Special Relationship
Page 28
“As you now know only too well,” replied Kerry, glancing at a rotund man with red cheeks, a food morsel in one hand and drink in the other.
“Isn't he in the government?” she asked.
She then whispered “You know, we have even got a fucking butler.” Several minutes passed before they were able to downgrade their laughter into mere fits of giggling.
Many of the guests were attending one day or the other. But some, including Kerry and her family, were staying overnight. Nick and Alex settled into a room named after one Captain Alfred Walsingham who, he explained, was a forefather of Henry's who had gallantly died in action against the Russians in the Crimean War in the 1850's.
“Pity,” she said, looking at a Field Electric Telegraph informing his wife, a baroness, of the death of the Captain.
“What?”
“Well, be a bit disrespectful...” she turned, smiled and moved closer to him.
“The Victorians had sex too, you know, in copious amounts I understand,” he said as he pulled her towards him.
The next morning he woke her early. “Wash and dress, there is something I want to show you.”
After she had castigated him for the early call - “this had better be good” - and had got herself ready, he led her to the back of the house and into a shed which housed a range of vintage cars. “Henry has never driven it himself but he assures me this in full working order.” he said, dangling some keys in front of a Jaguar mk9.
“Well at least we won't stand out,” she said ironically, looking at the big blue and grey saloon which reminded of her police cars from British movies of the 60's.
“Why did you think I woke you so early. With a bit of luck, no one will spot us.”
“Where are we going?”
“You'll see.”
“I prefer automatic,” he said, clunking the gears. “Lucky we haven't got far to go.”
When they arrived at the destination, Alex was speechless. She had been captivated by the beauty of Bodiam Castle when she'd seen it in magazines but in real life her imagination ran riot. That misty morning she almost expected a knight in armour to come riding towards them, demanding to be told the purpose of their visit.
“It's absolutely...magical,” she finally said, looking in awe at the 14th century fortress.
“I arranged the mist specially,” he joked, rubbing her shoulder. They then huddled together against the cold air before she turned again to look at the castle.
“You know, Nick, somewhere near here...” She paused and he waited, knowing what she was about to say “...for Megan.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, raising her chin.
“Yes, I'm sure.”
Afternoon tea took place in the Balaclava Apartment where as many as fifty guests gathered to mingle and chat and enjoy the quintessential English experience of tea, accompanied by sandwiches, scones, pastries, cakes, fruit and cream. This tea also included a ready supply of champagne, offered by circling waiters on silver trays.
Across the room Alex spotted Katherine and Tavis talking, with Cheng holding his mother's hand and apparently oblivious to the grandness of it all. She joined them and, after the little boy had jumped into her outstretched arms, greeted the adults with equal affection.
“There's no bloody Scotch here.” Tavis complained.
"Whinging Scot doesn't count?” Alex smiled, hugging him and pecking him on the cheek.
“It is meant to be tea, Tavis, and if you have any complaints put them in writing to the chief organiser which would be...err..me,” Katherine joined in.
Alex realised Katherine's husband was once again absent and said nothing about the romantic morning trip with Nick to the castle. But they had almost mended everything between themselves and the three of them talked easily, with Cheng's frequent input adding to the simplicity and amusement of the gathering.
It was in the evening at the “Farewell Ball” that Alex told both Katherine and Tavis that there was something she needed to tell them and she would meet each of them separately when back in London. She is going to tell us of her past, Tavis concluded.
The three of them were joined by Kerry, in a blue gown and Luke, who also looked ill at ease in his dinner suit.
“I feel so conspicuous in this,” she whispered to Alex
“You are the belle of the ball, Kels,”
“Yeah, right, Mrs Frumpy against glam American who could make the front cover of Vogue – I haven't got a chance. In fact, I think I'll go and sit somewhere else, to hide the contrast.”
“You are silly,” Alex replied.
Nick, who had been delayed by business, wore his black tie and dinner jacket with the confidence born of practise and kissed Alex on the lips when he finally arrived. “You look absolutely edible,” he whispered in her ear.
Apart from Kerry spilling her drink over Luke, requiring him to make a hasty exit to the men's room, the evening went without mishap and after they had ate, drunk, talked and danced, the toastmaster in a red coat announced Lord Hamilton's speech.
“Honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen, please be up standing for your gracious host, Earl Ashton of Bramber.” The guests applauded as he stepped on to a raised platform at the end of the room.
After asking them to resume his seats, he thanked them all for coming and spoke of how lucky he was to have so many good friends whom he would miss during the next half-year.
“I hope you understand why two old birds migrate south every winter, leaving a much-loved flock behind, our bones no longer able to cope with the harsh British climate.” He paused “I again deny it has anything to do with the brandy being much cheaper over there.”
Everyone laughed.
“It was a really good summer and Eleanor and I were fortunate enough to welcome into our lives some very good people who I won't name as that might embarrass them.”
Nick squeezed Alex's hand.
“However,” the Lord continued, “you know who you are and let me say that you are welcome to hop on a plane – what's it called, Easy Flight – and spend some time with us in the villa.
“Obviously that invitation doesn't extend to the politicians here today who keep putting up my taxes.”
Laughter and table tapping echoed through the ballroom.
“They would, after all, only pay for the their own flight out of their taxpayer-funded expenses.”
The guests burst into another round of applause.
“So, as I promised to keep this very short, I would like finally to request you to give me the honour of toasting my wonderful wife Eleanor.”
“Henry, shut up!” said Lady Ashton.
“I, of course, would be totally useless without her – some say I'm useless with her...”
He was interrupted by more laughter.
“... but she is the person who has been the bedrock of whatever I have achieved and I love her dearly.”
The toastmaster stepped forward to call the tribute but Lord Ashton insisted on doing it himself.
“To Eleanor!” he said, before the guests rose in unison to salute Lady Ashton.
The Lord then climbed down from the platform looking far more fragile, Alex thought., than when she had first met him. She spotted him wiping away a tear, the British bulldog spirit of his army days diluted by age.
Shunning a big fanfare send off, The Lord And Lady were leaving discreetly first thing the next day so Nick and Alex went together to say their goodbyes and to promise they would visit.
“I've never seen a young couple so perfectly matched. I do hope everything works out for you both,” said Eleanor.
“I'm not sure about English protocol, but is it OK to hug a Lady?” Alex asked and felt comfortable enough with her to do so without waiting for the answer.
Nick kissed her on both cheeks and said he looked forward to their return in May.
They then went to say their goodbyes to Henry.
“Alexander, my dear girl. You are a credit to America and if this m
an gives you any trouble, he'll have me to answer for.”
“We'll visit,” Alex promised, hugging him too.
Chapter thirty-four: Reunited
They were true to their word in the new year and flew to Madeira, the island of flowers, to enjoy a week with the Lord and Lady. There, they lazed in the mild, if not hot, weather and walked the beaches. It was on one walk that Nick took a call from New York and told her that bringing Megan to England was progressing as expected.
It still took another ten months before they were at the airport to oversee the arrival of her daughter. The little white coffin, with both folded Stars and Stripes and the Union Jack on top, was carried ceremoniously by the people of the funeral home into a hearse where it was driven to wait for her second funeral in Sussex a few days later.
On the tarmac, Nick held her as she cried uncontrollably at being at last reunited with the little girl she loved so much. It was unbearable for him, so he couldn't imagine what she was feeling. He never told her – and never would - that efforts of getting her there included a substantial pay-off to her ex-husband.
On the way back from the airport they said nothing but held hands tightly as she wept incessantly. Christos knew the story by now but tried to remain as professional as he could as he drove them.
For the funeral, at St Giles in the village of Bodiam, in beautiful countryside above the castle, there were nine invited. Kerry and Luke, Suzanne, Adrian, Tavis, Katherine, Lord and Lady Ashton, and Christos. They now all knew of Alex's past.
“Are you sure I've done the right thing?” she asked Nick as the church came into view.
“Yes you have. It's all about what Megan would have wanted and she, obviously, would want to be close to you.”
“I've never known anything so tragic,” Lady Ashton said to her husband in the car following.
Alex surprised herself with the strength she found to read the eulogy. She wanted the others to hear about Megan. But before the end, everyone – even Tavis, the hardy Scot - was wiping tears.
At the end of the service, and after she had thrown a handful of soil on to the coffin, a feeling of some peace began to repel the torment she felt. The church was less than two hours from London, and she could visit regularly, she thought, as she thanked the congregation one by one for attending.
To Kerry she reserved a hug of special feeling and thanked her again for being “the best friend I could ever have wished for.”
“I told you we'd make it, didn't I?” Kerry said.
It was only two months after Megan's funeral that learned they would soon have another to attend. Nick had called her in the early morning to tell her that Lord Ashton had died suddenly but peacefully in his sleep.
The funeral was held in the grounds of Brockhurst House. After the service Nick and Alex read the cards accompanying the flowers. There was Lady Ashton's “How dare you leave me.” There was one from Tavis “Only the good die young” and their own. “Love always, Nick and AlexandER.”
“He'll be having one of his extra loud laughs now,” Nick said.
“He probably thinks the capitalised 'ER' is Elizabeth Regina like in The Queen,” she smiled.
As they shunned the funeral cortège to walk along a country lane, Nick lamented that the man who befriended him despite them coming from opposite end of the English class divide would no longer be around.
“If we were ever to get married, his speech would have been the funniest at the reception, no doubt.”
“And he still wouldn't get my name right,” she replied.
“I just wonder why he didn't just call you Alex.”
“I think he knew what he was doing – just a bit of a mischief maker...like someone else I know.”
Two weeks later, when they were relaxing at Sandbanks, Nick handed her a copy of the Saturday's Financial Times folded for her to see the story he wanted her to read. The headline read “Hensen quits fund manager role”.
Alex gasped and read the opening lines. “Nicholas Hensen, one of Britain's most successful investors, announced that he was resigning from leading Hensen Fund Management in a surprise announcement to the London Stock Exchange yesterday.
“Shares in HFM that he built from a small investment company into one of the country's biggest financial institutions fell 5% immediately after the announcement but recovered to close 2% lower.
“Hensen said that the company remained financially 'strong' and that he was relinquishing his position for personal reasons. In an interview with the Press Association hours after the official announcement he said: 'It's been a great adventure, but the company remains in very good hands and I will retain an advisor position. I am still committed to HFM both financially and personally, as it is a company that I helped build into the significant force it is today.”
“You quit?” Alex asked, amazed by what she had read.
“Yep. Sorry, I couldn't really discuss it with you earlier – insider dealing rules and all that and, to be honest, I was worried you might tell me not to. But now I get to spend more time with the woman I love,” he said, kissing her firmly on the lips.
He sat next to her. “Maybe I'll also spend more time with my wife.”
“Your wife?”
“Yep, if I can find one.”
She slapped his leg and paused for thought. “If you ever stop being such a complete bastard...”
“You'd marry me?”
“No, I'd leave you.”
“We'd better get hitched then.”
“But, now you are unemployed we might struggle,” putting her hands down the the rear of his shorts as they kissed again.
“I'll just have to make it up to you in other ways, Miss Anderson.”
It was the second marriage proposal of her life and totally unlike the first when the man who had all but destroyed her had got down on bended knee, with ring and flowers. Nick didn't have to make a similar effort because he didn't do convention and because their relationship thrived on laughing together and effortless companionship.
The engagement ring from him arrived the next day, when they were playing the horse racing machine at the arcade and she found it in the slot of the machine along with her fifty pence winnings when her horse, number five, had crossed the line first on the electric track.
Chapter thirty-five: Kerry's big surprise.
Back in London, Alex caught up with some work for the company, feeling guilty that she had rather left the running of it to her friend and partner while spending so much time away from the office.
She'd already decided that she would offer Kerry an equal share in the company, which would soon become known as Anderson-Turner Financial Support. But before then she had news to tell that might astound her even more.
“Got something to tell you,” she said quietly, inviting her to an after-work drink.
Kerry presumed they had more work from Hensen but when they sat down at a table with a bottle of house white she could tell that Alex was nervous. She was rubbing her hands through her hair and looking at her, apparently not knowing how to phrase the opening statement.
“You are going to be shocked,” she finally said.
“Come on, girl, spit it out,” Kerry pleaded.
When she eventually managed to tell her - recounting the story of how Nick in his playful way had asked her - Kerry jumped up from her seat in her excitement.
“You have to be absolutely fucking kidding!” she shrilled before apologising to an elderly man frowning at her over his beer.
“Champagne, champagne, champagne,” she screamed as the other customers looked on in bewilderment.
“Kerry sit down,” Alex laughed.
“I can't believe it – you've nabbed one of the country's most eligible bachelors!” she proclaimed so loudly that Alex had to cover her face to hide her embarrassment.
“Shhh,” she implored her, blushing as the couple opposite smiled at her.
“It's nothing – he's only a bank clerk,” she told them.
She told her that one white wedding with church and reception had been one too many and that they were going to have a simple civil service “in Manarola in a couple of months” – just the two of them.
“Oh, no, I won't be able to wear a fancy dress again,” Kerry lamented.
“Sorry Kels, but I didn't want anything like last time – as you know, Nick likes the simple life too which is one reason I love him so much. But we will have a big bash when we get back, so you can frock-up for that.”
“I'm not going to lose you am I?”
“Of course not, silly. The company goes onwards and upwards and so do we...”
She looked at her with genuine feeling. “ I'm so happy for you, Alex Anderson...or should I say Alex Hensen?” she said, taking her hand.
Alex decided she would leave the announcement of the new set up of the company until a later date. Kerry was bouncing on her seat, unable to keep still at it was. Any more excitement and she might become unmanageable.
Instead, they made plans for the next few weeks. Alex would work the next month “flat out” she promised and after that Kerry would again have to hold the fort.
“When are you going to tell Adrian and Suzanne?” Kerry asked.
“Good question. Everything seems so surreal I'm scared of telling anyone in case...well, you know, something goes wrong...”
“It won't babes,” Kerry assured her. “And I've got to tell Luke.”
The bar was about to close when Kerry called her husband to tell him that she was staying over at Alex's. “I don't fancy the late tube,” she said, trying not to slur her words. “And...err...tomorrow I'll tell you the big news. Don't worry, it's good.”
Luke was used to their late nights once or twice a week, but this one seemed different. “I'm intrigued,” he said.
“Wait till you find out...love you loads,” she said before hanging up and giggling at Alex.
“Night club, honey?”