A Wicked Persuasion

Of course. Harriet had been steeling herself for that from the moment he entered her office and turned her life on its head again.

‘I’m staying in the locality with my sister for a few days,’ said James, ‘so any time up to, and including, Sunday would suit me.’

‘Perhaps I could ring you later when I’ve had a word with my father.’

‘By all means.’ James stood up and handed her a card. ‘You can reach me on any of the numbers. Goodbye … Miss Wilde.’ He strode from her office and down the hall, smiling briefly at the receptionist as he said goodbye. Outside in bright morning sunshine he breathed in deeply, savouring the overwhelming satisfaction of the moment. It had taken a long time and a hell of a lot of hard graft to achieve financial success, while George Lassiter, his old boss, had hinted over lunch recently that Aubrey Wilde’s finances were not too buoyant these days. James’s eyes glittered coldly. They must be reaching crisis point if he was willing to hire his house out to the man who’d once been considered unfit to enter its hallowed portals.

As soon as she heard the street door close Harriet rang Charlotte Brewster to report.

‘James said he knew you slightly years ago and asked to remain anonymous so he could surprise you,’ Charlotte informed her. ‘How well did you know him?’

‘When I was a student he came to the Lodge to mend my computer. But before I let James Crawford look over River House, Ms Brewster, I need to know how much he’s willing to pay for the privilege.’

Charlotte chuckled. ‘You sounded just like Julia then! When I was a prefect we clashed constantly. I hear she edits one of those glossy style magazines these days. Did she marry?’

‘Not yet.’

‘And you’re not married either—though the love of your life is easy to identify!’

Harriet went cold.

‘River House obviously means the world to you,’ Charlotte continued with sympathy. ‘But take my advice; don’t expend all your love on bricks and mortar. A man in one’s life is no bad thing, you know.’

‘Fascinating though the subject is, Charlotte, let’s get down to brass tacks. How much will Mr Crawford cough up to hire River House?’

Harriet drove home in a very different mood from the night before. One detail apart, she had good news for her father. By the time she reached the Lodge she had even recovered enough from the shock of James Crawford as their first client to enjoy a solitary, celebratory meal alone before she went up to the house. She found her father hovering in the kitchen, waiting for her.

‘Well?’ he said eagerly. ‘Julia said you were seeing this Brewster woman today. Do you have good news?’

‘Yes. Let’s discuss it over coffee in the study.’

‘I’ve already made it for you,’ he said, surprising her.

Once they were settled in the study Harriet informed him that her meeting had been with an actual client for the new venture, and told him how much the client would pay for hiring River House to host a party for his workforce. ‘But this is where I burst your bubble, Father.’

He was thinking with such rapture of the fee he took time to register her remark. ‘Eh? What’s that?’

‘To make this arrangement work, only part of the money will be paid into your personal account; the rest will go into a business account only I will draw on for maintenance for River House. Julia is in full agreement with me on this.’ Harriet’s eyes locked with his, and Aubrey Wilde nodded, defeated.

‘Whatever you say. But it’s a sad day when daughters don’t trust their father.’

Not without cause, thought Harriet, unmoved. ‘Charlotte Brewster tells me she has several further possibilities in mind for River House, so our venture has every chance of being successful. On condition, she emphasizes, that the house and gardens are maintained to a standard high enough to attract future clients.’

Aubrey raised his still handsome head, his smile bleak. ‘I hear you. I’ll sign on whatever dotted line you put in front of me—once I’ve read every word of the small print, of course.’

‘Of course,’ she agreed, relaxing slightly.

‘This would be damned embarrassing if I were still at the bank. I’m glad I retired when I did,’ he said, depressed.

‘Yet you of all people know that a business account like this makes sense,’ said Harriet briskly, watching closely while he signed the documents. ‘By the way, the client would like to see over the house and garden as soon as possible. Do you want to be here when he comes?’

He looked up irritably. ‘Of course I do! Dammit, girl, it’s my home! Just make sure you’re here, too.’

‘As you wish. I’d rather not take time off so I’ll suggest Saturday to the client and ask Will to give us extra time in the garden beforehand. The weather forecast is good for the weekend, fortunately. I checked.’

He nodded glumly. ‘Saturday it is then. I was booked to play golf, but I’ll cancel.’

‘Good. I’ll ask the client to come at ten.’

‘Who is he, by the way?’

‘Head of the Live Wires Group.’

‘Can’t say I’ve heard of it. But it must be successful if he’s prepared to shell out like this just to entertain his employees. You’d better have a word with Mrs Rogers to prepare her, Harriet.’

‘It won’t affect her too much. Margaret keeps the entire house at inspection standard all the time anyway. And the kitchen won’t be needed for the party catering.’

‘But people will be swarming all over the rest of the house,’ he said gloomily.

‘Not in this instance. There’s to be a marquee on the lawn—probably like the one you had for Sophie’s wedding.’

‘The affair won’t be too intrusive then.’ Aubrey hovered as she packed the documents away. ‘If that’s everything I might as well go out for an hour.’

‘Cheer up, Father. It’s better than selling the house.’

‘By God you’re right,’ he said with feeling, and squeezed her hand. ‘You’re a good girl, Harriet.’

She withdrew her hand gently. ‘Goodnight, Father.’

Harriet returned to the Lodge and stood at the window, watching her father’s newest car purr down the drive. She left a message for Julia to report on the meeting, and finally steeled herself to contact James.

‘This is Harriet—Harriet Wilde.’

‘I haven’t forgotten your name! So when do we meet?’

‘Does Saturday suit you?’

‘Saturday is fine to inspect the house, but I need to see you before then, Harriet. Or should I keep to Miss Wilde?’

She stiffened. ‘Your choice entirely. Why do you want to see me?’

‘There are some points I’d like to go over with you before I meet up with your father.’

His money is getting us out of a hole, she reminded herself. ‘When would you like to come to my office?’

‘I meant a private meeting—over dinner tomorrow evening.’

Harriet almost dropped her phone. ‘Is that absolutely necessary?’