Best Kept Secret (The Clifton Chronicles 3)

'Does this establishment do breakfast for impecunious university freshmen?'

'If that means you're going to Cambridge after all, then I'll see what I can rustle up.' Sebastian followed her inside. 'And close the door behind you,' she added. 'Anybody would think you were born in a barn.'

Sebastian nipped back and shut the front door, before heading down the stairs to join Tibby in the kitchen. When Janice saw him, she said, 'Look what the cat dragged in,' and gave him a second hug followed by the best breakfast he'd had since he'd last sat in that kitchen.

'So what have you been up to since we last saw you?' asked Mrs Tibbet.

'I've been to Argentina and met Princess Margaret.'

'Where's Argentina?' asked Janice.

'It's a long way away,' said Mrs Tibbet.

'And I'll be going up to Cambridge in September,' he added between mouthfuls. 'Thanks to you, Tibby.'

'I hope you didn't mind me getting in touch with your uncle. And what made matters worse, he ended up having to come to me in Paddington.'

'Thank God you did,' said Sebastian. 'Otherwise I might still be in Argentina.'

'And what brings you to London this time?' asked Janice.

'Missed you both so much I had to come back,' said Seb. 'And where else would I get a decent breakfast?'

'Pull the other one, it's got bells on,' said Mrs Tibbet as she forked a third sausage on to his plate.

'Well, there was one other reason,' admitted Sebastian. 'Bruno's invited me to Wimbledon this afternoon for the men's semi-final, Fraser versus Cooper.'

'I'm in love with Ashley Cooper,' said Janice, dropping her dishcloth.

'You'd fall in love with anyone who reached the semis,' chided Mrs Tibbet.

'That's not fair! I've never been in love with Neale Fraser.'

Sebastian laughed, and didn't stop laughing for the next hour, which was why he didn't turn up at Eaton Square until nearly half past eleven. When Bruno opened the door, Seb said, 'Mea culpa, but in my defence, I was held up by two of my girlfriends.'

'Take me through it one more time,' said Martinez, 'and don't leave out any details.'

'A team of three experienced drivers have carried out several practice runs during the past week,' said Diego. 'They'll be doing a final time check later this afternoon.'

'What can go wrong?'

'If Clifton doesn't take up your offer, the whole exercise will have to be called off.'

'If I know that boy, he won't be able to resist it. Just be sure I don't bump into him before he leaves for Cambridge in the morning. Because I can't guarantee I wouldn't throttle him.'

'I've done my best to make sure your paths don't cross. You're having dinner at the Savoy this evening with Major Fisher, and tomorrow you have an appointment in the city first thing in the morning, when you'll be briefed by a company lawyer on your legal rights once you've acquired seven and a half per cent of Barrington's.'

'And in the afternoon?'

'We're both going to Wimbledon. Not to watch the women's final, but to give you ten thousand alibis.'

'And where will Bruno be?'

'Taking his girlfriend to the cinema. The film starts at two fifteen and ends around five, so he won't hear the sad news about his friend until he gets back in the evening.'

When Sebastian climbed into bed that night, he couldn't get to sleep. Like a silent film, he reran everything that had taken place during the day frame by frame: breakfast with Tibby and Janice; a trip to Wimbledon in the MG, before watching a nail-biting semi-final with the fourth set finally going to Cooper, 8-6. The day ended with a visit to Madame JoJo's on Brewer Street, where he was surrounded by a dozen Gabriellas. Something else he wouldn't be telling his mother.

And then, to top it all, on the way home Bruno asked him if he'd like to drive the MG to Cambridge the next day rather than go by train.

'But won't your father object?'

'It was his idea.'

When Sebastian came down to breakfast the following morning, he was disappointed to find that Don Pedro had already left for a meeting in the City, as he wanted to thank him for all his kindness. He would write to him as soon as he got back to Bristol.

'What an amazing time we had yesterday,' said Sebastian as he filled a bowl with cornflakes and took a seat next to Bruno.

'To hell with yesterday,' said Bruno, 'I'm far more worried about today.'

'What's the problem?'

'Do I tell Sally how I feel about her, or do I just assume she already knows?' Bruno blurted out.

'That bad?'

'It's all right for you. You're so much more experienced in these matters than I am.'

'True,' said Sebastian.

'Stop smirking, or I won't let you borrow the MG.'

Sebastian tried to look serious. Bruno leant across the table and asked, 'What do you think I should wear?'

'You should be casual, but smart. A cravat rather than a tie,' suggested Sebastian as the phone in the hall began ringing. 'And don't forget that Sally will also be worrying about what she should wear,' he added as Karl entered the room.

'There's a Miss Thornton on the line for you, Mr Bruno.'

Sebastian burst out laughing as Bruno slipped meekly out of the room. He was spreading some marmalade on a second piece of toast when his friend returned a few minutes later and greeted him with the words, 'Damn, damn, damn.'

'What's the matter?'

'Sally can't make it. Says she's got a cold and is running a temperature.'

'In the middle of the summer?' said Sebastian. 'Sounds to me as if she's looking for an excuse to call it all off.'

'Wrong again. She said she'll be fine by tomorrow, and can't wait to see me.'

'Then why not come to Cambridge with me, because I'm not fussed about what you wear?'

Bruno grinned. 'You're a poor substitute for Sally, but the truth is I've got nothing better to do.'

46

'DAMN, DAMN, DAMN' caused Karl to come up from the kitchen and try to find out what the problem was. He arrived just in time to see the two boys disappearing out of the front door. He ran across the hall and out on to the pavement, but could only watch as the orange MG pulled away from the kerb, with Sebastian behind the wheel.

'Mr Bruno!' shouted Karl at the top of his voice, but neither head turned, because Sebastian had switched on the radio so they could listen to the latest news from Wimbledon. Karl ran out into the middle of the road and waved his arms frantically, but the MG didn't slow down. He sprinted after the car as it approached a green traffic light at the end of the road.

'Turn red!' he screamed, and it did, but not before Sebastian had swung left and begun to accelerate away towards Hyde Park Corner. Karl had to accept that they'd escaped. Was there a possibility that Bruno had asked to be dropped off somewhere, before Clifton drove on to Cambridge? After all, wasn't he meant to be taking his girlfriend to the cinema that afternoon? It was not a risk Karl could afford to take.

He turned back and ran towards the house, trying to remember where Mr Martinez was meant to be that day. He knew he would be spending the afternoon watching the women's final at Wimbledon, but wait, Karl recalled he had an earlier appointment in the City, so it was possible he might still be at the office. A man who didn't believe in God prayed that he hadn't already left for Wimbledon.