Jeffrey Archer - Only Time Will Tell

‘Yes, I did.’

‘How many times?’

‘I lost count,’ said Giles. ‘She was insatiable. Seven, perhaps eight. She just wouldn’t let me get to sleep. I’d still be there now if she hadn’t had to be at the Vatican museum at ten this morning to lecture the next bunch of brats.’

‘But what if she gets pregnant?’ said Harry.

‘Don’t be so naive, Harry. Try to remember she’s an Italian.’ After another sip of coffee, he asked, ‘So, how did my sister behave herself?’

‘The food was excellent, and you owe me your Caruso recording.’

‘That bad? Well, we can’t all be winners.’

Neither of them had noticed Emma enter the room until she was standing by their side. Harry leapt up and offered her his seat. ‘Sorry to leave you,’ he said, ‘but I have to be at the Vatican museum by ten.’

‘Give Caterina my love!’ shouted Giles as Harry almost ran out of the breakfast room.

Giles waited until Harry was out of sight before he asked his sister, ‘So, how did last night go?’

‘Could have been worse,’ she said, picking up a croissant. ‘A bit serious, isn’t he?’

‘You should meet Deakins.’

Emma laughed. ‘Well, at least the food was good. But don’t forget, I now own your gramophone.’

GILES LATER DESCRIBED IT as the most memorable night of his life – for all the wrong reasons.

The annual play is one of the major events in the Bristol Grammar School calendar, not least because the city boasts a fine theatre tradition, and 1937 was to prove a vintage year.

The school, like so many others in the country, performed one of Shakespeare’s set texts for the year. The choice had been between Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream . Dr Paget chose the tragedy rather than the comedy, not least because he had a Romeo and he didn’t have a Bottom.

For the first time in the school’s history, the young ladies of Red Maids’ on the other side of the city were invited to audition for the girls’ parts, but not before several discussions had taken place with Miss Webb, the headmistress, who had insisted on a set of ground rules that would have impressed a mother superior.

The play was to be performed on three consecutive evenings in the last week of term. As always, the Saturday night was sold out first, because former pupils and the parents of the cast wished to attend the closing night.

Giles was standing anxiously in the foyer checking his watch every few moments as he waited impatiently for his parents and younger sister to arrive. He hoped that Harry would give another fine performance, and his father would finally come round to accepting him.

The critic from the Bristol Evening World had described Harry’s performance as ‘mature beyond his years’, but he had saved the highest praise for Juliet, reporting that he had not seen the death scene performed more movingly even at Stratford.

Giles shook hands with Mr Frobisher as he walked into the foyer. His old housemaster introduced his guest, a Mr Holcombe, before they went through to the great hall to take their seats.

A murmur rippled around the audience when Captain Tarrant walked down the centre aisle and took his place in the front row. His recent appointment as a governor of the school had been met with universal approval. As he leant across to have a word with the chairman of the governors, he spotted Maisie Clifton sitting just a few rows behind. He gave her a warm smile, but didn’t recognize the man she was sitting with. The next surprise came when he studied the cast list.

The headmaster and Mrs Barton were among the last members of the audience to enter the great hall. They took their places in the front row alongside Sir Walter Barrington and Captain Tarrant.

Giles was becoming more nervous with each passing minute. He was beginning to wonder if his parents would turn up before the curtain rose.

‘I’m so sorry, Giles,’ said his mother when they finally appeared. ‘It’s my fault, I lost track of time,’ she added as she and Grace hurried into the hall. His father followed a yard behind and raised his eyebrows when he saw his son. Giles didn’t hand him a programme as he wanted it to be a surprise, although he had shared the news with his mother who, like him, hoped her husband would finally treat Harry as if he were a friend of the family, and not an outsider.

The curtain rose only moments after the Barringtons had taken their seats, and a hush of anticipation descended on the packed audience.

When Harry made his first entrance, Giles glanced in his father’s direction. As there didn’t appear to be any immediate reaction, he began to relax for the first time that evening. But this happy state of affairs only lasted until the ballroom scene, when Romeo, and Hugo, saw Juliet for the first time.

Some people in the seats near the Barringtons became irritated by a restless man who was spoiling their enjoyment of the play with his loud whispering and demands to see a programme. They became even more annoyed after Romeo said, ‘Is she not Capulet’s daughter?’ at which point Hugo Barrington stood up and barged along the row, not caring whose feet he trod on. He then marched down the centre aisle, pushed his way through the swing doors and disappeared into the night. It was some time before Romeo fully regained his composure.

Sir Walter tried to give the impression he hadn’t noticed what was going on behind him, and although Captain Tarrant frowned, his eyes never left the stage. Had he turned round, he would have seen Mrs Clifton was ignoring Barrington’s unscripted exit as she concentrated on every word the two young lovers had to say.

During the interval, Giles went in search of his father but couldn’t find him. He checked the car park, but there was no sign of the Bugatti. When he returned to the foyer, he saw his grandfather bending down and whispering in his mother’s ear.

‘Has Hugo gone completely mad?’ asked Sir Walter.

‘No, he’s sane enough,’ said Elizabeth, making no attempt to hide her anger.

‘Then what in heaven’s name does he think he’s up to?’

‘I have no idea.’

‘Could it possibly have something to do with the Clifton boy?’

She would have replied if Jack Tarrant hadn’t walked across to join them.

‘Your daughter has a remarkable talent, Elizabeth,’ he said after kissing her hand, ‘as well as the advantage of inheriting your beauty.’

‘And you’re an old flatterer, Jack,’ she said, before adding, ‘I don’t think you’ve met my son, Giles.’

‘Good evening, sir,’ said Giles. ‘It’s a great honour to meet you. May I congratulate you on your recent appointment.’

‘Thank you, young man,’ said Tarrant. ‘And how do you feel about your friend’s performance?’

‘Remarkable, but did you know-’

‘Good evening, Mrs Barrington.’

‘Good evening, headmaster.’

‘I must be joining a long queue of those who wish to add their…’

Giles watched as Captain Tarrant slipped away to join Harry’s mother, and wondered how they knew each other.

‘How lovely to see you, Captain Tarrant.’

‘And you, Mrs Clifton, and how glamorous you’re looking tonight. If Cary Grant had known that such beauty existed in Bristol, he would never have deserted us for Hollywood.’ He then lowered his voice. ‘Did you have any idea that Emma Barrington was playing Juliet?’

‘No, Harry didn’t mention it to me,’ said Maisie. ‘But then, why should he?’

‘Let’s hope that the affection they are displaying for one another on stage is nothing more than good acting, because if it’s how they really feel about each other, we may have an even bigger problem on our hands.’ He looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping on their conversation. ‘I presume you still haven’t said anything to Harry?’