Barbara Bradford - In the Lion’s Den - The House of Falconer

Pushing aside thoughts of the Falconers, Jane made herself more comfortable in the chair and brought her attention back to Alexis and her overall problems. Jane was quite sure that her friend preferred to be at Goldenhurst because it was Sebastian’s own creation. He had redesigned the old farmhouse, even built parts of it himself, and so she felt comfortable here.

And comforted, Jane added under her breath. She feels his presence here. It struck Jane at this precise moment that she herself sometimes felt Sebastian’s presence at Goldenhurst. But this is no life for her. She has to move on … get back to work … learn enough to take charge of the company … she will have to do that one day. And who knows when?

We don’t know anything. Jane understood that only too well. We are in control of our own lives to a certain extent, but in the final analysis life is responsible for what happens to us, she thought, good or bad. And Henry Malvern has been ailing, according to Reggie. Men gossiped just like women; news travelled fast between the many private men’s clubs in London. Henry belonged to Savile’s, as did Reggie. Chitchat about the members prattled around.

If only I knew where to begin. That thought was stuck in her head. Jane had tried in the past year to encourage Alexis to spend more time in London, gently reminding her that her father was getting on in years and needed her. Alexis seemed to understand, would nod, and look sorrowful. She had gone to her father’s aid earlier in the year and made a trip to France – but on her return had abruptly come back to Goldenhurst and refused to change her ways.

‘It’s like she’s drugged,’ Jane muttered to herself. ‘I’ve got to find a way to … shock her into coming to her senses …’

The door was flung open, interrupting her thoughts, and Jane jumped up. Her face was radiant as she ran across the room and flung herself at her husband standing in the doorway.

‘Reggie! Reggie darling! What on earth are you doing here? Oh how lovely. You’ve escaped your American newspaper tycoon. However did you do it, you clever thing?’

Laughing, hugging her closer, Reggie released her and said, ‘I didn’t escape. I’m afraid he had rather a bad accident. He fell in the Strand, and a bobby got him to a hospital. He’s hit his head and gashed it badly.’

‘Oh dear. Were you with him? I mean, how do you know?’

‘Jake told the police and the hospital to contact me. He suggested I go to the country and he would see me next week, since he was now trapped in London … they’re keeping him in bed.’ Taking hold of her arm, he walked her across the room and they both sat down in front of the fire.

‘Lucky for me you brought all my gear down here today,’ Reggie said, smiling at her, then leaning forward, warming his hands against the flames. ‘All I had to do was order the carriage and jump in.’ Happiness flooded his face. ‘So here I am, with the woman I love, sooner than expected.’

Jane reached out and grasped his hand. ‘Did you see Alexis?’

He nodded. ‘I said we’d see her at dinner.’

‘Reggie, there’s something I need to ask you,’ Jane began and then stopped.

He looked at her alertly, catching the tone of her voice, but he replied mildly, ‘Go ahead, ask away.’

‘Does George Falconer have any relatives?’

‘Well I’m sure he has a mother and father,’ Reggie responded, smiling, suddenly looking faintly amused.

‘I know that , of course! Please don’t tease me. This is important. Can you tell me what you know about George? After all he is one of your favourites on the newspaper.’

Nodding, Reggie was thoughtful before saying, ‘He has two brothers. One owns a café; the other, the eldest I believe, has stalls at one of the markets.’

‘What about nieces? Nephews?’

‘I believe he does have some. Actually, I met his oldest nephew some time ago. Bumped into them near the Bettrage Hotel in Mayfair.’

Jane sat waiting, holding her breath, her eyes riveted on her husband.

Lord Reginald was frowning. Eventually he said, ‘Now I remember … they were coming out of the hotel and it was the young man I noticed first. Then suddenly, there was George, speaking to me and introducing the young fellow. I was taken aback, actually.’

‘Why were you surprised?’

‘I was startled by the young man. If I hadn’t known better, I would have said he was the scion of some aristocratic family. Tall, good looking, properly dressed. He had impeccable manners, and what a voice … an actor’s voice.’ Reggie shook his head, and exclaimed, ‘Come to think about it, he had a voice that resembles your father’s. Mellifluous. Put him in a courtroom and – with those looks and that voice – he would be like your father. He’d win every case.’

Jane had a surprised expression on her face, could not speak. After a moment, regaining her equilibrium, she said, ‘Are you sure it was George’s nephew, not someone he was interviewing?’

Laughing, Lord Reginald shook his head rather vehemently. ‘I’m sure. Why does this matter to you, Jane? You are being quite intense about this.’

‘Did he say, “This is my nephew”, or did George introduce him by name?’

‘Both. He said this is my nephew, James Falconer.’ Again Reggie asked, ‘Look, why does this matter so much?’

‘Because James Falconer is Henry Malvern’s right-hand man. He’s been working for him since Alexis went to Vienna to be treated by Dr Sigmund Freud.’

Lord Reggie was silent. After a moment, he took out a cigarette and a match flared. He smoked for a moment or two, then asked, ‘Is she afraid of him? Or has she fallen for him?’

‘Neither, in my opinion. I believe she dislikes him, looks down on him. Certainly she was derogatory when she spoke to me about him today. She thinks he’s an opportunist. She’s using him as a reason why her father no longer needs her help.’

‘I see.’ Reginald, a genius in the world of business and perceptive about people, took a moment before he addressed the matter. ‘I have a feeling that James Falconer is a very decent man, if his uncle is anything to go by. I am quite sure he is ambitious – and what’s wrong with that? He obviously wants to move up in the world. I bet he has been a godsend to Malvern.’ He blew smoke into the air and said, ‘I’m afraid our friend has been something of a fool. Sitting around here mooning … for a dead man.’

‘I agree, Reggie. However, I don’t know how to handle this situation with Alexis any more.’

‘She needs a shock … we have to shock her into coming to her senses. I’ll put my thinking cap on.’ Looking hard at his beautiful, sensible wife, he continued, ‘Now I want to ask you a question, Jane.’

‘I will answer you if I can.’

‘What do you think about Alexis’s view of James Falconer? I know you’ve not met him, but I’ve described his manners, his voice, his general appearance. Be honest with me.’

A reflective look came across her face and settled there. She said, ‘I think Alexis might have felt a pull towards him, regretted that emotion, and grown afraid of him. Alexis ran.’

‘And perhaps she felt guilty regarding Sebastian?’

‘Maybe,’ Jane agreed, and pursed her mouth. ‘She was rather strong about his background; she called him a poor boy and mentioned that he’d worked on the stalls.’

‘That’s just the snob in her coming out. But truthfully, in my opinion, a relationship between them is out of the question.’

‘Don’t you think she’s got to take her responsibilities seriously, Reggie? You’ve got to persuade her to go back and help her father, learn how to run the Malvern Company. It’s her legacy.’