Best Kept Secret (The Clifton Chronicles 3)

'Then start at the beginning and take me through every detail, however insignificant it might seem.'

'It all began when the three of us were at St Bede's prep school, and Barrington made friends with the docker's son.'

'Harry Clifton,' said Virginia, spitting out the words.

'Barrington should have been expelled from St Bede's.'

'Why?' asked Virginia.

'He was caught stealing from the tuck shop, but he got away with it.'

'How did he manage that?'

'His father, Sir Hugo, another criminal, wrote out a cheque for a thousand pounds, which made it possible for the school to build a new cricket pavilion. So the headmaster turned a blind eye, which made it possible for Barrington to go to Oxford.'

'Did you also go up to Oxford?'

'No, I joined the army. But our paths crossed again in Tobruk while we were serving in the same regiment.'

'Which is where he made a name for himself, winning the Military Cross and later escaping from a prisoner-of-war camp?'

'It should have been my MC,' said Fisher, his eyes narrowing. 'I was his commanding officer at the time and responsible for leading an attack on an enemy battery. After I sent the Germans packing, the colonel put me up for an MC, but Corporal Bates, a friend of Barrington's, refused to endorse my citation, so I was downgraded to mentioned in dispatches, and Barrington ended up getting my MC.'

This wasn't Giles's version of what had taken place that day, but Virginia knew which one she wanted to believe. 'Have you come across him since?'

'No. I stayed in the army, but once I realized he'd scuppered my chance of getting any further promotion, I took early retirement.'

'So what do you do now, major?'

'I'm a stockbroker by profession, as well as being on the board of Bristol Grammar School. I'm also on the executive committee of the local Conservative Association. I joined the party so I could play a role in making sure Barrington doesn't win at the next election.'

'Well, I'm going to make sure you play a leading role,' said Virginia, 'because the one thing that man cares most about is holding on to his seat in the House of Commons. He's convinced that if Labour wins the next election, Attlee will offer him a place in the Cabinet.'

'Over my dead body.'

'I don't think we'll have to go that far. After all, if he were to lose his seat at the next election, there's not much chance they'll readopt him, and that would probably mean the end of his political career.'

'Amen to that,' said Fisher. 'But I have to point out that although he doesn't have a large majority, he's still very popular in the constituency.'

'I wonder how popular he'll be after I've sued him for adultery.'

'He's already prepared the ground for that, telling everyone he had to go through a charade in Brighton to protect your reputation. He's even campaigning to have the divorce laws changed.'

'But how would his constituents react if they discovered that for the past year he's been having an affair with a student in Cambridge?'

'Once your divorce has gone through, no one will give a damn.'

'But if it hasn't been settled and I let it be known that I'm trying desperately for a reconciliation . . .'

'That would change the situation completely,' said Fisher. 'And you can rely on me to make sure that news of your sad predicament reaches the right ears.'

'Good. Now, it would help our long-term aims considerably if you were to become chairman of the Bristol Docklands Conservative Association.'

'I'd like nothing more. The only problem is that I can't afford to spend that amount of time on politics, while I have to earn a living.' Fisher tried not to sound embarrassed.

'You won't have to worry about that once you've joined the board of the Barrington Shipping group.'

'There's not much hope of that ever happening. Barrington would veto the appointment the moment my name was proposed.'

'He can't veto anything as long as I own seven and a half per cent of the company's stock.'

'I'm not sure I understand.'

'Then allow me to explain, major. For the past six months, I've been purchasing Barrington's shares through a blind trust, and I now own seven and a half per cent of the company. If you check their bylaws, you'll find that allows me to appoint a member of the board, and I can't think of anyone better qualified to represent me, major.'

'How do I begin to thank you?'

'It's very simple. In the short term you will devote your time to becoming chairman of the local Conservative Association. Once you've achieved that, your sole purpose will be to make sure the voters of Bristol Docklands remove their Member of Parliament at the next election.'

'And in the long term?'

'I have an idea that may tickle your fancy. But we can't even consider that until you become chairman of the association.'

'Then I'd better get back to Bristol and start working on it immediately. But before I do, there's something I'd like to ask you.'

'Of course,' said Virginia, 'ask me anything. After all, we're partners now.'

'Why did you choose me for this job?'

'Oh, that's simple, major. Giles once told me you were the only man he's ever detested.'

'Gentlemen,' said Bill Hawkins, the chairman of the Conservative Association as he tapped his gavel on the table, 'if I might call the meeting to order. Perhaps I could begin by asking our honorary secretary, Major Fisher, to read the minutes of the last meeting.'

'Thank you, Mr Chairman. At the last meeting, held on the fourteenth of June 1954, the committee instructed me to write to Central Office in London and request a list of candidates who might be considered to represent the party in this constituency at the next general election. The official candidates list arrived a few days later, and I circulated a copy to members so they could consider the applicants at this evening's meeting.

'It was agreed that the summer fete would be held at Castle Combe this year, by kind permission of the Hon. Mrs Hartley-Booth JP. There followed a discussion on the price of raffle tickets, and a vote was taken, after which it was agreed they should be sixpence each, and six for half a crown. The treasurer, Mr Maynard, then reported that the association's bank account was in credit to the tune of forty-seven pounds and twelve shillings. He said he had written a follow-up letter to all those members who had not yet paid their annual subscription. There being no other business, the meeting was closed at twelve minutes past ten.'

'Thank you, major,' said the chairman. 'Now let us move on to item two, namely the list of candidates recommended by Central Office. You have all had several days to consider the names, so I will throw the meeting open for a general discussion before we shortlist those candidates you feel should be invited for an interview.'

Fisher had already shown the list of candidates to Lady Virginia, and they had agreed on the person they thought would best serve their long-term purpose. Fisher sat back and listened carefully as his fellow committee members expressed their opinions as to the merits and shortcomings of each candidate. It quickly became clear that his choice was not the front-runner, but at least no one was opposed to him.