A Servant of the Company (9 page)

‘The O’Brien’s are a lovely couple, they have been with us for years and are almost part of the family. Bridget runs this house and has a sixth sense about everything. Under her control it runs like a military operation. Dan, her husband, takes care of the buildings and grounds. If you look around you will see the pride he takes in the place. They are absolute treasures and worth their weight in gold.’ As he was speaking, the air was filled with the sound of low flying aircraft. ‘There’s always the reminder that we are in the twenty-first century.’ He laughed as he pointed up to the constant stream of aircraft flying in and out of Heathrow.

‘Don’t forget the positive side, they do get us to the sun in the summer and the slopes in winter.’ Diane looked forward to her holidays, committing herself fully to her job, with rare exceptions, for the rest of the year. As she turned to walk towards the front door, the early evening sun illuminated the house. ‘What a beautiful home you have Simon, I’m impressed.’ Her gaze scanned the house and the surrounding grounds estimating this was multi-millionaire country. She had been expecting something on the grand scale, but not this grand. ‘Very Homes and Gardens,’ she said to herself. Since their last meeting she had thought about him and the weekend ahead almost to the exclusion of all else, and now she was here she was going to enjoy it. This was a ‘rare exception’ week.

Simon took her case from the car and showed her into the oak panelled hall. ‘I’ll take you upstairs first in case you want to freshen up.’ From experience he was aware that the first thing most people wanted after a journey was a visit to the lavatory. He took her elbow and gently guided her across the hall to the oak staircase and up to his bedroom. He put her case on the bed. ‘You can use the wardrobes if you wish, you will find there are some empty drawers too if you should need them. The door in the corner leads to the bathroom. Anything else, just give me a shout. Oh! And what would you like to drink?’

‘I would love a gin and tonic Simon as long as you will join me.’

‘That’s an excellent idea, I was going to suggest it but wasn’t sure if it was your tipple.’ Simon found it difficult to take his eyes off her as she walked around the room admiring items of furniture. How many hours to go before they would be in bed together was foremost in his mind. ‘Be patient Simon,’ he said to himself, ‘Don’t try to rush things.’

‘This room is beautiful and what a view you have. I know your company has a similar reputation to ours for the quality of its furniture, but with some of these pieces I really can’t tell if they are repro or the real thing.’

‘It is difficult sometimes, but these are the real thing collected by the family over the years. Some of our company pieces are exact copies of the furniture in the house. Later I will show you the original of the piece you admired at the show. Well I’ll leave you to unpack and the G and T will be ready when you come down.’ He smiled at her, left the room, closing the door behind him. ‘So far so good,’ he said softly to himself. All he had to do now was leave the file open on the bureau in the drawing room. She would notice it he was sure, and an inquisitive nature would overcome her good manners. With luck, temptation would give the view of his company that he wanted her and her board of directors to believe. The first document outlined a five year strategy, which was pure fabrication. There were also references to nonexistent deals with a fictitious timber importer, giving quotations which would make any competitors’ hair stand on end. Wherever bottom line turnover or profits were quoted, he had initialled and highlighted them with a yellow marker. It was a very professional job, and Simon considered that he might have been taken in by it if the roles had been reversed. ‘Do peep at this my darling,’ he said to himself as he moved away to pour the drinks. If she took the information back to her boardroom, he expected it would cause panic, and who knows how many wrong commercial decisions would be made and how much more business would come Colbournes way.

There was a knock on the drawing room door and Diane walked in. She had changed into a snug fitting pair of jeans, a white silk shirt and looked stunning. Simon rose from his chair, and complimented her on her appearance then passing her the glass said, ‘Here’s to a pleasant weekend.’ Diane raised her glass and smiled.

From the contents of the wardrobe, she not only knew she was in Simon’s room but that she wouldn’t object.

‘I have ordered a taxi for eight o’clock to take us to a local hostelry for dinner. The wine cellar is particularly good so we can both enjoy it and not have to worry about driving. You will be pleased to hear I don’t drink and drive, it’s just so irresponsible. Can I show you around the house and then we could have a stroll in the gardens. It’s beginning to look quite colourful right now and should continue to do so right through until the end of September.’

‘I can see the grounds are a full time job and they are kept beautifully. My parents have a small garden at home in Shropshire which they take great pride in, but the size and perfection of the
gardens here would make them very envious.’ After a tour of the kitchen he led her into the garden. Pausing by the large lake, she admired the statues carefully situated to blend in with the scenery. She had visited a number of stately homes with her parents when she was younger and had always appreciated the work which must have been done to achieve such perfection. This was the same only in miniature. ‘Seeing the wonderful shrubs and plants, I could wander around here for hours. The birds seem to like it too.’ There was stillness in the air, and the sound of birds calling to each other helped to create a relaxing atmosphere even though the planes still dominated the heavens. When Simon took her hand as they strolled, it seemed a natural thing for him to do. The experience so far was relaxing and Simon an attentive host, she felt settled although she had only been at the manor for just over an hour. The early evening light added warmth not only to the surroundings but reflected on both of them. Turning to Simon she said, ‘I couldn’t imagine you living anywhere else but here, it’s just as though it was made especially for you.’ She didn’t know why she had said it, but it was what she felt. Wondering if her comments sounded a little extravagant, she decided to let Simon do the talking, so fell silent to give him the opportunity.

‘Looking back to my childhood here, it was idyllic until I was sent to boarding school when I was eight. It was as though the world was about to end. How homesick I was then. Strange how things like that come back as reminders of bygone days.’ He was saying too much. The ball had to be returned to her court, he must remember to play by his rules. Never give anything away unless it was to your advantage. ‘You said you left University five years ago, how did you enjoy that experience?’ Fifteen-love.

‘Bristol was good for me, I made some great friends, had the right balance between social and academic life and came out with a 2:1 in Economics. Sometimes it seems like yesterday, today it feels like ancient history.’ This was so far removed from anything she had experienced. She was now an insider, a guest not a ticket paying visitor having to leave before the gates closed and normal life resumed for the residents. Gentry who would only have the visitors as a way of paying the roofing bills and other high cost maintenance, and at the same time hated the intrusion. ‘How about your University, Oxbridge I bet?’

Fifteen-all. ‘It was Cambridge, but I’m so old my memory of days there has diminished to punting on the river. Do you find your degree useful with Harrison’s or was just the discipline of getting it which gave you the confidence I recognise, and which I’m sure your M.D. does too.’ The question was back to Diane and Simon intended it to stay there. Thirty-fifteen.

‘When I reflect back, I was never sure how reading Economics was going to fit into a future job although I had briefly considered accountancy. That is until I met one or two. That put me off forever.’ They both laughed at her comment, Simon squeezing her hand appreciating her view of the profession. ‘Prior to graduating, I wanted a small family type business which would give me the opportunity to develop. The type of business was irrelevant, fortunately the one I chose turned out right for me. I wouldn’t say there hasn’t been a time when I might have walked away from it, but that was a personal problem not a company issue. All in all, I enjoy my job and meet some very nice people.’ Smiling she looked at Simon and squeezed his hand.

The gesture wasn’t lost on him, things were going well. There were no more questions. Forty-fifteen. Game, set and match would soon be achieved. Now to let her know the plan for the evening. ‘I hope you don’t mind eating out this evening. The area is still quite civilized and we have a lovely old inn quite near. Well, a short taxi ride. I’m sure you will like it, anyway I would like to hear your views. I’m a bit dyed in the wool and my opinions are probably not to be trusted. It’s a place I have grown up to enjoy, anyway let’s see what you think.’

‘It sounds very atmospheric, but if you want, I will mark it out of ten. Is that alright for you?’ She swung her arm, their hands joined together had his arm swinging in unison. Rather like a playful child with a parent.

As they walked back towards the house, Diane noticed a small grave stone near an old oak tree. ‘Is that where the family pets are buried?’ she asked, putting on a sad face.

‘Just one pet, my dog Sloppy. He couldn’t have had any other name, he exasperated everyone but me with his lack of doggy manners and the ease with which he could knock things over. I believe quite a lot of valuable china was lost due to his efforts. I was only five when he arrived and fifteen when he died, and believe me it was one of the saddest days of my life.’

Diane was impressed seeing the compassionate side of Simon’s nature, it was a nice trait she thought. ‘We had cats at home, I would have liked a dog but my mother thought the two wouldn’t mix so I became a cat person by default.’

Strolling back to the house, neither spoke. Diane realising that he was still thinking of his long departed pet decided to hold his hand tightly and enjoy the sounds of nature until the time to talk was right.

Once back in the house, Simon gave her a tour of the rooms, many of which held beautiful pieces of antique furniture. There seemed to be a story attached to each piece and Diane was fascinated when Simon told her some amusing and some tragic tales allotted to the various pieces.

In the drawing room he was pleased to note that she glanced twice at the ‘FIVE YEAR PLAN’ folder.

‘Now young lady we must sort ourselves out because the taxi will be here in fifteen minutes, and then I can introduce you to some more of the local history.’

The Feathers dated back to the sixteenth century and in part still maintained an aura of history, with its original oak panelling and pieces of antique furniture. In the dining room, the tables were beautifully presented with crisp white table linen, king’s pattern cutlery and central on each table, a crystal globe holding a red candle. The effect was warm and inviting, perfect as an introduction to achieve his goals for the weekend.

‘Diane, I thought you looked wonderful when we met in Birmingham, but it was an under estimation. You look fantastic tonight and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here with you.’

‘Thank you kind Sir, you say the nicest things.’ She looked at him over the rim of her glass, thinking that this was a far better date than the one she had turned down, and she might get some useful information to help the business. ‘I must say you have a fabulous house Simon, it must be very old. Do you live there on your own, or is there a Mrs. Colbourne tucked away somewhere?’ She had wondered if she would have accepted his invitation if there had been.

‘The house is about the same age as this hostelry, above the front door there is a stone carving with a coat of arms dated 1605. It was bought in the nineteen thirties by my Great Grandparents, and it has been passed down to my parents who still own it.’ He looked at her with a straight face before continuing.

‘Yes there is a Mrs. Colbourne.’ Simon paused and watched a look of disappointment on Diane’s face. He waited a little longer before putting her out of her obvious misery. ‘She’s my mother. My parents have now retired and spend half the year in Switzerland and the other half in South Africa, they only rarely come back here, the weather doesn’t agree with my father’s health. He does however keep an eye on the business now he has mastered a p.c.’

‘What a wonderful way to spend retirement, do you visit them often?’ She wondered what it would be like to be Mrs. Colbourne junior, visualising a life free from any kind of pressure.

‘I do try to visit both countries at least once a year, my parents aren’t getting any younger and they do like to hear news from home straight from the horse’s mouth. We also e-mail each other on a fairly regular basis.’

The meal had been excellent as Simon knew it would be. Conversation had flowed as they enjoyed each other’s company and as the evening progressed Simon’s thoughts were diverted to his planned nocturnal activities, The Inn had played its part now it was time to go. ‘Would you like another drink Diane?’ Simon smiled, willing her to say ‘No’ so that a quick return to the Manor could be arranged.

‘Simon, I’ve had a wonderful evening and I couldn’t face anything else to eat or drink. I have enjoyed both the meal and the company. I’ll just go the powder room if you don’t mind.’

He stood as she got up to leave the table, but his eyes did not leave her as she walked between the tables. Although she was unaware of it, there were many other lustful glances in her direction from males in the dining room. She was beautiful and also had a feline grace which stopped conversations as soon as she was noticed.