‘That sounds the perfect arrangement. Peter is a good boy. Despite everything, I think on the whole he’s turned out alright.’ He smiled at her. ‘On the other hand, I could just be biased.’
Christa stood up. ‘I like him a lot, Luigi, but perhaps I’m biased as well.’ She smiled back at him, her brown eyes warm. ‘Time for our dinner now, I think.’
During the meal, Luigi confirmed his opinion: the more he knew of this girl, the more he liked her. As they settled down with coffee, and in Luigi’s case a much appreciated brandy, it was obvious to him that Christa wanted to say something but was unsure how to start. Perhaps a little help was necessary.
‘I think you wanted to talk to me about something?’
‘Yes, I did. I’m not sure how you’re going to take this. I don’t want you to think the wrong thing about me.’
‘Well, try me, and we’ll see where we go from there.’
He watched as she took a deep breath.
‘I understand that you knew Peter’s grandfather, Michael. Also that he had emigrated to Canada and you were in touch with him at first, but then contact was lost?’
The words had come out in an embarrassed rush, and Luigi now had the strangest feeling that he knew what she was going to say.
‘Yes, all you have said is correct.’
‘When Peter was in the hotel with us both, Dad and I remarked that there was an air of loneliness about him. We understood it a bit more when he told us about his parents. Later, Peter mentioned to me his grandfather’s emigration. It stuck in my mind that there was the chance of a family somewhere for him, if he just knew where.’
There was a defiant air about her now. ‘I know what you’re going to say. If Peter wanted to trace any family, he could have attempted it himself, but he chose not to do so.’
The sudden defiance left her and he sensed that she needed his approval.
‘I thought I would help, and see if I could trace his grandfather. Through an article I did for my paper, I managed to make contact with him.’
Luigi had somehow known this was coming, but he was still unprepared for his reaction to her disclosure. As she continued, he listened, with hope starting to build inside him.
‘We spoke on the telephone. I asked one or two questions, and the dates seemed to fit. I asked if I could visit and interview him for this article. He seemed interested, and we fixed an appointment. Luigi, as soon as I saw him I knew it was the right person. He has Peter’s eyes!’
Luigi didn’t need to be told this. He could remember remarking on the same thing to Michael when Alex was a toddler. He had, of course, noticed the same coincidence with Peter.
‘He told me what he had done over the years, which was linked to the hunting fraternity, but he wouldn’t be drawn on why he had emigrated or if there was still family in England. I formed the impression that he suspected there was something else behind my questions.’
Luigi grinned to himself. It seemed as though Michael was still as sharp as he had always been.
‘Did he look well?’
‘Yes, indeed, very agile and bright.’
‘Well, Christa, so far no harm’s been done. We’re still at the status quo. Are you now suggesting that you somehow bring Peter and his grandfather together?’
‘That’s why I wanted to speak to you about it. I’m not sure what to do for the best. I don’t want to upset people’s lives, but it seems such a shame that after all that’s happened, they don’t know about each other. Perhaps it’s just wishful thinking on my part, and it’s better left as it is.’
She now looked rather dejected, and Luigi leant forward and patted her arm.
‘Don’t worry about it, Christa. I know that you did this out of the best of motives, for Peter. I’m pleased that you care enough about him to have even attempted it. I agree with you that it’s a difficult choice. I continued to write to Michael after he left, telling him the news about Alex and his progress in the Army. After a while there was no reply to my letters and I didn’t know the reason. In the end, I too stopped writing. Alex never mentioned his father to me and never asked for any information so that he could try to re-establish contact.’
He pondered for a moment or two. ‘I wonder if the best thing to do would be for me to write to him at the address you now have, asking if he would be interested in communicating again? Neither of us are getting any younger, after all! I won’t mention how I found an address; just wait for any comment he might make. If I hear from him at all. I won’t tell him anything else until I see what happens.’
‘Oh, Luigi, that would be perfect. Would you do that?’
Luigi looked at the pretty young face turned to him, her desire for his help plain to see. It mattered to her! He didn’t dare hope for too much, but perhaps out of all these years of pain, something good might now come.
‘I can but try, my dear. And try I will.’
*
Peter was so engrossed that he wasn’t aware of the Clerk of the Chambers coming into his room.
‘Sorry to disturb you, Peter, but Jonathan wants to have a quick look at your chambers file.’
‘Oh sure, John.’ He fished the file out of his briefcase. ‘I haven’t finished working on it yet, though.’
He returned to his deliberations and it was perhaps an hour later when a rather serious-looking John Moore came back into his room.
‘Anthony would like to see you, if you please, Peter.’
Peter looked up, perplexed. ‘Anthony? Not Jonathan?’
Moore looked a little discomforted and made to leave the room.
‘I’d cut along there now, if I was you.’
Still mystified, Peter walked along to Anthony Raven’s office and knocked on the door. He was bidden to enter and found not only Anthony but also Jonathan waiting for him. He thought they both looked rather stern.
‘Come and sit down, Peter.’
Anthony indicated a vacant chair and when Peter was seated he picked up a file.
‘This Chambers file you’ve been working on. Do you know the content of the papers? By that I mean, do you know what papers are in the file?’
Peter looked from one to the other. What was going on?
‘Well, there’s the usual correspondence with the Solicitor, the Court papers so far, and certain pieces of photographic evidence.’
‘Do you know anything about this?’
Anthony passed two sheets of paper over to him. They were typewritten and appeared to be a list of legal references, some of them pretty old by the look of the dates. It didn’t mean anything to him. He looked up at the two men.
‘I don’t know. I have a feeling that I didn’t see it in the file when I first went through it, but perhaps it must have been.’
‘It’s not something you have compiled yourself, then?’ It was Jonathan’s turn to question him.
Peter looked again at the papers in his hand. ‘No. I don’t remember seeing this before.’
Anthony resumed his questioning. ‘At any time when you have visited Lionel Franklin, has your briefcase been with you, and have you ever discussed its contents?’
Peter looked from one to the other in amazement. ‘I might have had my briefcase with me, but of course I haven’t discussed anything! It wouldn’t have entered my head to do so. What are you trying to say?’
The other two men looked at each other, and Anthony spoke again. ‘Peter, the content of this list seems to indicate that you also are interested in using ancient legal information to inform your thinking. I believe we have discussed this with you before. Either at your own behest, or that of your great uncle, time has been spent in compiling this information.’
‘I refute that! I’ve never seen the list before.’ Peter’s denial was adamant. What was going on? What were they trying to say?
‘If that is the case, Pete
r, we might have to assume that this list is the work of Lionel Franklin and it was placed by him in the file. Which presupposes that he had free access to the confidential files in your possession.’
Peter now didn’t know what to say. He’d not seen the damned list before, but he couldn’t reject Anthony’s last statement.
‘I’ve no idea.’
‘Peter, my son and I have discussed this matter. In short, despite one or two misgivings to begin with, we offered you the post with our firm because you were a worthy applicant, but also acknowledged your association with Lionel Franklin and our views on certain aspects of his conduct. However, we were prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt. You have already proved to us that you have a good legal mind, but this matter has shown that there is still a misplaced trust in your association with Franklin which goes against the principles of how we wish to run our firm.’
Without stopping to consider his position, Peter interrupted. ‘He said you might not like independent thinking.’
Anthony Raven glanced at his son, and then sighed. ‘My boy, I fear you have just incriminated yourself by appearing to have discussed aspects of our firm with Judge Franklin. If you remain with us, how much else might be disclosed? I am afraid, therefore, that I must tell you that this firm no longer has a place for you.’
Peter looked at each man in turn, his mind a whirl. What was happening? Had all that effort and hard work over the years been for nothing? In silence, he rose to his feet and left the room.
Back at his desk he stared, unseeing, at the papers still in his hand. Had Lionel compiled them and somehow put them in that file? If so, how? And why?
The door opened and Jonathan Raven walked in. He stood there regarding him for a moment.
‘I’m sorry about this, Peter. If it’s any consolation to you, I think you’ve been manipulated into this position. At the moment, I can’t think why.’ He came and sat down opposite the younger man. ‘You have a good brain, Peter, but in all honesty I have my doubts that you would succeed as a barrister. I’m not sure this is where your talents lie. If you are truthful, I think you have reached the same conclusion.’
Peter gave a deep sigh and leant back in his chair. ‘I think you’re right.’
‘Peter, I know your feelings toward my father and I will not be very amicable at the moment, but we want to help you if we can. I have a friend who is a senior partner in a corporate law firm. He’s mentioned to me that he’s looking for an assistant. This might be more the right vehicle for your talents. Why don’t you go to see him about the vacancy? If you like, I’ll ring him tonight and see if I can fix up a meeting. I won’t mention anything that has happened today. Perhaps we can expand on the unsuitability for barrister excuse. What do you say?’
Peter wasn’t sure. He wasn’t sure of anything at the moment. But it was something, wasn’t it?
He nodded. ‘Thank you, Jonathan. I’ll get my things together, shall I?’
‘You do that. I’ll text you when I’ve set something up. Peter, just one last word of advice. Make your own way in life. Perhaps you would be better to remove yourself from the sphere of influence surrounding Lionel Franklin. I think it would be in your best interests.’
CHAPTER 13
Without conscious thought, Peter found himself taking a taxi to Christa’s flat, hoping she’d be there. It just seemed the right place to be. His mind was reeling. He’d been sacked – and for what?
When Christa answered the door, she seemed so pleased to see him that it went some way to steadying his churning thoughts.
‘I’m sorry just to drop in on you like this.’
‘Don’t be silly, you’re welcome any time. Is something wrong, Peter? You look a bit upset.’ She took in the carrier bag of oddments he was carrying besides his briefcase. ‘Are you moving?’
Peter followed her into the lounge, and flopped down on to the settee.
‘You could say that. I’ve just been given the sack.’
‘What!’
He could see that Christa was now as shocked as he had been.
‘What do you mean, Peter? They can’t have done that!’
His grin held no mirth, it was more a grimace.
‘Oh, believe me, they have.’
‘But what’s wrong? What’s happened?’
He sat forward, resting his arms on his knees, and stared at the carpet. Feeling his way, he began to tell her of his interview with the Ravens. When he had finished, Christa came and sat beside him. Glancing up at her he could see that an unaccustomed hard look had come over her face.
‘Peter, to be less than polite, your marvellous great uncle has stitched you up!’
Taken aback at her words, mirroring those of Jonathan Raven, he stood and paced up and down for a moment, thinking hard.
‘It seems too unbelievable. The implication seems to be that I’ve been sharing with him some of the confidential documents in my possession, and accepting his guidance on the conduct of those matters.’ He turned to face her. ‘Christa, I’ve done nothing of the sort, and I’ve told the Ravens this. I know they have a less than favourable attitude towards Lionel. Jonathan came to see me before I left, and pretty much suggested that I stay away from him in future.
‘Christa, he’s my one blood relative, and that’s important to me, and I thought it was the same for him too! Why else would he give me both educational and financial help over all these years? Because of that, I’ve tried to do well for his sake, as well as my own. If in some way this whole matter was engineered, as the Ravens suggest, I can’t understand what he would gain by getting me the sack. I’m appalled to think he would do such a thing.’
He ran his hands through his hair, and slumped back on the settee. Christa put her arm across his shoulders.
‘Peter, listen to me. I think your great uncle likes to manipulate people for his own purposes. I’m certain all this trouble has been staged for a reason. Like you, I can’t suggest at the moment why, but I do think I’m right. Will you tell me something, Peter? Has he said anything to you about me?’
Peter now felt uncomfortable. ‘Oh, it doesn’t matter, Christa.’
‘Yes, it does matter, Peter. I think it matters a great deal. Please tell me.’
He looked into her clear brown eyes, honest and straightforward. He didn’t want to upset her; he realised at that moment just how much he valued her presence in his life. But he couldn’t lie to her.
‘Christa, when I’m twenty-five I’ll inherit an amount of money from my parents, my mother, to be exact. It was money she would have had herself if she had lived. I’m not sure how much is involved, and to be honest I don’t care. I doubt it’s a fortune. Lionel said you had been a bit evasive on answering some of his questions. He suggested to me that you might have become aware of my windfall and were interested in me for that reason.’
To his complete astonishment, Christa became convulsed with laughter. At what, he couldn’t imagine.
‘Oh, that’s priceless, Peter. It shows how much he knows.’ She became more serious. ‘Look around you, Peter, at this flat, where it is in London, at its contents. Haven’t you been curious as to what sort of friend I might have who has lent this to me?’
Peter looked around with a vague air of disinterest. ‘I can’t say it’s bothered me.’
‘I haven’t told you the complete truth, Peter, but you’ll see why when I explain. You know I said that my father builds boats?’
Peter nodded, still mystified.
‘He owns one of the biggest shipyards in Canada. He builds boats of most sizes and descriptions, for anyone worldwide. This flat is where he stays when he comes to Europe for business, which he does often. I keep my family circumstances as quiet as I can, for obvious reasons. I want people to like me for who I am, not what I might have. So, you see, far from me being after your money, now you’re unemployed, t
he reverse could be true!
‘Dad was impressed by you when we met in the hotel. I think he felt the same as me, that if you liked me, even if you knew the truth about my financial status, it wouldn’t make any difference.’ She put her head on one side and stared at him. ‘Do you like me, Peter?’
As the initial shock of her revelation began to pass, he too saw the funny side of the situation – well, almost. He curled his arms around her and leant his head on her hair, a smile starting to form on his face.
‘I think you can say that I do like you, Miss Benjamin. By the way, you couldn’t by any chance lend me a fiver?’
They both started laughing. For Peter it was a release, washing away all the disbelief and hurt of earlier in the evening. When they had sobered somewhat, Christa offered to make him something to eat.
Over the meal, Peter told her about Jonathan Raven’s offer of assistance.
‘You know, Peter, in my view, this is a much better career choice for you. It’s still the law, but without all the public performance. Getting to know your character, I don’t think deep down you’re suited to that Court sort of thing. Your great uncle should have seen that for himself.’
‘I need to have a talk with Lionel to see if I can get to the bottom of things. If this is some sort of deliberate ploy, God knows what it could be for. It’s as if he was trying to get me away from the Ravens. But why? I wonder what Sarah and Luigi will say when they know. They’ve never been that keen on him, and this will make it worse.’ He gave a deep sigh. ‘You know, now the first shock has passed, I’m not looking forward to dredging it all up again. I just want to move on, start again.’
Generations of Love Page 43
