Lynda Plante - The Talisman

Edward checked over the Banks sale to Jasper Golding and Sir Francis Coleman, and discovered that it was yet again a flourishing, successful business. Renamed, the private gaming house was making a vast profit. From the documents he found in Alex’s desk he reckoned that the men’s stakes of one million each had already trebled... he also discovered the shares Alex had hung on to. He was furious, Alex was cheating him, going behind his back. Edward’s trust in his brother suddenly disintegrated — he was just like everyone else, like Walter, lining his own pockets.

Edward turned to the company’s financial records. It was more and more obvious that Alex had been steadily losing money, the company’s money. Edward sighed, so much for honest, straightforward dealing. To date, he alone had been responsible for the lucrative side of the Barkley Company.

He returned to his own office and began to outline a plan to salvage the failing St James’ Bank, to try to recoup the losses incurred during his absence. He was so engrossed in working his way through the files that he didn’t even look up when the door opened.

‘Well, well, this is your Uncle Edward, go on, say hello.’

Alex carried his son in his arms. Although the same age as Jinks, he was twice her size, and had thick, black, curly hair. His eyes were dark, his skin tawny, and his lungs were in good working order. He bellowed, wriggling to get down.

‘This is Evelyn — what do you think of him?’

He put the little boy down and he clung unsteadily to the desk, then fell over. Edward bent down and picked him up. He could feel how much heavier Evelyn was than Jinks.

‘He looks like him, doesn’t he Edward, like Dad?’

Edward looked down into the upturned face. Papers tumbled to the floor as the little hands grabbed.

‘You’ve got your hands full here, Alex, eh? What a big fella. So this is what’s been keeping you away from the office?’

Alex picked up the insult fast, and immediately led Evelyn by the hand to the office door. ‘Go to Nanny, there’s a good boy... bye-bye.’

Turning unsteadily on his fat little legs, Evelyn waved to Edward. Beyond the door a nanny in uniform waited for him. As soon as the door closed, there was a scream which continued into the distance as the nanny carried the wailing child away.

Alex looked at the closed door, then at the desk. ‘I see you’ve been over the files. I admit we’ve taken a few setbacks, but we lost the takeover of Buchanan House because you weren’t here and the board wouldn’t accept the deal without you... And you have the nerve to make digs about me not being in the office... where in God’s name have you been?’

A cigar clamped between his teeth, soberly dressed and with his hair cut short, Edward was back to his old self.

‘Well, it’s a bloody good job I showed up when I did, you’re certainly making a right balls-up of it. Christ, whatever made you buy stock in that fucking heap?’

Alex tried hard to control his temper. ‘I made a list of the properties we can let go, cover our losses.’

Edward tossed Alex his own list of companies they could sell off fast. Alex looked at them quickly, noting that they were mostly his own deals, and threw the paper back.

Miss Henderson heard the argument escalating into a full-scale row. Before long everyone could hear the brothers screaming at each other.

‘There’s not a memo or a note on Ming’s contract with the Japs that I set up. Do I have to do everything, for Chrissake? If she’s gone into business without us then we get over there... Plus we get shot of this prat of a son-in-law, what’s his name, Conrad St James. Guy couldn’t run a bowling alley, never mind a fucking bank! I want a meeting set up with all the board members of the bank and I want it fast... Think you can handle that, buddy? Think you can do one simple thing and not cock it up?’

All through dinner Alex was quiet, and Barbara knew something was wrong.

‘Edward’s back, things have not been going all that well, especially at the bank...’

‘Why didn’t you tell me, Alex? What things?’

Alex didn’t usually discuss business with her, but slowly he began to tell her about the problems. Conrad St James was proving incapable of running the bank, and Alex had delayed confronting him because he was married to Alex’s stepdaughter, Selina. ‘Edward wants to take a look at the accounts. I’ve had to fund a lot of the bank with Barkley monies... He has every right, I’ll go over and have a talk with them this evening.’

Barbara sighed. She had had very little to do with her daughter since she had been married off. With either of her daughters, come to think of it — her new life left little room for them. She was a grandmother now, and didn’t like that, either.

‘I won’t be able to join you, darling, I have a charity meeting for the Spastic Association, do you mind going alone?’

Alex held her hand and kissed it. ‘Just a few things to remember... Keep quiet about my stake in the club should Edward start sniffing around. Now he’s back, he’ll be poking his nose into every transaction I’ve done since he left.’

‘Did he ask after Evelyn at all?’

Alex smiled. ‘I took him to the zoo this morning and then Edward met him at the office. You know, he was jealous, I could see it in his face.’

‘You spoil that child, you know. Maybe you’ve been spending too much time with him.’

Alex gave Barbara a strange, veiled look, and spoke quietly. ‘Well, one of us has to.’

Barbara pursed her lips. She didn’t want to discuss it, they invariably argued about Evelyn.

Suddenly the little boy ran into the room. ‘Daddy... Daddy...’ He threw himself into Alex’s arms, and chortled with laughter as his father twirled him around, tossed him up in the air and caught him.

‘Who’s Daddy’s boy, then, eh? Who’s Daddy’s boy?’

Watching them, Barbara was terrified that Alex would notice Evelyn’s likeness to Edward, it was so obvious to her. ‘I don’t want Edward seeing him, Alex, he’s such a foul-mouthed man. I don’t want Evelyn near him.’

Alex held his son close and buried his face in the thick curls. ‘We’ll keep him away from the big, bad wolf... Now, Daddy’s got to go out, but... tomorrow, what are we doing tomorrow?’

‘Zoo... zoo...’

Alex carried Evelyn to the nursery and the nanny smiled. He so obviously adored his son, in a way he made up for the lack of motherly affection. Evelyn began crying because he didn’t want Alex to leave, but he got a tap on the nose and was told Daddy had important work to do.

When Alex arrived at Selina and Conrad’s house, he found his stepdaughter alone. She was a strange, quiet girl, and although he was fond of her he found her trying, she was so shy and introverted.

‘How are your boys?’

Selina murmured that they were all well, then lapsed into silence.

‘I really need to talk to Conrad urgently, you expecting him soon? If so, I’ll wait.’

Selina shrugged, her mouth turned down. ‘He comes and goes as he chooses, perhaps you should try at the office in the morning.’

Alex tilted his head to one side. ‘Nothing wrong between you, is there?’

Selina laughed, humourlessly. ‘There’s nothing between us, but I’ll pass your message on if I see him.’

‘I’d appreciate that, tell him we’re in trouble, Edward’s back, and kicking.’

Alex felt sorry for her, and made a mental note to have a word with Barbara, perhaps she should talk to the girl. He sighed, irritated by Selina’s lack of energy. She had everything money could buy, a handsome husband, two lovely boys, and yet she was never enthusiastic about anything.

Edward was sitting up in bed with stacks of files on each side of him. Dewint brought a dinner tray, and Edward lay back. ‘I dunno, I leave for a few months and he gets us into such deep water, you know what’s the matter with him, he’s a big softie; can’t do business on favours, keep it in the family, doesn’t work...’