Kathleen Tessaro 3-Book Collection: The Flirt, The Debutante, The Perfume Collector

‘I’ve got a hell of a lot on …’

‘I see.’

‘Tickets, please!’

Swaying in front of them was a ticket inspector, pad at the ready.

Hughie prodded Malcolm. ‘You’ve got my ticket.’

‘Have I?’ Malcolm raised an eyebrow. ‘You know, I’ve got a hell of a lot on, Hughie. I’m not sure I can remember where I put it. Perhaps if I had something to look forward to,’ he sighed, ‘… a drinks engagement perhaps, I might be able to recall what I did with it.’

‘Tickets please, gentlemen!’

Malcolm produced his bus pass with a flourish. ‘Here’s mine!’ He smiled sweetly at Hughie. ‘And you?’

Hughie wished, not for the first time, that his sister would find herself a different beau.

‘You do have a ticket, young man? There’s a fine if you haven’t.’ The inspector tapped his pad. ‘Quite a considerable fine.’

Malcolm shrugged. ‘Oh, dear!’

Hughie was just about to give up when there was a gentle tap on his shoulder.

‘Excuse me.’

He twisted round to find a dashing man in his fifties behind him. He wasn’t the sort of man you’d expect to find on the top deck of a bus. Exquisitely dressed in a tailored grey wool suit and gold silk tie, he radiated authority, ease and polish. His hair was impeccable, nails trimmed, his skin had the soft golden glow of tan. But it was his eyes that were so arresting. They were a rare intensity of blue, not unlike Hughie’s own.

‘I believe you dropped this,’ he smiled, holding out a ticket.

Hughie hesitated, then took it. ‘Thank you.’

The man stood up. ‘My pleasure.’

Then he clasped the hand of the ticket inspector and shook it warmly. ‘I just want to say I think you’re doing an excellent job. I work at Head Office and rarely have I seen a servant of the people as devoted and diligent as yourself. It makes me proud, my good man! Proud to be part of this great public transport system, and I must say, proud to be British!’ He looked to Hughie. ‘Don’t you agree?’

‘Absolutely!’

The ticket inspector blushed. ‘I don’t know what to say! It’s so nice to be appreciated for a change. The number of people who abuse you, just for doing your job!’

The man nodded and patted him on the shoulder. ‘You’re a brave soldier.’

‘You have to be!’

‘I’ll tell you what,’ said the man, taking out his mobile. ‘I’m putting in a call to Head Office right now and I’d like to mention you by name.’

‘Really? Do you mean it? It’s Paul, sir. Paul Pullerton.’

‘Mr Pullerton, you’re a credit to your profession! I’m dialling right now. Keep up the good work!’ he called as he headed down the steps and off the bus.

‘Now there’s a gentleman!’ the inspector declared to anyone who would listen. ‘Last of a dying breed!’

‘He didn’t have to show his ticket!’ Malcolm pointed out.

But the inspector ignored him. ‘A dying breed,’ he repeated and moved down the aisle.

Hughie looked out of the window. The man had disappeared.

Surely he’d given him his ticket. But why had he bothered to save a complete stranger?

Halfway down Park Lane, the bus shuddered violently. Clouds of black smoke billowed from its engine. The driver pulled over and rang the bell. ‘Everyone off! Everyone off the bus!’

Hughie climbed off and managed to lose Malcolm in the outraged throng of pensioners and pushchairs. Traffic had ground to a halt.

There was nothing for it. So he ran down Park Lane.

At Hyde Park Corner, his phone rang again.

‘I’m ordering without you,’ his mother said. ‘You forget that not everyone is unemployed and can laze about all day like you.’

‘Mum … I can explain …’

‘You have so little respect for other people. Time is more than money, Hughie, it’s the stuff of life. You are wasting my life! Why are you panting? Is something wrong with you? Are you ill? How is it that any child of mine could be so badly brought up as to think …’

Another call was coming through. It was Leticia.

‘After all the money I’ve spent trying to give you the best possible start – yes, I’ll have the lamb please and a bottle of Château Margaux …’

‘Sorry, Mum …’

‘Hughie, don’t interrupt! What have I just been telling you about respect?’

‘Mum, if you could just hold a minute …’

‘Hold! I will certainly not hold!’

Leticia rang off.

‘My God, Hughie, you really take the biscuit!’

‘Mum! This is a very important call!’

He put his mother on hold and rang Leticia.

‘The Vane home for very, very wayward women,’ she answered.

Then Hughie’s credit ran out and the line went dead.

By the time he arrived at Leticia’s shop, her next client was already there. He rang the bell anyway.