A couple of times he’s even risked his neck.
He’s not reliable, he gives no guarantees, but his performances are so spectacular that the major companies fight each other to sponsor him; in fact, he’s got no space left on his car body. Or on his spoiler, which features his family’s coat of arms.
“Shouldn’t you be on the track today? Are you skipping free practice?” I ask.
Harring shrugs again. “I’ve won all the races since the beginning of the season. I’ll skip this one. You know, it’s no fun if there’s nobody else on the podium, is it?”
“Modesty is always your forte…”
“Besides, I had an appointment at the tailor’s.”
“You have one every Wednesday!” I point out.
“You know what my motto is: ‘Woe betide anyone whose jacket fits badly!” He exclaims proudly.
When we were at college, Harring and I had a period of dandyism which culminated in a manic obsession for tailor-made suits; however, while I was able to get over such temporary passions, Harring has hoarded them, and keeps them to this day.
Haz walks back and forth outside the stable. “Anyway, I was at the club on Tuesday evening, and I waited for you. Why didn’t you come? You always stop by, after a Parliamentary session.”
“I went home straight after. Now that the high society events season has started, my mother is like a caged tiger. And there’s Jemma now—”
“You’re right, now that you’re a hubby, you can’t have any more wild nights out with us rascals, eh? And, about your wife—”
“What’s wrong?” I ask, worried. I hope she hasn’t made a fool of herself already.
“You’ll introduce her to me today, won’t you?”
“Well… I guess so,” I hesitate.
“My parents came back from Cancún, and my mother met Lady Laetitia, who told her about yourextravagantdinner at Denby Hall – that’s what she called it.”
“I would say it was more surreal than extravagant.”
“She said that your wife left everyone astounded. Lord Neville was also totally captivated. After nearly choking to death, at least.”
“Do you know about that, too?” I ask.
“Especially about that. Look, Parker, I’m not the judging type, and, as long as you’re happy, who you married makes no difference to me, but I’m going to tell you something you perhaps know better than I do.”
“Then why do you care so much to tell me?”
“Because sometimes you need to state the obvious.” Harring looks straight into my eyes and nods towards the spectators that are starting to fill the stands. “Those people will crucify your wife.”
“You don’t know Jemma!” I burst out laughing.
“But I know them. They despise anyone who’s got no noble blood, and they judge people by their bank accounts. You may love this adorable Cinderella from Lewisham, but they will rip her apart. If you ask me, she’s my best friend already, but according to them she’s a parasite, which is quite paradoxical when you think that the nobility lived off this country for centuries.”
“What are you trying to say, exactly?”
“That you’ll have to ward them off. A lot.”
“Thank you, Haz.”
“You’re welcome,” my friend is about to light himself a cigarette.
“Don’t even try lighting that damn thing! Can’t you see it’s full of straw around here, you dickhead?”
“It’s a habit,” Harring pulls it off his lips and stretches out of the covered area to look at the guests.
