After a very late breakfast, Elizabeth introduced Rome to the rest of the staff and gave him a tour of the Hall. The day was clear and sunny, and Lady Millicent encouraged Elizabeth to show Rome the grounds. Elizabeth gathered the three King Charles spaniels lazing in a spear of sun in the vast drawing room and introduced Cleo, Disraeli, and Gladstone to Rome. He went down on his haunches and reached out a hand for them to sniff. Thirty seconds after they’d all licked his hand, they were prancing around him. He gathered them to him, laughing.
Elizabeth, watching, laughed along with him. “They’re my mother’s dogs. They quite adore her, and you as well, I see.”
They set out for a walk with the dogs through the immaculate gardens, throwing small branches for them to chase and fetch, and then on to a lovely century-old trail, bounded by ancient stones, through the home wood to a small lake with a stone bench beneath a willow tree. The dogs, finally exhausted, sprawled on the bank, eating treats Elizabeth had brought for them.
Rome and Elizabeth sat on the hard bench listening to birdcalls and the squirrels scurrying through the trees. Again,Rome thought Darlington Hall was a place out of time, enjoyed by the very entitled few over the centuries, but still they’d made it magnificent. They didn’t speak about serious things, both tired of going over the same ground, and there was nothing new to say in any case.
Rome asked, “How many workers does it take to tend the gardens and mow the lawns?”
“Now there are only three. Father showed me the old account books once. There were a dozen up until World War I, but after the war of course things began to change, like the establishment of the Inland Revenue Service.” She waved her hand around her. “It feels strange to talk about such privilege today. I’m the daughter of an earl, but in reality I’m like everyone else—I worry about my heating system and my refrigerator going haywire.” She punched his arm. “Unlike you, I’ve never been to Damascus or learned Arabic.”
Rome didn’t say anything. He looked at her laughing mouth, took her in his arms under the willow tree, and kissed her, with Disraeli lying on his foot. Heat, so much heat, kisses deepening, their hands on each other’s clothes, when Elizabeth’s cell blasted out the sound of a honking duck.
It was Lady Millicent inviting them to join her for lunch.
They touched foreheads, breathing hard, then laughed, the dogs prancing around them.
Lady Millicent sat them down on one of the dark blue velvet sofas in the sun-filled informal family room as lunch was being prepared. It was a more modern room than the formal drawing room, inviting and comfortable, with oversized chairs and books on every surface, ready to be picked up and read and laid down again on any surface, didn’t matter. Exquisite throws were scattered over the backs of the sofas, and a dozen pillows added color. Walnut bookshelves lined one wall, bulging with books of all kinds, not lined up neatly but shoved in haphazardly, this way and that, another sign this was a room where youcould put your feet up and relax. A formal portrait of Millicent was hung over a small marble fireplace, across from another set of arched Palladian windows, their heavy draperies pulled back and looped around graceful golden hooks. Cleo, Disraeli, and Gladstone were sprawled dead to the world in front of them.
Millicent said, “It looks like you’ve exhausted them, running them all over the grounds with you.” Rome walked over to them, went down on his knees, and gathered the three spaniels together, stroked their silky ears.
The dogs gave Rome some final licks, but they didn’t return to their places in the sun. They trotted over to Millicent, who reached into her pocket and pulled out treats for them.
Elizabeth grinned at her mother. “Do you know before Rome and I went outside with them I automatically put treats in my pocket for them? Such a longtime habit.”
Millicent said, “Benbett does as well. I’m sorry you missed seeing your father this morning, Elizabeth. He was forced to leave early for a meeting at the Foreign Office before he went on to the bank.”
“My fault for sleeping so late, Mother. There’ll be time to catch up.”
Millicent began to pleat the pale-blue-and-white-checked throw over her lap. She heard her voice hitch and forced a smile. “Mr. Eiserly insisted I inform him whenever I plan to leave Darlington Hall so he can send out two officers to accompany me. That needn’t be often, usually only when I drive to London to visit Tommy. Your father spoke with him twice yesterday about what happened.” Millicent paused, then spit it out. “I know you and Rome plan to see your brother tomorrow, and I wanted to prepare you first, without your father present. I promise you you’ll be amazed how much he’s changed when you see him. He’s still thin, but he exercises and runs most days and he looks so much healthier. His eyes are bright and focused. When he convinced me he really was sober, I movedhim out of the small flat where he lived in Notting Hill into the Corinthian on Carberry Street. His flat is on the end, on the sixth floor. It is certainly better suited to his station. Do you know the Corinthian?”
Elizabeth nodded slowly, taking it all in.
Millicent sat forward and Elizabeth saw she was nearly jumping with nerves. “I’m glad I can speak to you without your father here. I’ve told him Tommy has changed, that he’s clean, no more drugs, not for over three months. This time I’m convinced he’ll stay that way. Your father doesn’t believe it, and I can’t say I blame him after the many times Tommy disappointed him, betrayed his word and his honor, as your father puts it. But after what’s happened, after Tommy’s distress alarm saved me, I’m hoping he’ll change his mind. I’m hoping Tommy can come home where he belongs.”
Elizabeth rose, sat down beside her mother, and took her hands in hers. “I’ll know if Tommy’s clean. If he is and if I’m convinced he is committed to staying clean, I’ll help you convince Father.”
Millicent threw her arms around Elizabeth. “Thank you, thank you. I don’t know what changed, but I know, I simply know in my heart, Tommy really means to stay clean this time.” She looked over at Rome, sitting cross-legged on the carpet, the dogs sprawled all over him. “Rome, I know you hear a lot of lies, given what you do. When you meet my son, you’ll see him with clear eyes and I hope you’ll know if he’s sincere, committed.”
Rome looked at Elizabeth’s mother, saw she wanted desperately to believe her son had changed.
“I’ll do my best,” he said and hugged a madly licking Disraeli.
Chapter Fifty-Two
Navarro Investment Fund headquarters
79 Carlton Street, Philadelphia
Monday
Madelaine Willig, Carla Cartwright’s executive assistant, tapped lightly on the office door and stuck her head in. “Special Agents Briggs and Morales are here, ma’am. Your meeting with accounting is in fifteen minutes.”
“Good. Show them in, please, Maddie.”
She rose from behind her desk and straightened her skirt. She’d managed a good rapport with Morales on the phone and hoped to make the most of it.
When they stepped into her office, she said, “Agent Morales, Agent Briggs, thank you so much for coming.” She stepped forward, shook their hands. “Please sit down. I am so relieved you’re here. What I have to tell you is very disturbing.”
