Only Time Will Tell (The Clifton Chronicles 1)

Hugo had other things than the family's female line on his mind as the car manoeuvred its way slowly through the country lanes towards the city. Was he about to see Harry Clifton for the first time? Would he recognize him as the other son he'd wanted but would never have, or would he be left in no doubt the moment he saw the boy that he couldn't be his kinsman?

Hugo would have to be careful to avoid Clifton's mother. Would he even recognize her? He'd recently discovered that she was working as a waitress in the Palm Court room at the Royal Hotel, which he used to frequent whenever he had business meetings in the city. Now he would have to confine himself to the occasional visit in the evening, and then only if he was certain she'd left for the day.

Maisie's brother, Stan Tancock, had been released from prison after serving eighteen months of his three-year sentence. Hugo never did find out what had happened to Detective Inspector Blakemore but he never saw the man again following his father's dinner party. A young detective sergeant gave evidence at Tancock's trial, and he clearly wasn't in any doubt who the guilty party was.

Once Tancock was safely behind bars, speculation about what had happened to Arthur Clifton quickly dried up. In a business where death is commonplace, Arthur Clifton became just another statistic. However, when Lady Harvey launched the Maple Leaf six months later, Hugo couldn't help thinking that Davy Jones's Locker would have been a more appropriate name for the vessel.

When the final figures were presented to the board, Barrington's ended up showing a loss of PS13,712 on the project. Hugo didn't suggest that they tender for any more shipbuilding contracts in the future, and Sir Walter never referred to the subject again. In the years that followed, Barrington's returned to its traditional business as a shipping line, and continued to go from strength to strength.

After Stan had been carted off to the local prison, Hugo had assumed that would be the last he heard of him. But shortly before Tancock was due to be released, the deputy governor of HMP Bristol rang Miss Potts and asked for an appointment. When they met, the deputy governor pleaded with Barrington to give Tancock his old job back, otherwise he would have little hope of ever being employed again. At first, Hugo was delighted to hear this piece of news, but after giving the matter some thought, changed his mind and dispatched Phil Haskins, his chief ganger, to visit Tancock in prison and tell him he could have his job back on one condition: he was never to mention the name of Arthur Clifton again. If he did, he could collect his cards and look for work elsewhere. Tancock had accepted the offer gratefully, and as the years passed it became clear that he had kept his side of the bargain.

The Rolls-Royce drew up outside the front gate of St Bede's and the chauffeur leapt out to open the back door. Several pairs of eyes turned to look in their direction, some with admiration, others with envy.

Giles clearly didn't enjoy the attention and quickly walked away, disowning the chauffeur as well as his parents. His mother chased after him, bent down and pulled his socks up, before giving his fingernails one last inspection. Hugo spent his time looking into the faces of countless children, wondering if he would instantly recognize someone he'd never seen before.

And then he saw a boy walking up the hill, unaccompanied by a mother or father. He looked past the boy to see a woman watching him, a woman he could never forget. Both of them must have been wondering if he had one son or two reporting for their first day at St Bede's.

When Giles caught chicken pox and had to spend a few days in the sanatorium, his father realized this might be his chance to prove that Harry Clifton wasn't his son. He didn't tell Elizabeth he was going to visit Giles while he was in the san, as he didn't want her around when he asked Matron a seemingly innocuous question.

Once he'd dealt with the morning post, Hugo told Miss Potts that he would be popping into St Bede's to see his son and she shouldn't expect him back for at least a couple of hours. He drove into the city and parked outside Frobisher House. He remembered only too well where the san was, as he'd had to visit it regularly when he was at St Bede's.

Giles was sitting up in bed having his temperature taken when his father strode into the room. The boy's face lit up the moment he saw him.

Matron was standing by the bed, checking her patient's temperature. 'Down to ninety-nine. We'll have you back in time for the first lesson on Monday morning, young man,' she declared as she shook the thermometer. 'I'll leave you now, Mr Barrington, so you can spend a little time with your son.'

'Thank you, Matron,' said Hugo. 'I wonder if I might have a word with you before I leave?'

'Of course, Mr Barrington. You'll find me in my office.'

'You don't look too bad to me, Giles,' said Hugo once Matron had left the room.

'I'm fine, Papa. In fact, I was rather hoping Matron would let me out on Saturday morning so I can play football.'

'I'll have a word with her before I go.'

'Thank you, Papa.'

'So, how's the work coming along?'

'Not bad,' said Giles. 'But that's only because I share a study with the two brightest boys in my class.'

'And who are they?' asked his father, dreading the reply.

'There's Deakins, he's the cleverest boy in the school. In fact, the other boys won't even talk to him because they think he's a swot. But my best friend is Harry Clifton. He's very clever too, but not as clever as Deakins. You've probably heard him singing in the choir. I know you'll like him.'

'But isn't Clifton the son of a stevedore?' Hugo said.

'Yes, and just like Grandpa he doesn't hide the fact. But how did you know that, Papa?'

'I think Clifton used to work for the company,' Hugo said, immediately regretting his words.

'It must have been before your time, Papa,' said Giles, 'because his father was killed in the war.'

'Who told you that?' said Hugo.

'Harry's mother. She's a waitress at the Royal Hotel. We went to tea there on his birthday.'

Hugo would have liked to have asked when Clifton's birthday was, but feared it might be one question too many. Instead, he said, 'Your mother sends her love. I think she and Emma plan to visit you later this week.'

'Yuk. That's all I need,' said Giles. 'Chicken pox and a visit from my dreadful sister.'

'She's not that bad,' said his father, laughing.

'She's worse,' said Giles. 'And Grace doesn't look as if she's going to be any better. Do they have to come on holiday with us, Papa?'

'Yes, of course they do.'

'I was wondering if Harry Clifton could join us in Tuscany this summer. He's never been abroad.'

'No,' said Hugo a little too firmly. 'Holidays are strictly for the family, not to be shared with strangers.'

'But he's not a stranger,' said Giles. 'He's my best friend.'

'No,' Hugo repeated, 'and that's an end of the matter.' Giles looked disappointed. 'So what would you like for your birthday, my boy?' Hugo asked, quickly changing the subject.

'The latest radio,' said Giles without hesitation. 'It's called a Roberts Reliable.'

'Are you allowed to have radios at school?'