Second Chances (27 page)

An
afternoon
downing
quite
obscenely
generous
amounts
of
very
chilled
Krug
in
gardens
where
the
scent
of
mimosa
and
jasmine
hung
as
heavily
on
the
air
as
the
opportunity
-
heavily
disguised
as
supporting
underprivileged
children
-
to
broker
deals,
was
considered
by
Harry's
guests,
if
not
their
wives,
well
worth
a
slog
out
of
London
on
the
hottest
afternoon
of
the
year.
By
the
time
they
were
all
into
their
fourth
or
fifth
glass,
the
hefty
donation
they
were
obliged
to
make
to
Harry's
chosen
charity
suddenly
seemed
a
steal
if
it
meant
they
were
regarded
as
big
enough
players
to
enjoy
his
charmingly
vast
Georgian
home,
perfectly
positioned
overlooking
the
sea.

Alice
had
managed
a
quick
shower,
slipped
into
a
cool,
cotton
vintage
tea
dress,
left
her
legs
bare
and
now
felt
more
equal
to
facing
her
father.

Having
delivered
the
ancient
straw
boater
to
the
gently
perspiring
Mrs
Maynard,
who
looked
as
though
she
would
have
happily
worn
a
fridge
on
her
head
if
it
had
meant
she
had
a
fighting
chance
against
such
heat,
Alice
craned
her
neck
looking
for
the
familiar
figure
of
Harry
Melrose.
And
suddenly,
there
he
was.
Just
as
she
turned
the
corner
of
the
terrace
where
it
looked
out
over
the
sea,
she
saw
the
outline
of
his
back.

Stocky,
his
thick,
once
dark
hair,
now
sliced
with
grey,
a
navy
linen
jacket,
a
face
that
was
routinely
described
as
handsome
and
the
kind
of
charm
for
which
he
was
famed,
obviously
mesmerising
the
crowd
around
him.
Alice
took
a
deep
breath.

'Hey,'
she
touched
his
arm.
Even
in
flat
sandals
she
was
almost
as
tall
as
him.
He
turned
and
instantly
put
an
arm
around
her
and
kissed
her
cheek.

'Don't
you
own
a
watch?'
he
growled.

The
little
group
surrounding
them
smiled
at
what
they
naturally
assumed
was
mock
paternal
sternness.
Alice
knew
better.

'That's
it,'
She
suggested
lightly.
'My
birthday
present.
Sorted.'

He
put
his
head
on
one
side
surveying
her.
'You
look
pleased
with
the
world.'

She
hesitated.
And
then.
What
the
hell?
Claude
would
be
ringing
any
minute.
'Got
some
exciting
news,'
she
beamed.

'Really?
Found
the
next
Matisse?'

She
laughed.
'I
wish.
No.
Much
better.’

'Then
you'd
better
tell
me,'
he
smiled
gazing
thoughtfully
at
her.
'James?'
He
beckoned
to
his
son,
older
than
Alice,
a
clone
of
his
father,
who
had
strolled
over
to
greet
his
sister.

'Of
course,'
James
smiled
giving
Alice
a
peck
on
the
cheek
and
took
his
father's
place,
as
he
was
expected
to
do
in
the
small
circle,
all
of
whom
valiantly
tried
to
hide
their
disappointment
at
the
exchange
of
the
powerful
chairman
of
Europe's
largest
pharmaceutical
company
for
his
perfectly
nice,
but
less
useful,
son.

'You
should
say,
"Thank
you
Alice",'
she
murmured
as
she
followed
her
father
through
the
press
of
people
making
their
progress
to
a
more
discreet
spot
a
slow
one.

'For?'
He
half
turned.

'Rescuing
you.'

'No
point
in
having
three
children
if
they
can't
be
put
to
good
use.'

'Charming.'

'My
pleasure.
Ah,
Anthony’.
He
stretched
a
hand
out
to
a
man
that
Alice
instantly
recognised
as
the
anchor
for
a
television
current
affairs
programme.
'Just
bear
with
me.
My
daughter
wants
me
for
something.
Will
it
keep?'
He
turned
to
her.

'Absolutely,'
she
said.
She
smiled,
allowed
the
anchor-man
to
kiss
her
on
both
cheeks
who,
under
the
impression
that
having
briefly
met
her
at
Harry's
Winter
Ball
at
the
Grosvenor
House
six
months
before,
was
sufficient
grounds
for
doing
so.
Harry
gave
her
a
level
look,
grunted
and
turned
away
to
confirm
to
the
veteran
broadcaster
that
the
PM
had
indeed
asked
him
to
chair
the
new
advisory
committee
looking
at
the
regulation
of
children
in
care.

Alice
watched
them
move
away
to
where
a
television
crew
were
waiting
to
record
the
interview
for
that
night's
news.
She
found
a
quieter
spot
where
she
could
take
Claude's
call
when
it
came.
Her
hand
was
wrapped
around
her
mobile
in
her
pocket
so
she
would
feel
it
vibrate.
She
was
not
going
to
let
such
a
life
changing
moment
go
straight
to
voicemail.
In
a
while
she
would
go
in
search
of
her
sister
somewhere
among
this
sea
of
people
who
were
completely
unknown
to
her,
but
for
the
moment
she
needed
to
grab
what
little
solitude
was
on
offer
to
steady
herself
for
the
moment
she
told
her
parents
her
plans.