‘Yes, sir. The House.’
‘The House?’ queried Harvey.
‘Christ Church, sir.’
‘I’ll never understand Oxford.’
‘No, sir.’
‘You must call me Harvey. Well, as I was saying, we all met at the Clarendon and they stammered and stuttered and they were totally lost for words, except for one funny old guy, who was ninety if he was a day. The truth is that those people just don’t know how to approach millionaires for money, so I put them out of their embarrassment and took over. They’d have gone on all day about their beloved Oxford, so eventually I had to shut them up and simply wrote out a check for $250,000.’
‘That was very generous, Harvey.’
‘I’d have given them $500,000 if the old boy had asked. James, you’ve gone quite white. Do you feel all right?’
‘I’m sorry. Yes, I’m fine. I was quite carried away with your description of Oxford.’
Anne joined in:
‘Daddy, you made an agreement with the Vice-Chancellor that you would keep your gift as a bond between the university and yourself, and you must promise never to repeat that story again.’
‘I think I shall wear the robes for the first time when I open the new Metcalfe library at Harvard in the fall.’
‘Oh, no sir,’ stammered James a little too quickly, ‘that wouldn’t be quite the thing. You should only wear full robes in Oxford on ceremonial occasions.’
‘Gee, what a shame. Still, I know what sticklers you English are for etiquette. Which reminds me, we ought to discuss your wedding. I suppose you two will want to live in England?’
‘Yes, Daddy, but we’ll visit you every year and when you make your annual trip to Europe you can come and stay with us.’
The waiters cleared the table again and reappeared with Harvey’s favorite strawberries. Anne tried to steer the conversation to domestic issues and stop her father returning to what he’d been up to during the past two months, while James spent his time trying to get him back on the subject.
‘Coffee or liquor, sir?’
‘No, thank you,’ said Harvey. ‘Just the check. I thought we’d have a drink in my suite at Claridge’s, Rosalie. I have something to show you both. It’s a bit of a surprise.’
‘I can’t wait, Daddy. I love surprises. Come on, James.’
James left them and drove the Alfa Romeo to Claridge’s garage so that Anne could have a few moments alone with her father. They strolled along Curzon Street, arm in arm.
‘Isn’t he wonderful, Daddy?’
‘Yeah, great guy. Didn’t seem too bright to begin with, but he cheered up as the meal went on. And fancy my little girl turning out to be a genuine English lady. Your Momma’s tickled pink and I’m pleased that we’ve patched up our silly quarrel.’
‘Oh, you helped a lot, Daddy.’
‘I did?’ queried Harvey.
‘Yes, I managed to get things back into perspective during the last few weeks. Now tell me, what is your little surprise?’
‘Wait and see, honey. It’s your wedding present.’
James rejoined them at the entrance to Claridge’s. He could tell from Anne’s look that Harvey had given him the seal of parental approval.
‘Good evening, sir. Good evening, my lord.’
‘Hi there, Albert. Could you fix some coffee and a bottle of Rémy Martin to be sent up to my suite?’
‘Right away, sir.’
James had never seen the Royal Suite before. Off the small entrance room, there is a master bedroom on the right and a sitting room on the left. Harvey took them straight to the sitting room.
‘Children, you are about to see your wedding present.’
He threw the door open in dramatic style and there on the far wall was the Van Gogh. They both stared, quite unable to speak.
‘That’s exactly how it left me,’ said Harvey. ‘Speechless.’
‘Daddy.’ Anne swallowed. ‘A Van Gogh. But you’ve always wanted a Van Gogh. You’ve dreamed of possessing one for years. I couldn’t possibly deprive you of it now, and anyway I couldn’t think of having anything as valuable as that in my house. Think of the security risk — we don’t have the protection you have.’ Anne stammered on. ‘We couldn’t let you sacrifice the pride of your collection, could we, James?’
‘Absolutely not,’ said James with great feeling. ‘I wouldn’t have a moment’s peace with that on the premises.’
‘Keep the painting in Boston, Daddy, in a setting worthy of it.’
‘But I thought you’d love the idea, Rosalie.’
‘I do, I do, Daddy, I just don’t want the responsibility, and in any case Mother must have the chance to enjoy it too. You can always leave it to James and me if you like.’
‘What a great idea, Rosalie. That way we can both enjoy the painting. Now I shall have to think of another wedding present. She nearly got the better of me then, James, and she hasn’t done that in twenty-four years.’
‘Well, I’ve managed it two or three times lately, Daddy, and I’m still hoping I shall do it once more.’
Harvey ignored Anne’s remark and went on talking.
‘That’s the King George and Elizabeth trophy,’ he said, pointing to a magnificent bronze sculpture of a horse and jockey with his hoop and quartered cap studded with diamonds. ‘The race is so important they present a new trophy every year — so it’s mine for life.’
James was thankful that the trophy at least was genuine.
The coffee and brandy arrived and they settled down to discuss the wedding in detail.
‘Now, Rosalie, you must fly over to Lincoln next week and help your mother with the arrangements, otherwise she’ll panic and nothing will get done. And, James, you let me know how many people you’ll have coming over and I’ll put them up at the Ritz. The wedding will be in Trinity Church, Copley Square, and we’ll have a real English-style reception afterward back in my home in Lincoln. Does all that make sense, James?’
‘Sounds wonderful. You’re a very well organized man, Harvey.’
‘Always have been, James. Find it pays in the long run. Now, you and Rosalie must get the details sewn up before she comes over next week; you may not have realized it, but I’m returning to America tomorrow.’
Page 38A of the blue dossier, thought James.
James and Anne spent another hour chatting about the wedding arrangements and left Harvey just before midnight.
‘I’ll see you first thing in the morning, Daddy.’
‘Good night, sir.’
James shook hands and left.
‘I told you he was super.’
‘He’s a fine young man and your mother will be very pleased.’
James said nothing to Anne in the lift on the way down because two other men stood beside them in silence, also intent on reaching the ground floor. But once they were in the Alfa Romeo he took Anne by the scruff of her neck, threw her across his legs, and spanked her so hard that she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
‘What’s that for?’
‘Just in case you ever forget after we’re married who’s the head of this household.’
‘You male chauvinist pig, I was only trying to help.’
James drove at furious speed to Anne’s flat.
‘What about all your so-called background — “My parents live in Washington and Daddy’s in the Diplomatic Corps”,’ James mimicked. ‘Some diplomat.’
‘I know, darling, but I had to think of something once I’d realized who it was you were up against.’
‘What in hell’s name am I going to tell the others?’
‘Nothing. You invite them to the wedding, explain that my mother is American and that’s why we’re getting married in Boston. I’d give the earth to see their faces when they discover who your father-in-law is. In any case, you still have a plan to think of and you can’t possibly let them down.’