Shadow of the Son, page 32
“Thank you for being brief. You wished to use the idol and some other items to contact Alice in order seek her forgiveness. Is this correct?”
“Almost. She requires my forgiveness as much as I require hers. This I know without a doubt.”
“I see. I understand your request now. Thank you. It has cleared up several issues in my mind, and because you have been so forthcoming, I would like to tell you three things, the first being that since the idol is broken, I cannot fulfill our agreement. I give you the option of either accepting the check back or giving me the funds to hold in trust for your grandchild. Bruni is pregnant. You did not know this.”
“Is she now?”
“Yes.”
“Well, congratulations. I’m happy to hear that. I suppose that will make me a grandfather.”
“Yes, you will be a grandfather, and that is special. The second point I wish to make is that forgiveness and acceptance are not dissimilar. A wise lady told me that it is our willingness to accept what we’ve received that determines how we feel, and whether we are truly happy with it. Perhaps those words apply to the past as well. You will have a grandchild. All of what happened before was necessary for that to happen now.”
My father nodded. “And what is the last thing?”
“Without getting your hopes up, I would like to explore an avenue that may help you in what you wish to accomplish, with the understanding that it may amount to nothing. For now, it is only a possibility.”
“Really? What do you have in mind?”
“Be patient for a time, and I will let you know. One last question: if Cobb owns the shares, how could you have bet them?”
“You would have lost, so it didn’t matter whether I owned them or not. I suppose now is a good place to end off for both of us. I will think about what to do with the check and let you know. I also must apologize for destroying the coffee service. I will see that it’s replaced. I also wish to thank you for our talk—but before we go, a few words of advice, if I may.”
“And what are they?”
“For all our sakes, stay away from gambling. You aren’t suited for it, and lastly … never bet against me.”
I considered his words. “That’s probably a good idea.”
I got up and rang the bell for Stanley. Stanley arrived promptly and informed me that there were some decisions to make regarding the dinner tonight. I thanked him and excused myself from my father’s company.
76
As we walked down the hall, Stanley asked me if the second half of the meeting went better than the first.
“It did, and you were correct. My father wants to contact Alice to ask her forgiveness and to forgive her. The broken idol unhinged those plans. Without going into specifics with him, I said that I might look into alternate methods for him to do that. Dagmar might be able to point me in the right direction, but I doubt she will have the time to tell me.”
“She’s quite busy, as you can well imagine. What I think is more significant is that you played your own game and avoided playing his. In keeping with that, I would do nothing about the matter you mentioned. You may feel that as a host, you have an obligation to look into it; however, he will take advantage of that willingness, and you will quickly find yourself ensnared once again. Do nothing is what I would advise.”
“Thank you, Stanley. Now, I have to find Johnny and take that dog for a walk.”
Stanley and I parted, and I found Johnny in the drawing room speaking with Maw. When she saw me enter, she handed Johnny the leash. Robert hadn’t exactly smiled, but I sensed he saw a bout of freedom in his future. That anticipatory expression had been cut short when he noticed I was watching him. He turned his head away, as if to say, you didn’t see that. To emphasize the point, he plopped into his sphinx position and ignored me. To my mind, simply because he looked and acted like a dog didn’t mean he wasn’t a hooligan underneath. Like the Sphinx, Robert had an almost unnatural patience and was as inscrutable when he wished.
Johnny and I walked Robert along the edge of the south lawn. Robert strutted beside Johnny on Johnny’s left, not even straining against the leash. Maw had either taught him some manners, or he had gotten used to being on his best behavior around her. Robert, I was quite sure, had sufficient intelligence to know exactly which way the wind was blowing.
While Robert trotted jauntily beside him, Johnny listened to me and looked down at Robert from time to time. Johnny would smile, obviously thrilled at Robert’s subservience. Certain that all was well, Johnny, in some misguided attempt to validate and acknowledge Robert for his good behavior, unclipped him.
Faster than the blink of an eye, I watched Robert become a fading speck in the distance, racing away in the direction of the tennis court. I shook my head in exasperation. I should have expected as much. Johnny observed Robert’s vanishing trick like a child perplexed by a magician pulling quarters out of his ears or making candy disappear. After a few moments, Johnny said, “He wasn’t supposed to do that.”
“Really, Johnny? Of course he wasn’t supposed to do that, but you unclipped him, so he most certainly was going to do that. Good heavens! Now we’ll have to capture him. I hate having to capture him. I can’t believe you did that.”
Johnny sighed and then shrugged. “Not to worry. He should enjoy his freedom while he can. I’m sure he’s been rather repressed lately. We’ll follow at our leisure. He’ll find some awful tennis balls that have seen a few winters and enjoy some canine ecstasy as he rips them to pieces. I’m quite sure he deserves that at the least. Now, where were we?”
“I rang for Stanley and we left my father in the library. I filled Stanley in on what happened. He seemed pleased with the results. I also mentioned my father’s problem and said I would see what I could do. Stanley advised that I let the matter drop entirely.”
Johnny and I continued walking in the direction Robert had taken.
“I suppose you had to offer your help since he’s a guest,” Johnny said, “but as Stanley pointed out, doing so opens yet another door, and that man can slip through the tiniest crack. On top of that, asking Dagmar might be difficult today, given the preparations that are going on. As an alternative, you might consider giving your father the flask containing Alice’s tincture and tell him to take a couple of swigs. You might even give it to Cobb and let him administer it. Cobb can tell his lordship that he’ll see more than Aunt Alice after consuming an ounce or two. Who knows? My flask idea might even work.
“Leaving that for a moment, I think you handled your father rather well, and that’s saying a great deal. So, nicely done. I did speak with Bonnie. She told me that Cobb is doing his best to keep your father alive, but your father is a most difficult patient. Given that Cobb’s the one who has the shares now, he’s definitely been compensated sufficiently to make sure your father remains among the living. I also get the feeling that your mother is in negotiations with Cobb to get the shares back over to Hugo. That should be an interesting discussion. All told, we’ve made some progress, and from where I stand, it’s all coming together rather nicely. I do have one question, however.”
“And what’s that?”
“How are the two hypotheses stacking up in your mind?”
“The Not Nice Hypothesis is still the most likely, but not overwhelmingly so. Acting the host, rather than a son, certainly allowed me to deal with him more effectively. I’ll continue that approach going forward.”
“That would be a good idea. Nonetheless, I think your father will show his true colors at some point. His plans are stymied for now, but I’m sure he hasn’t given up. It’s an obsession with him and likely what is keeping him alive. You haven’t heard the last of him on the matter, I’m quite sure. Malcolm may be able to shed some light on what to expect. He went for a nap after lunch, and I haven’t seen him since. I’ll have a word with him before dinner and see what I can find out.”
“Do that. We’ve done all we can for the moment. Right now, we must collect that dog. Do you see him anywhere? I would hate to think what might happen if we managed to lose him.”
“Not to worry. I see the little bastard. He’s behind the tennis court. I’ll saunter up and put him back on the leash. It won’t take a minute.”
“That would be a refreshing change.”
Forty minutes later, the three of us were headed back to the house. I’m not sure whether it was Johnny’s pleading on hands and knees that did it, or whether Robert had simply grown bored with making Johnny run and leap about. In the end, it might have been pity. Johnny looked utterly exhausted, and we had a long night ahead of us. We parted in the drawing room, and I went looking for Bruni.
77
Bruni was relaxing in the bathtub. I could hear her splashing about. I knocked on the bathroom door frame. “May I come in?”
“Of course. Good timing. You can wash my back … just don’t get my hair wet.”
I sat down on the edge of the tub and began to wash her back with a washcloth. It was a very smooth and attractive back.
“Don’t get any ideas, Percy. Now tell me what happened with your father?”
I sat on the edge of the tub and told her in detail about my conversation.
When I had finished, she turned her head to look at me. “Good use of the whisper and nicely done on reframing the conversation into one between host and guest rather than father-son. That was smart. Cobb having the shares is an interesting twist. It was always a possibility but surprising, nonetheless. Cobb’s obviously much cleverer than I thought.”
“That he is, but he will have my mother to deal with. I think she wants to get those shares back to Hugo as part of a long overdue thank you.”
“Really?”
“Johnny mentioned it as well. It’s one of the reasons she’s here.”
“I hadn’t considered that, but it does make sense. My only question is what, if anything, are you going to do to satisfy your father’s wish? Before you answer, grab me a towel and help me out of this tub.”
Bruni pulled the plug with her toe, stood up, wrapped the towel around herself, and allowed me to help her out. She felt nice and warm under the towel.
“Please focus, Percy. You get distracted so easily.”
“And you have nothing to do with that?”
“I have everything to do with that, which is as it should be. Now, please turn your back so I can dry myself, and you can answer me without having to catch your breath every few seconds.”
“I suppose that might work. I’ll turn around. There. Anyway, I thought I would speak with Dagmar, but Stanley advised against it.”
“One point you may not have considered is that Dagmar is aware of your father’s situation, and that there’s already a plan in place.”
“You think so?”
“I do. She and I spoke about it.”
“How did you manage that? Not even I can do that without an appointment.”
“She likes me. What can I say? I’m welcome in her kitchen anytime.”
“Really?”
“It’s true. This afternoon I let her put me to work. She wants to teach me a few things, and she’s most definitely someone to learn from. I’m considering being her apprentice whenever I’m here. Anyway, she mentioned that she was aware of your father’s situation and that solving his issue with a tincture would be ill-advised. Besides, it would interfere with the end-of-the-evening surprise.”
“There’s going to be an end-of-the-evening surprise? That is news. What do you think she has in mind?”
“We’ll have to wait and see.”
“I bet she didn’t tell you any specifics.”
Bruni smiled. “She didn’t. She told me instead to tell you not to worry, and that all is well in hand. I must say, that kitchen is a hotbed of intrigue, intelligence, and wagers of all sorts.”
“It is, and you being part of that underworld might prove extremely useful. Are they making bets on the wedding?”
“Oh, yes.”
“They’re not wasting any time. Tell me.”
“Unfortunately, I can’t. That is also a ‘need to know’ subject.”
I sighed, “Too bad. Stanley told Johnny and me that our participation would affect the odds, and since we were often the topic of the bets themselves, it would be unsporting. I’m sure the same applies to you.”
“That was how it was put to me.”
“Well, at least we’re both in the same boat. I feel better. Now, have you figured out what you’re wearing? You mentioned a new dress that you thought rather risqué. Was that last night’s or tonight’s?”
“Tonight’s, only I’m having second thoughts.”
“If you’re having second thoughts, I can barely imagine what it’s like … actually, I can, and that’s the problem.”
“Don’t get too excited. The dress and I are talking it over. Now, why don’t you start getting ready yourself. Aren’t your things upstairs?”
“You’re right, and my mother’s in my room. Well, I best get going now. I’ll be back soon.”
“Please do. You’ll be able to check out my dress, and we can make our entrance together. I’m definitely looking forward to this evening’s celebration.”
78
My bedroom door was shut. Johnny saw me and motioned me into his room. “You should thank me. I managed to get your gear before your mother came up to get ready.”
“Thank you, Johnny, and as compensation, here’s some news: according to Bruni, Dagmar rejected the tincture idea. Apparently, it might conflict with what she’s planned.”
“Oh, I like that. I had my doubts about making it through the evening thanks to the antics of young Robert, but with this new information, I’ll make it for sure. Excellent news. Now, let’s get a move on. We can at least have a moment’s peace before things start up in earnest.”
Johnny and I were first down. My white tie and tails were reasonably comfortable. We both looked like we were from another century. Before I grabbed a flute of champagne, I mentioned to Johnny that I had to look in on Bruni. She was wrestling with a particular dress that might be too risqué for tonight’s company.
Johnny looked horrified. “Well, I would definitely settle that. It happened to me with Laura Hutton. We attended this big to-do one evening, and since it was cold outside, she had on a long, elegant overcoat. Once inside, she removed it. I was already quite besotted and becoming overly protective. You can imagine the convulsions my brain went through thanks to some minimalist French designer when I saw what she was wearing underneath that coat. My face was red the entire evening, and people kept asking if I’d fallen asleep under a sun lamp. Laura was thrilled with all the attention. I wasn’t. Please check on Bruni now while there’s time.”
I made my way to our apartment at a good clip.
“Well, what do you think?” asked Bruni as I entered.
The gown in question was made of patterned, dark blue silk and hugged her body like a second skin. Bruni observed herself in the mirror as she turned this way and that.
“At a much larger gathering, you would light up the room. At a more intimate one like this, you will outshine everyone else.”
“My thoughts exactly. It’s too much.”
“What are you going to wear instead?”
“I have this black number. With some serious diamonds it will do quite nicely. You can unzip me now.”
“I’m not sure if I dare.”
“Fortune favors the bold, Percy.”
We made it to the drawing room before most of the crowd. Johnny nodded his approval as Bruni went off to speak to her parents. Johnny said, “That took a bit longer than expected, but Bruni looks wonderful.”
“Yes, and I can also breathe more easily.”
“Always a plus. I’ve been waiting for the tall man to find out what he knows. If you feed him caviar to make him thirsty, and I keep him supplied with champagne, we might get somewhere.”
“He is rather tall,” I said. “I imagine four glasses should do it. There he is. Off you go. I’ll join you in a bit.”
My father had also entered the drawing room with Cobb.
It was Cobb I wanted to speak to, but my mother slipped up beside me before I could approach him.
“Do you like my dress?” she asked. “Valentino Garavani made it for me.”
I turned to look at her. Hers was made of thin black silk, but the way it was folded and wrapped around her made her look like she had stepped off a runway at a haute couture fashion show. Around her neck was a peculiar necklace of pale emeralds. She looked sensational.
“You could break many a heart without even trying.”
“Fortunately, I’ve already done that.”
“And more than once. How are negotiations going with Cobb?”
“I’m almost there. I need that little something to close it, and I think I know what that might be. Let’s stand over by the bar. The light to the left is perfect.”
She took my arm and guided me to the spot she wanted.
“Pass me a flute and stand to my right.”
I handed her the flute and stood in the spot she had pointed out.
“Perfect. Look at me. Excellent. Smile and I’ll smile back.”
I smiled, and her face lit up. She really was something to look at.
