His Lordships Daughter (24 page)

“Go on!”

The red face turned the heat up and glared. “You have poached one of my clients.” He complained. “Not just any old client, but our biggest client. “Locotrend!” he snuffled with rage. “They have transferred themselves. Lock, stock and bloody barrel to your bloody bank.” With difficulty he got to his feet and walked up and down, wagging his finger. “This has to stop Henry. You and I have an agreement, defend and survive! I don’t take your accounts and you don’t take mine! For years it has been like that. It is a gentleman’s agreement!” he sat down heavily in the chair again. “So, what are we going to do about it?”

“My father is not going to do anything!”

Both men looked up as Phyllipa entered the room. She walked over to her father, bent down and kissing his cheek, stood by his side. Then she smiled at Lord Braseby, who tried holding her gaze without success.

“Your father and I are having a confidential chat.” He blustered, “I’m sure you will excuse us. After all, this has nothing to do with you!”

“It has everything to do with my daughter.” Lord Hemingham said. “She now owns the family bank!”

Braseby stared at her, a tiny feeling of unease creeping through his veins. “I see!” he said, directing his words at Phyllipa. “Then it is you I should be complaining to.” Rubbing his hands together, he attempted a smile which didn’t quite come off
. Perhaps she had taken the account out of sheer ignorance, he summarised. Perhaps she wasn’t aware of the
family’s
concord. “Our fathers before us built the banks Phyllipa.” He carefully explained as if talking to a child. “And we have carried on all the trading traditions with some success. We do of course, have many rules, the chief one being that we do not take one another’s accounts.” He attempted another smile. “It is purely a gentleman’s agreement.”

“But I am not a gentleman.” Phyllipa retorted, “And from where I am standing, Lord Braseby, you are not much of one either!”

“I beg your pardon
?”

“You heard what I said.”

Braseby turned
around
, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You can’t talk to me like that.” He protested, looking at her father. “Henry tell her. It’s my family business we are discussing.”

Phyllipa’s eyes narrowed. “When you poked you nose into S.G Packaging, that became my business.”

For a few moments Lord Braseby sat there thinking, then ran a hand over his face. “that’s what this is all about. Eh?” he tried another smile and some of the anger seemed to have died from him. “perhaps I did go over the top with that one!” he glared at Phyllipa again, sadly shaking his head. “But that was your fault, you were meant to marry my son!”

“Of course I wasn’t.” Phyllipa strongly denied. “That was all in your mind.”

“Yes well I did have visions of our two great homes merging, I don’t deny it. We all have our dreams.”

“More like nightmares.”
.

Braseby looked at his ho
st. “T
his daughter of yours is very outspoken isn’t she Henry?”

“Yes!” Henry agreed, nodding his head vigorously.

“Look Phyllipa.” Braseby held his hands out appealingly, “Can we talk about Locotrend?”

“There is nothing to talk about, you have lost the account, and when it suits me you will lose another
. I am minded to have a go for Kristex!”

Braseby’s head shot up. “Please don’t do this to me.” He begged, all the bluster and arrogance gone. “You can buy and sell me, you know that.”

Phyllipa’s eyes slowly looked him up and down, from his head to his heels and back again. “There is nothing in the world which would ever
prompt me to buy you.”
H
er eyes hardening.
...
“But, if you ever interfere in my business, I just may sell you!”
.....
she looked at the hovering Bradford. “I think it may be a good idea if you offered our guest a glass of brandy. I think he probably needs it!”

Phyllipa looked across the breakfast table at her father. “I thought of asking Steven if he would like to come here and convalesce. According to his doctor, he can now be discharged. I’m wondering what you may think of the idea?”

“Is there a personal reason behind it?” he asked, a hopeful look in his eyes.

His daughter shook her head. “Not really father. It’s just that he lives on his own and going back to his home would be difficult for him, after all, he won’t be able to walk!”

“You’re troubled by it all aren’t you?”

“I suppose I am.” Phyllipa nodded
. “I still feel responsible for his accident. And, of course, he was riding one of our horses when it happened.”

“Yes. Indirectly, I suppose we are involved, somewhere.” Her father helped himself to more bacon.

”So, what do you think?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “It is entirely up to you, if you think
he will be better off here,
by all means, arrange it. As for myself, I shall be pleased to see him. If you remember, I did tell him he would always be welcome at Rosewood!”

“I shall put him in the West Wing. He’ll be comfortable there and it does overlook the lake.”

“He’ll need nursing!”

“I’ll arrange it father.”

“Good! Just one other thing, could I talk to you about the bet?”

Phyllipa looked up surprised. “What about it?”

“I was wondering if you still accept the fact that you lost
it.
As I said at the time, you got caught up in something beyond your control.”

Phyllipa laughed “Huh! Outside influences, eh? Yes both Steven and I got caught up in it. But, all of it made me the loser. With hindsight, we would all be winners, wouldn’t
we.
No, I lost! A bet is a bet father, warts and all!”

Lord Hemingham looked at his only daughter. “So, I take it that you will be seeking a husband? Although you know I am not pushing you on this.”

Phyllipa picked up a spoon and vigorously stirred her coffee. “I still have twelve months to think about it.”

“I know, as I just said I am not pushing you.”

“It sounds very much as if you are.”

“Sorry, I didn’t intend it to.”

“I do like Steven.” She admitted. “And, I did think that something might have come from our friendship but, it wasn’t meant to be!” she sighed. “In fact, at the moment, we are more like close enemies than close friends!”

“
The last time I saw him
, he looked very much like a man in love!”

“Possibly, but not with me, I can assure you.”

“Oh well! You mustn’t worry about it. They always say that somewhere there is someone for somebody!”

“By that you mean I should start looking?”

Her father nodded. “You lost the bet!”

“Yes!” his daughter
murmured
, “Didn’t I just.” For a few minutes there was silence whilst they both continued eating only interrupted by Bradford bringing in a fresh pot of coffee
. “What is happening to the company?” Lord Hemingham suddenly asked.

“We are very busy. Why do you ask?”

“I just wondered if you were going to run things while Steven is away. After all, he will probably be out of action for at least a couple of months.”

Phyllipa shook her head. “No, I can’t run the company father. It’s too technical for me. I have just assumed the role of MD, purely on the admin side until I can arrange a few ideas of my own.”

“You do have something
going on then?”

“Oh, yes! As soon as I have put it together I shall present it to Steven, but whether he will accept it or not, is anybody’s guess. As I said, we are not quite seeing eye to eye at the moment.”

“There should be another director somewhere.” Her father pointed out.

“It’s June, his secretary. But Steven, is the only share holder.” She rose from the table. “I have to go into the works this morning to see to a few things, so I will catch up with you later and bring you more up to date.” Kissing him she left the house, got in her car and drove to her office.

As usual June was already there. She smiled at Phyllipa as she handed her a cup of coffee. “I have some news for you about Clive and I.”

Sipping the hot liquid, Phyllipa sat down.

June chuckled
. “Clive thinks his father has had some sort of brainstorm.”

“Why what has he done this time?”

“He wishes Clive and I to announce our engagement next month. Apparently he is going to throw a big splash. Would you believe it?” she sipped her coffee and shook her head. “Would you bloody well believe it!”

“I am delighted for you. That’s wonderful news!”

June massaged her stocking clad feet with her fingers. “Of course both Clive and I are a mite suspicious. It’s just not like him.” She looked at her friend “You know him better than I, what do you think?”

Phyllipa smiled “I think you should accept him at face value.” She chuckled quietly to herself. A kick in Lord Braseby’s business teeth had obviously worked wonders.

“It goes without saying that you will get an invitation. You will come wont you?”

“Of course, but Steven won’t make it.”

“Yesterday I had quite a long chat with him. He is fed up to his back teeth.” June leaned over Phyllipa confidentially. “He is missing you!”

“Did he say that?”

“No but I could tell. He’s missing you!”

“Well, I’m not missing him
, but, I am thinking of asking him if he would like to spend some recovery time at Rosewood.”

June laughed. “It’s all coming together, isn’t it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh come on Phyllipa. You and Steven!”

Phyllipa frowned. “I just feel a little bit responsible for him, that’s all.”

June looked her friend squarely in the face. “It was only a few weeks ago he sacked you and you biffed him in his face and now you wish to look after him as if he is family.”

“I cannot let h
im return to his farm.” she
protested, her face showing concern. “He would be alone! If he is not going to walk with one leg shorter than the other for the rest of his life, he must rest it. It was broken in three separate places and in my opinion, that is a hell of a lot of places.”

“Rumour has it you saved his life!”

Phyllipa sipped her coffee. “You shouldn.t take any notice of rumours.” She answered nonchalantly in an effort to evade the question.

Looking around the office floor for her shoes
, June got to her feet. “Must get on. But I think I ought to tell you that mine will not be a long engagement. I have been given to understand that Clive’s family would like a quick marriage. So my days in this office are numbered.” She pulled one of her shoes on.

“Have you enjoyed working here?”

June pulled the other shoe on. “I thought I did until you turned up.” She laughed
out loud. “Believe me
, you have made everything so worthwhile!”

Phyllipa smiled. “I’ll leave you to your work.” Walking through the print floor to her own office, her smile deepened as she stood and watched the working machinery amid the noise crowded scene.

They were all on station!

Sighing loudly, Steven Grant shifted in his bed, Emma, his nurse, looked at him “You sound a bit miserable this morning.”

“I am not miserable, far from it. I am just fed up.” He gazed around his hospital bed. “Looking at the same chunk of countryside is not all that exciting!”

The nurse patted his sheets, straightened his bed, then checked his injured leg. “There is a lot of movement out there if you are observant.”

He pulled a wry smile.
I suppose you are right!”

“I have a couple of the latest
DVD’
s
in my office.” She offered. “Perhaps you would like to look at a film?”

“Thanks but I’ll read the morning papers first.”

“They will make you more miserable.” Phyllipa said, entering the room. Steven’s face brightened and his grey eyes lit up. Emma smiled and placed a chair by the side of the bed.

Phyllipa took her to one side. “I have left a case of brandy in the lift.” She told her. “Will you see that Casualty gets it. They were very good to me when I bought Steven in!” turning, she looked at him. “How is he?”

“That is the first time he has smiled this morning.” Emma said.

Phyllipa ap
proached the bed, sat down, and
kissed his cheek. “I thought I should come and give you an update on SG Packaging, and I have bought you these.”

“What are they?” He asked.

She placed a roll of blueprints on the bed. “Your “Dream Machine” drawings!”

“You are very thoughtful. They are just what I need.”

“I thought that instead of idling your time away watching B movies.” She joked. “You may as well do some work!”