’ve only just got here and already you want to come back. Well, if you fit in here as well as I anticipate, I should think we’ll be back before too long. I do hope so; it’s not often I meet someone as intelligent as you, darling.’

He offered the girls an arm each and they walked towards the imposing iron-studded door.

‘So what’s the occasion tonight?’

‘Because it’s summer, my dear,’ said Johnny, gesturing flamboyantly. ‘Because the flowers are in bloom and the bees are making honey.’ He pulled her closer and chuckled. ‘Well, that and the bank holiday, of course.’

There were some serious-looking security guards flanking the house’s wide stone doorway, but they barely looked at Anna or her mute European counterpart clinging to Johnny’s other arm. The three of them stepped into the entrance, a warm, open hall with stairs to one side and a large fireplace in the centre, tonight filled with an extravagant flower display rather than crackling logs. With the well-heeled, well-dressed people laughing and chatting among uniformed wine waiters carrying trays of champagne, it immediately appeared to be just like any other country house party.

‘Come this way, ladies,’ said Johnny. ‘Time to meet the host.’ James Swann was not at all what Anna had been expecting. In his early sixties, but still handsome, he was tall and regal, with swept-back black hair the colour of liquorice. Anna immediately thought of the old Hammer vampire movies her dad loved, and suppressed a smile.

‘James Swann, may I introduce my two newest and loveliest aquaintances, Tanika and Natasha.’

Swann gave a slight bow and bent to kiss their hands, almost sending Anna into a fit of nervous giggles. He’ll be turning into a bat next, she thought.

‘Please, ladies, make yourselves at home, treat my house as you would your own. Nothing is out of bounds to my friends. Johnny, show them around.’

They walked into the drawing room. Piano, tasteful furniture. A bar at one end. Girls draped over red-faced men.

‘Those are my regular girls,’ said Johnny. ‘They know what makes a party go with a bang, if you follow, so they get invited back.’

‘You say some of these men are married,’ said Anna casually.

Johnny nodded. ‘A few of the wives even attend.’ He grinned. ‘I could introduce you to some couples . . .’

She picked up his coded meaning.

‘Let’s get a drink first, shall we?’

‘Very wise. But first, Tanika, why don’t you go and say hello to that nice old gentleman over there?’ he said, pointing to a rotund man in a double-breasted suit. ‘I believe his grandfather had significant business interests in your mother country, so you should have plenty to talk about.’ The girl dutifully walked off.

‘I just need to freshen up in the bathroom.’ Anna smiled.

Johnny nodded his approval. She found a downstairs loo and phoned the local taxi firm. ‘Have a car waiting for “Natasha” at the Swann house,’ she instructed. ‘I’ve no idea how long I’ll be. But be there as soon as you can, and wait. Tell security at the gates that you’re picking up a guest of Johnny Maxwell.’

She returned to Johnny.

‘Beautiful, darling,’ he purred. ‘Right then,’ he continued, leading Anna to the bar and perching on a high stool that gave him a view of the whole room. ‘Let me see if I can give you a run-down.’

He pointed to a sandy-haired man in a blazer.

‘Charles Butler-Cash, very well connected in the City, beautiful place out in Barbados, very good skier.’

‘And is he single?’

‘Course not. It’s the old golden handcuffs, you see? If any of these men got un-married, it would cost them tens of millions. That’s why they come here. They’re not after anything permanent, but like you and me, they want some fun.’