“I’ll tell Janet that I have told you. And great news about Dorothy! Wait until I meet her. She is a dark horse.”
“I’ll mention to your mother about your pending engagement Peter. She will be pleased.”
“I understand.”
“Nice to see you doing the right thing boy. Pour me another drink, there are a few things we have to discuss.”
Peter poured Michael another brandy and settled himself in a chair opposite his Dad.
“What’s worrying you Pater?” he asked.
“Pater? It’s a long way we are from the Latin now Peter. I remember...”
“Dad, forget the schooldays, what’s on your mind?”
“This afternoon of course. The way I want to play it is this. We put each bidder in a separate room and we have our room. We initiate a round of discussions with each and then we put on the squeeze.”
“How dad?”
“We get the principles together around the table and conduct a Dutch auction. Highest bidder wins.”
“Even if it is not AF?”
“Regardless”
“You can handle it dad.”
Michael grinned broadly. His son was clued in, a man of the world.
“I need you and Dorothy with me every step of the way. I don’t want AF to back off either.”
“I wouldn’t worry Dad. When these big companies work out a position they stick to it. He'll be bidding.” Peter grinned but inside he was churning. This approach could upset his personal deal with Crawford.
“O’Donoghue are too small to bid on their own. What is it, a merger or a takeover proposal? Are they alone or have they backers?” Peter enquired.
“Old man O’Donoghue has a consortium.”
“Dad, I think you are wasting your time.”
“Maybe, but I have agreed to have O’Donoghue here and to stay overnight. I have to see him now. It's only manners. He's an interesting old man anyway.”
Michael smiled and continued, “We can sound him out. No harm just listening. What Peter might be worth a few million on the price?”
“Whatever you say Dad,” Peter agreed.
Michael and Peter finished their drinks and went to the living room.
Ann was there and so were Dorothy and Ann-Marie. They were all drinking Champagne and there was a festive air.
“Well, well,” Michael said expansively, and took Dorothy in his arms and kissed her cheeks.
“Great news,” he added, “two engagements, two weddings. What a day.”
“Peter has got engaged,” he added and was delighted to see the stunned expressions on the faces of his wife and daughters.
They all toasted the happy couple.
“Amazing,” Dorothy, commented when she heard it was Janet Simmons.
“Are we set for the negotiations?” Michael asked Dorothy.
“Yes we will need a half hour. I’ve gone through John’s figures and Dermot’s defence on the quality issue. Nothing has changed on the O’Byrne figures. Still a major financial crisis when we lose the AF business. Dermot has his defences but the water is muddy.”
“Good,” Michael said. “Peter, when Crawford and Simmons arrive you make sure they are settled in. I will greet Colm O’Donoghue, as I have known him down the years. Then we set things in train. Everyone comfortable?”
“Yes,” Peter said.
“Keep your mind off Janet as and treat her as a consultant to the bidder for the afternoon. When the deal is done you can get moon eyed about her as much as you like.”
“I am also expecting Jeremy, my fiancé and his Partner David. I will have to give them some time when they arrive.”
“Will they interfere with our meeting? They must not distract you Dorothy,” Michael said looking worried.
“And the general guests will arrive from eight o’clock onwards, with a sherry reception. We will have about a hundred friends.” Ann explained to her husband. “Don’t take all night on business”
“Don’t worry. We will only seek agreement in principle today. What Dorothy calls ‘Heads of Agreement.’ After that there will be due diligence and so on. I intend a swift clear cut auction and agreed price within a few hours.”
“Good,” Ann said. “Don’t forget we have to announce to our guests that we are going to the south of France.”
“Yes Ann,” Michael said gently. “And Ann take your tablets and stay off the drink. I don’t want you to be tired before the evening gets underway.”
“I'm off to the horses,” Dorothy announced. “We have about an hour and a half to spare. When Jeremy and David arrive tell them I am at the stables. I'll take the dogs and my horse for a trot. If I stay here much longer I'll be too tipsy for anything.”
With smiles Dorothy departed.
“I'm off to visit Nana,” Ann-Marie announced, seeing an opportunity to take her leave.
“Just a minute, young lady,” Michael intoned solemnly. “I need to talk to you.”
“Yes Daddy?”
“I don't object to the time you spend at Nana’s. But you can't today.”
“Why ever not?” Ann-Marie pouted.
“Because we expect the house to be full of guests. There’s Dorothy’s fiancée Jeremy and his partner David. And I have a number of important business people. And we have invited another hundred or so. We have guests to entertain. All hands to the deck... Duty calls, old girl.”
“Yes dear,” Ann said in support of her husband.
Ann-Marie went pink. She stamped her foot. “Guests. They are your guests, not mine. I want to go out.”
“Don't speak to me in that tone,” Michael said tensely.
“I'm going out this evening,” Ann-Marie added.
“With whom?” Ann asked archly.
“Never mind.”
“You never mind young lady. You are grounded,” Michael thundered. “You will turn up to the dinner tonight. And you will endeavour to be civil. Understood?”
Ann-Marie went redder. “I don't want to meet hoary old guests, I want to go to Nana.”
“Disobey me and I'll see Nana off the premises.”
“Bastard!” Ann-Marie shouted and ran in tears to her room.
Michael sniffed and shrugged at Ann.
“Don't worry,” he said. “I was only bluffing about Nana. That young lady needs to remember her manners.”
“I shouldn’t have given her Champagne,” Ann said.
“Oh why not, it’s a joyous occasion, come on let’s have another,” Michael said and proposed a toast.
The parlour maid announced the arrival of two guests.
Jeremy and David arrived in their large Mercedes, gliding into the driveway. There was an uneasy silence between them and David had come along ‘to see the whore in her den.’
“Greetings,” Michael said coming down the steps as Jeremy brought the car to a halt taking in the broad sweep of the driveway in front of the house.
“Welcome, welcome,” Michael was effusive. “The chamber maid will show you to your rooms later. Leave your bags in the hall. Come in and have a little refreshment after your drive down. We have another engagement, my son Peter. Come in come in.”
Ann was equally welcoming and she joined them in a drink. Then she ordered some tea and scones.
“Dorothy took the dogs and her horse for an outing, she will be back soon,” Ann explained.
“I've always admired these country houses,” David said, looking at the ornate plasterwork on the ceiling.
“Me too,” Jeremy agreed.
The ceiling reminded him of some of the tenements in the city near his home, derelict Georgian houses. Those houses were past their old glory. However it was obvious that the O’Byrne house was well maintained and decorated.
“Do let me show you around,” Michael offered. “There is some very delicate plasterwork in the Library.”
“Yes please,” Jeremy said agreeably, anxious to connect with his prospective father-in-law.
“Not me,” David
declined. “I feel I need a walk in the fresh country air. Maybe I'll take a stroll to the stables... To clear my head after the drive down... I like horses.”
David was seething. Last thing he wanted was going around the house ooh’ing and ahh’ing at plasterwork with Jeremy.
“Sure fire ahead,” Michael was expansive. “Gives me a few moments with my future son-in-law. Dorothy is down at the stables. She said to send you both down. You go ahead and Jeremy can follow later.”
Jeremy smiled, but he looked worried.
Michael thought it was the prospect of a talk with his father in law. But Jeremy was worried about letting David wander out of his sight.
“Don’t worry,” Michael reassured him. “I don’t bite. Come along.”
Michael indicated to Jeremy without touching him, in the sense of a pushing movement of the hands that said go ahead, lead towards the door. Jeremy and Michael moved towards the library and Michael took over the lead. Pointing out paintings and other ‘object d’art’ as he led the way. Jeremy nodded agreeably as he followed.
David smiled at Ann and handed her the glass. “Thank you,” he said politely and went into the hall and down the steps.
“Stables out and around to the right, follow the path,” Ann threw after him.
From the window Ann watched him go. Definitely the better looker of the two. A bit foppish maybe? She wondered…
Ann sipped her champagne and sat at the window seat where she would have a good view of the driveway and arriving guests.
Chapter forty-two
David made his way as directed. He had seen the stables, or what he had taken to be the stables as they arrived. Ann’s directions confirmed their location. His feet crunched on the gravel driveway as he walked.
There was a lad throwing hay into the loft but otherwise the stables were quiet. He could hear horses chomping and stomping in their stalls.
“Hello there,” he called in his respectable English accent.
“Afternoon Sir,” the boy said respectfully.
He had been advised that there were guests expected for the weekend.
“I fancy a ride, is there a spare horse?”
“Three sir. One was out with Ann-Marie early this morning. Peter’s horse is there but he may go out later. What about ‘Lucy Bell’, the mistress’s horse? She doesn’t get out much these days. The horse is gentle and needs a bit of exercise.”
“Saddle her up.”
“There's some boots in the loft sir. I expect that one pair will fit you. And there is some Wellington boots. You'll find a hat on the shelves and there is a selection of riding crops if you want one.”
“Great.”
David climbed up the stairs into the loft. It was empty other than for a number of young cats. He found a tack room with helmets, boots and other equipment. Five minutes later he emerged kitted out. He had worn corduroy trousers and a sweater for the drive down to the house and it matched well with his borrowed gear.
The stable lad had the horse ready.
Expertly David mounted. Appreciatively the boy watched. No need to worry about this one he thought, he knows how to sit a horse.
“Which way did Miss Dorothy go?” he asked.
“Out the north meadow, towards the gallops, down to the woods towards the river, I expect.”
David nodded and went in the opposite direction down towards the entrance gate. He had seen a gallop through the woods on his way in and he decided to have a bit of a run before he tried to cross Dorothy's path.
As he rode David was amused to see a splendid old Rolls Royce make its way majestically down the driveway towards the house.
In the car Colm O’Donoghue looked earnestly at his young grandson. “Now Seamus. I don’t want you letting me down this is a very important occasion with major implications for your future.”
“I know Granddad...But I have a date with my girl friend tonight. She’ll be mad.”
“Is this the girl you met at the parade, the one on the O’Byrne float, you are crazy about?”
“I love her.”
“And her?”
“Likewise... I think.”
Colm smiled.
“Come on, cheer up Seamus. Stand up to her and she will appreciate you more. If she loves you she will make up. The fact is Seamus that you have to be with me. I need you. I don’t ask a lot of you.”
“I know Granddad,” Seamus said miserably.
But his granddad was right. He rarely asked much of him. And Seamus was interested in the business, it had been made clear to him often enough that it would be his when he was older.
Seamus was in dread, but in hope. They were going to the O’Byrne house where he understood Ann-Marie worked as a maid. If she saw him arrive in a Rolls she would be mental.
He had contacted her by mobile to put off their date, but at that time he had not known he would be going to the place where she worked.
He wanted to prepare her. She needed to know. He didn’t want to tell her by text. He kept his head back on the journey to be less visible, knowing Dwyer would deliver them and while he tried to argue his granddad out of insisting on his company.
“I hate suits,” he said fidgeting with his shirt collar.
“We’re here,” Dwyer growled.
For the first time Seamus looked out of the car window. He saw the big house. A woman was coming down the steps. With a shock Seamus realised he recognised her.
“Welcome, I’m Ann O’Byrne. Welcome. My house is your house. I hope we will have an enjoyable weekend. We have tennis and horse riding for the young man, if he is interested.”
They shook hands. Colm introduced Seamus and then Dwyer. A little uneasy, Ann shook hands with Dwyer. It was unusual for guests to introduce the chauffeur.
Seamus was pleased she had not recognised him in a suit. He had realised with a shock that this was the ‘older’ woman he’d met after the St. Patrick’s day parade when she had climbed out of the cab of the lorry, leaving him to look in and see Ann-Marie.
“Mr. Dwyer, cook has a cup of tea for you around at the kitchen and she will show you where you sleep. Mr. O’Donoghue please come with me?”
Seamus took the suitcases and followed Ann and Colm, while Dwyer was left to park the car and find the cook.
“Young man, I'll get one of the maids to show you where the rooms are. You can freshen up and come down to the drawing room,” Ann explained and led them into the hall.
“The parlour maid will show you,” Ann added to Seamus, as a maid appeared and smiled.
And Mr. O’Donoghue…” she continued.
“Please call me Colm,” he interjected agreeably.
“Colm, my husband is in the library. If you come with me I’m sure he’ll want to meet you straight away. He is just showing the house to another guest.”
Michael introduced Colm to Jeremy and fixed a couple of drinks and they sat down.
“I’ll leave you to it, I can see you are busy,” Jeremy offered and made a quick exit.
“Good of you to see me,” Colm said stretching his left leg to ease an ache.
“I'll always listen to a proposition. We have met over the years Colm and I respect our relationship. I always appreciated that O’Donoghue was one of our better distributors.”
“So much that you wanted to take us over?” Colm growled a little.
“Just exploratory. No offence. I believe you hope to turn the offer around?”
“Indeed,” Colm said and sipped his drink.
There was a silence. They could hear the old clock ticking in the corner.
“Will I go through it now?” Colm offered. “Although I’d rather wait until Andrew Kenny arrives. He should be here shortly.”
“No, no, let us relax, be friends. Later we can cut each other’s throats. And still be friends tomorrow morning.”
“Fair enough,” Colm smiled, happy at the friendly tone, and looked at his empty glass. Michael rose to get him another whiskey.
Jeremy left them to it and made his way to the stables. He wanted to ensure there was no trouble between David and Dorothy.
It was starting in to light rain and Jeremy was damp by the time he arrived.
“Anyone here?” he shouted.
The stable lad stuck his head over the top of a stall. “Yes sir, just me.”
“Did you see a man about my age, and Miss Dorothy?”
“Yes sir, they have both gone riding at different times. I expect they will be back with the rain like it is.”
“I’ll wait,” Jeremy said.
The stable boy went back to his work. Jeremy went to stroke the noses of the two horses in the stalls.
Seamus found the house very like the one he lived in at home, except bigger. And they seemed to be well equipped with servants. He almost asked the maid if she worked with Ann-Marie but decided to be discreet. Hopefully he would find her, even in such a big house.
The parlour maid left him in his room and said the chambermaid would be up shortly to turn down the sheets.
“You'll find the fire is lighting sir,” she added, “if it goes low put a bit of turf on.”
Under a spreading chestnut tree David sat on his horse in the shelter of its branches, watching the rainfall. He breathed the fresh country air while his horse champed on his bit and nibbled the sparse grass under the canopy of the large tree.
He heard her before he saw her. Dorothy was in full riding gear and two large dogs were preceding her horse. David tensed and sat still.
The dogs sniffed him out and came with tails wagging. The horse shifted uneasily but held her ground, as she knew the dogs. The dogs sat and waited for Dorothy to arrive.
Twisted Love and Money Page 30
