Rivals

28

Rupert went back to England slap into a political storm. The dramatic drop in football hooliganism had been a high spot of the Tory administration. Now, after a sickening day of violence, their claims were looking very dubious. With an election in the offing, the opposition were roaring for blood and, in an emergency debate on Monday night, tabled a motion of no confidence in the Minister for Sport and howled for Rupert’s resignation. Although Rupert was certain left-wing militants were behind the riots and hinted as much in the House, he couldn’t prove it yet and the Government won the debate by the narrowest majority. Some of his own side were not displeased by events; Rupert had been the PM’s darling for too long. The Cup Final was not until 11th May, but all Rupert’s energies were now channelled into seeing the violence wasn’t repeated.

He spent most of the next week trying not to lose his temper with the pack of reporters snarling at his heels as he visited the two devastated football clubs, and comforted those who’d been hurt in the riots. As a result, he didn’t get down to Penscombe until late Wednesday afternoon, landing the helicopter on the lawn.

He had only been away a week, but already bluebells were flaming like Bunsen burners in his woods, and the crimson glow of the beeches had turned to a rusty terracotta as green leaves burst out of their narrow brown buds. Although brilliant sunshine and blue skies welcomed him, across the valley he could see an April shower tumbling darkly out of a huge purple cloud on to The Priory.

However angry he was, returning to Penscombe always soothed him. He was greeted by messages from Gerald that the two stabbed policemen were now off the danger list and that Cameron Cook had rung three times, leaving a number. Instead of calling her, he had a quick shower and drove over to The Priory where the rain had almost stopped, leaving a heady smell of wet earth and nettles. As he walked through the door, he was greeted by an even headier smell of frying garlic and onions. Taggie must be home, which unconsciously soothed him even more. He’d go and see her when he’d reported in. In the library he found Freddie, Bas and Charles giving a slightly unreceptive Declan tips on how to write the application.

‘What a focking awful week you’re having,’ said Declan. ‘You poor bastard. You must feel like Sisyphus.’

‘I don’t know who he is,’ said Rupert, ‘but I’m sure I do.’

‘Get him a drink, Bas,’ said Declan.

‘Only Perrier,’ said Rupert. ‘I’ve got to fly back and vote after this. How did the first Venturer meeting go?’

The others looked at each other. Was the sun shining through the stained glass window or was Freddie blushing?

‘It was somewhat hazardous,’ said Declan.

‘Did you all fall out?’ asked Rupert, taking the Perrier from Bas, and trying to find an inch on one of the window seats that wasn’t covered with books and tapes to sit on.

‘Charles and Dame Enid did,’ said Bas with a grin.

‘Shut up,’ giggled Charles.

‘You tell him, Freddie,’ said Declan.

‘Well, we all went down to this pub on Salisbury Plain,’ said Freddie sheepishly, ‘which I could’ve sworn was always deserted, and we’d just settled into pre-lunch drinks and managed to stop Wesley Emerson offering the Bishop a joint, and got over the fact that Charles, here, turned up dressed as a woman. .’

‘Knowing the IBA’s obsession with the fair sex, I thought it fitting,’ interrupted Charles demurely.

‘. . when the entire nation’s press arrived in three coaches to ’ave a beano before witnessing the launching of a new tank at some army base down the road.’

‘Christ,’ Rupert started to laugh. ‘Did any of them see you?’

‘Billy the Kid couldn’t have emptied a saloon bar faster,’ said Freddie, ‘and Charles and Dame Enid got stuck trying to climb out of the Ladies’.’

‘It was seriously funny,’ said Bas. ‘We all hotfooted it back to The Priory for a Chinese takeaway, and the whole thing seemed to bring us closer together. I must say I’d forgotten how stunningly attractive Janey Lloyd-Foxe is.’

‘And belongs to Billy,’ said Rupert firmly.

Through the window he could see Taggie, who’d gone out into the garden to pick some thyme from the herb garden, gazing in rapture at a rainbow. She had the most adorable bottom, he decided, which became even more adorable when she bent over the flower bed in her jeans.

‘Rupert,’ said Bas, ‘are you still with us?’

‘Looking at the rainbow,’ said Rupert, hastily opening his briefcase.

‘Never knew rainbows were female and five foot ten,’ said Bas slyly.

‘Fuck off,’ said Rupert. ‘Anyway, I’ve got a stunning bit of news to cheer you all up. I’ve brought you an Easter present, Declan.’

Triumphantly he chucked the two tapes and the photostat of the Corinium application down on Declan’s desk.

‘What’s this?’ said Declan, putting on his spectacles.

‘Two extraordinarily informative conversations with Cameron Cook, and a photostat of the corrected final draft of Corinium’s application.’

Freddie, Bas and Charles were so excited, none of them noticed Declan’s look of thunderous disapproval, or that he’d dropped the application as though it was a wasp-infested pear.

‘Where did you get that?’ asked Freddie in awe.

‘I spent the weekend in Madrid and in bed with Cameron.’

Basil’s jaw clanged. ‘Does my brother know?’

‘Tony was due out there,’ said Rupert, ‘but I arranged for a chum to offer Tony an invite for Saturday night he couldn’t refuse.’

Basil started to laugh. ‘To meet HRH at Badminton?’

‘My God, was that your doing?’ said Charles in amazement. ‘Tony was boasting about it to everyone.’

‘So he stood up Ms Cook,’ said Rupert, wandering over to the drinks table and splashing more Perrier into his glass, ‘who was not overly delighted until I suddenly appeared on the adjacent balcony like Private Lives and took Tony’s place.’

‘What was she like?’ asked Bas, fascinated.

‘Fucks like a stoat,’ said Rupert. ‘In fact the end-away definitely justified the means. Although I had to endure some hellish sightseeing on Sunday before she went off to collect her prize. That was when I got the application photostated.’

‘Bloody good,’ said Freddie.

‘You ought to join the CIA,’ said Bas.

‘She’ll be after your blood, your untainted AIDS-free blood, when she finds out,’ said Charles delightedly.

‘She won’t,’ said Rupert. ‘She hadn’t a clue. Well?’ He turned to Declan for approval.

But Declan was looking infinitely more thunderous than the cloud that had drenched The Priory earlier.

‘You can’t focking do that,’ he exploded.

‘Why ever not?’

‘Because it’s bloddy dishonest.’

‘I must be dreaming,’ said Rupert incredulously. ‘Declan dear, we’re pitching for a business with a hundred-and-twenty-five-million-pound turnover, not playing fucking tiddlywinks. Have a read. You can find out exactly what Tony’s up to and pre-empt it. It’s the most turgid stuff, much more effective than Mogadon. Tony seems to be promising an unchecked flow of good causes and Elizabethan drama for the next ten years!’

‘I’m not going to read it,’ said Declan roughly. ‘We’re playing this thing straight.’

‘Now come on, Declan,’ protested Freddie. ‘Think of the clout it’ll give us.’

‘Never cast a clout till May is out,’ giggled Charles.

‘Shut up, Charles,’ snapped Declan. Then, turning to Rupert, who was now absolutely shaking with rage, ‘I repeat, we’re playing it straight.’

‘Tony is evil,’ hissed Rupert. ‘Don’t you think he’d do the same thing to you, given the chance? I thought you were out to get him.’

‘Not by sinking to his methods,’ said Declan coldly.

‘Then what are you doing asking the Bishop to lunch, dressing Maud up like a nun and asking him to say Grace?’

‘That’s different.’

‘It is NOT!’ Rupert was furiously pacing up and down the floorboards now. ‘And what are you doing poaching half Tony’s staff? I’m amazed you didn’t ring Tony first and ask his permission.’

‘That’s entirely different,’ yelled Declan. ‘What you’ve done is stolen Corinium’s property. It’s a criminal offence.’

‘Isn’t Charles Corinium’s property?’ yelled back Rupert.

‘Ooo,’ said Charles, looking excited. ‘They’re fighting over me.’

‘Shut up,’ screamed Rupert and Declan, both turning on him.

‘Charles came of his own volition,’ said Declan, ‘but Cameron had no idea what you were up to.’

‘She certainly enjoyed it,’ snarled Rupert. ‘Don’t you go feeling sorry for her, and Jesus, the hassle I went to, getting that thing photostated. I practically had to bang the receptionist.’

‘Never been a hardship for you,’ said Declan icily, and, picking up the application and the two tapes, he chucked them into the wastepaper basket. Bas, Freddie and Charles winced. Rupert went very still.

‘And if any of you try and retrieve them, I’ll put them in the boiler,’ added Declan.

‘All my life I’ve been accused of lacking application,’ drawled Rupert, ‘then when I actually get hold of one. .’

‘It’s not a joke,’ roared Declan.

‘I’m not laughing,’ said Rupert bleakly. ‘Fuck you, Declan, and screw your bloody franchise.’

‘Now, wite a minute,’ said Freddie, leaping to his feet.

But Rupert had walked out. In the hall he nearly sent Taggie flying. She was carrying a pile of Aertex shirts and green skirts upstairs. Caitlin was going back to school next week.

‘What on earth’s the matter?’ she said in alarm.

‘Your fucking father.’

‘What’s he done? Come into the kitchen.’

‘It’s what he won’t do.’ For a second Rupert debated whether to walk out, but he was so angry with Declan he had to tell someone, so he followed her into the kitchen.

‘I’ll get you a drink.’

‘I’m not drinking. And I’ll never touch a drop of your father’s liquor again.’

‘What’s happened?’ said Taggie, bewildered. Then, realizing the steak and kidney she was frying on the Aga was catching, ran across the kitchen to give it a stir.

‘I’ve just spent all last weekend in Madrid screwing Cameron Cook,’ said Rupert furiously, ‘to get her on our side, and to get information about Corinium’s application, and by Sunday night I not only had her eating out of my hand, but had secretly photostated the entire application.’

He was so angry, he didn’t notice that Taggie’s wooden spoon had stopped moving.

‘What’s Daddy objecting to?’ said Taggie in a strangely high voice.

‘He won’t read it. He thinks it’s taking unfair advantage. Jesus, no wonder he’s broke.’

At that moment Freddie appeared in the doorway. But, seeing Rupert was talking to Taggie, he decided she’d be better at calming him down than any of them and tiptoed back to the library.

‘Let me make you a cup of tea,’ said Taggie.

By the time the kettle had boiled and the tea had brewed for three minutes, and Rupert had told her the whole story, she’d recovered her composure. After all, Rupert was entitled to go to bed with whom he chose, and perhaps he just did it with Cameron because he wanted to get hold of the application document, she thought hopefully, although Cameron was terribly beautiful and Patrick would be absolutely heartbroken if he found out. Oh God, what a terrible muddle.

Rupert leant against the Aga, looking moodily at a huge vase of bluebells.

‘From our wood,’ said Taggie, trying to lift the conversation. ‘Aren’t they lovely?’

Rupert was about to snap that they were from his wood now.

‘Don’t try to placate me,’ he said coldly.

Taggie handed him a cup of tea. Then she took a deep breath. ‘I think Daddy’s right,’ she stammered.

Rupert looked up. ‘You what?’ he said, unbelievingly. ‘Not you, too?’

‘He wouldn’t feel right with himself. It’s like cheating in exams. To most people it wouldn’t matter, but he’s got such utter integ. .’ Taggie stumbled over the word.

‘Integrity, and I haven’t, I suppose.’

‘Of course you have, but of a different kind. If you won the franchise because he’d spied on Tony Baddingham, he wouldn’t be able to live with himself.’

‘Well, he’s not living with me any longer. D’you think Tony won’t wheel out every trick in the book, once he finds out we’re bidding against him? Your father’s trying to fight a nuclear war with a pop gun.’

‘It’s because he disapproves of Lord Baddingham so much. He couldn’t descend to his level. That’s why he’s bidding against him.’

‘Not with me, he ain’t,’ said Rupert, putting down his mug. ‘I’m out.’

‘Oh please not,’ pleaded Taggie. ‘It’s so lovely for them having you as part of the consortium. You’ve got such c-c-charisma.’

‘Is that your word for the day?’ snapped Rupert.

‘No, it’s my word for always about you,’ said Taggie, blushing crimson. ‘Honestly, they think you’re marvellous.’

‘Funny way of showing it,’ said Rupert, walking towards the door.

Taggie ran after him, her eyes filling with tears.

‘Oh, please. Daddy really needs you. You and Freddie were so wonderful when he was down, I know he seems terribly clever but he’s not street bright like you.’

Gazing at her, Rupert noticed how her tears and the old grey denim shirt of Declan’s she was wearing emphasized the strange silver-grey of her eyes.

‘Darling Taggie,’ he said, his face softening, ‘how can anyone refuse you anything?’

‘Then you’ll stay?’

Rupert shrugged. ‘I suppose so. . but I’m extremely pissed off.’ He reached into his pocket and rooted out a crimson leather box. ‘I got you an Easter egg in Madrid. I hope you’ll like it better than the present I brought your father.’

Inside the box Taggie found a little gold egg, speckled with rubies and diamonds. She gave a gasp.

‘Look further,’ said Rupert.

Opening the egg, she found a tiny gold bird with ruby eyes.

‘Poor thing’s got conjuctivitis,’ said Rupert.

‘I can’t believe it,’ breathed Taggie. ‘No one brings me presents like that. Oh thank you so so much. I love it.’

Blushing furiously again, she leant forward and kissed him on the cheek. She’s the little sister I never had, Rupert told himself firmly.

‘Your steak and kidney’s burning,’ he said.

‘Are you staying for supper?’

‘No, I’ve got to go back and vote.’

‘What on?’

‘Capital punishment for terrorists.’

Taggie looked horrified.

‘They’re not going to bring it back, are they? Daddy’d leave the country.’

In the library Freddie was tearing a strip off Declan. ‘This is the big league, if you’ll excuse me saying so. Rupert’s a very clever operator, and we can’t afford to lose ’im. You’ve got to learn to argue wivout rancour, Declan. You can’t stick your chest out all the time.’

‘What do you know about it?’ growled Declan.

‘I’ve never ’ad a strike at work,’ said Freddie, ‘because I don’t judge everyone the same. I cultivate their individual skills. You’re always bangin’ on about giving creative people the right atmosphere to work in. Then, when Rupert does somefink really creative, you shit on ’im.’

Watched in awed amazement by Bas and Charles, Freddie calmly retrieved the application from the wastepaper basket.

Declan gazed at him appalled: ‘But, it’s dishonest, for fock’s sake. You wouldn’t have nicked that document, would you?’

‘Wouldn’t ’ave ’ad the nerve,’ said Freddie. ‘But now we’ve got it, I’m certainly goin’ to ’ave a little look. This is war, as Rupert said, not tiddlywinks. You don’t want to be too ’igh-minded, Declan.’

By the time Sydney his driver had dropped Rupert off at Westminster, the yellow stone of the House was softened by floodlighting and Big Ben shone like a great sugar sifter against an inky blue sky.

‘Only one vote,’ Rupert told Sydney. ‘I’m paired after that, but I’ve got a hell of a lot of work still to do. Can you come back about twelve-thirty?’

Nodding good evening to the policeman on the gate, Rupert went through the Member’s entrance, an expression that usually made him laugh. Glancing at the monitor he saw that Owen Davies, the Labour leader, was winding up for the abolitionists. Time for a large drink. . he was bloody tired, and he’d never had any doubts that stringing up was the answer for terrorists. But as he headed for the bar he thought fleetingly of Taggie’s horror of capital punishment, and Declan’s passionate disapproval, and decided to listen to the debate instead.

As he entered the chamber the Ministers of Employment and of Health moved slightly apart to make room for him on the green leather front bench.

‘Owen’s in barnstorming form,’ whispered the Minister of Health.

Hearing a din behind him, Rupert glanced round to see Paul Stratton, who was violently pro-hanging for everything, particularly wife-pinching, looking excited for the first time in months.

‘Rubbish,’ Paul yelled. ‘Resign, check your figures. What’s the point of having British soldiers out there if we don’t support them?’

Owen Davies, a brilliant orator on the dullest subject, was on magnificent form tonight. What about all those people who’d been imprisoned for terrorism, he demanded, who’d later been found innocent? How much more terrible if they’d been hanged. What evidence was there in any country that the death penalty curbed terrorism, and, conversely, didn’t hanging make sainted martyrs out of the most vicious thugs?

It was great emotional stuff. But, putting aside the soft cadences, the eloquence, the Welsh voice, Rupert suddenly knew Owen was right. Every moment you could feel the spirits of the Anti-Hanging lobby rising. The Bring-Back brigade looked turned to stone. The Prime Minister, who was almost more pro-hanging than Paul Stratton, looked most bootfaced of all. Owen Davies sat down to a storm of applause.

Scenting blood, the abolitionists roared for the PM to get up. ‘On your feet. Don’t be bashful.’

But the PM wasn’t budging. Instead, she let the Home Secretary, who was decidedly ambivalent about the merits of hanging anyway, wind up. Every time he opened his mouth, he was howled down, but he ploughed on bravely with his prepared speech, careful not to emphasize that terrorism was on the increase, but droning on about deterrents and the need to support the forces of law and order. As ten o’clock approached, the abolitionists worked themselves into the kind of frenzy only seen at Cardiff Arms Park when there’s two minutes to go and the Welsh are just in the lead. Then, as Big Ben tolled ten o’clock, the noise subsided and the house divided.

The Ayes, looking tight-lipped and apprehensive, shuffled to the right. The Noes, looking elated, sauntered to the left. Without a moment’s deliberation, ignoring the outraged looks of the PM, the Chief Whip and most of the Front Bench, Rupert joined the Noes. Owen Davies, turning in delighted amazement, tapped Rupert on the shoulder. ‘I didn’t know you were one of us.’

‘I wasn’t until I heard you,’ said Rupert.

The Minister of Health, a pacific and gentle soul, also joined the Noes.

‘We’ll be on the carpet tomorrow,’ he said.

‘She’ll have to call an election any minute,’ said Rupert.

‘An even tenner on 10th June,’ said the Minister of Health.

‘Done,’ said Rupert.

Feeling suddenly shattered and not wanting a bollocking from the PM, Rupert beat a quick retreat to his office, a small room on the lower Minister’s floor. Inside, the walls were covered with signed photographs of famous athletes: Pat Eddery, Ian Botham, Maradona, John McEnroe, Pat Cash, Gary Lineker, Dino and Fenella Ferranti, to name only a few. Above the filing cabinet was a picture of Wesley Emerson, the local cricketing hero who had joined the Venturer consortium, and who Rupert had saved from getting busted.

‘Thanks, Rupe, Wesley Emerson,’ he had scrawled in black pentel across the blue sky behind him.

I should think so too, reflected Rupert whenever he looked at the photo.

Having taken off his tie, and undone his top button, he poured himself a large whisky and soda. Christ, he was tired. He’d been on the go since five that morning and hadn’t had any real sleep for a week. Making him feel even more tired was the red box full of work, the buff envelope on the blotter full of constituency letters to be signed, and the even bigger pile of mail to be read, which was probably mostly abusive letters about the football riots.

The admirable Gerald had scribbled a note: ‘Gone to Madam Butterfly. Back about one-thirty. Ring if you need me.’

In the corner of the room was a hard olive-green sofa, where Rupert was supposed to snatch some sleep during late-night sittings. It had never looked more seductive. If he had an hour’s kip, he might work better. He had another six o’clock start in the morning. The telephone ringing made him jump.

‘Rupert, it’s Cameron.’

Christ, he’d completely forgotten to ring her back.

‘Angel! You got home safely?’

‘Well, I’m not lying in a pile of wreckage at the bottom of the Bay of Biscay.’ All the insecurity and truculence had returned to her voice. It must have cost her a lot to ring.

‘I’m sorry I didn’t ring back. It’s been frantic, and I didn’t want to tread on Tony’s bunions. When am I going to see you?’ He suppressed a yawn.

‘Christ knows,’ snapped Cameron. ‘Tony’s taking me away for the weekend.’

‘To Buckingham Palace?’

Cameron didn’t laugh. ‘To LA, to close a couple of deals over Easter. Then we fly straight to Cannes to meet with our various co-production partners and firm up existing relationships. I won’t be back till Monday week.’

Rupert glanced at the calendar. Monday week was 22nd April. He’d be away until the 26th and the franchises had to be in on the 29th. That would give him hardly any time after she got back to persuade her to join Venturer. He ought to establish interim ascendancy over Tony by seeing her this evening.

‘Where are you?’ he asked.

‘At home.’

‘Alone?’

‘Yes.’

‘I’ll drive down.’

‘Are you crazy? D’you know what time it is?’ But it was impossible for her to keep the elation out of her voice.

‘I’ve got at least an hour’s work,’ said Rupert. ‘The drive at this time of night should take an hour and a half. I can’t afford to get done for speeding. I’ll be with you about two.’

Thank God, he’d had a shower and changed at Penscombe earlier in the evening; it seemed a thousand years ago. He trusted Sydney, but not entirely, so he dismissed him and took the Ferrari, which was parked outside his Westminster flat. Torrential rain on the motorway gave way to moonlight as he reached the outskirts of Cotchester. The cathedral clock was tolling the hour; the shadow of the spire lay thick and black across the watermeadows. He was so tired he’d never be able to get it up.

Cameron, however, opened the front door with nothing on.

‘I might have been the milkman,’ said Rupert reprovingly.

‘You’re not that late,’ she whispered.

As her warm, oiled and scented body twined round him, she was obviously so delighted to see him that miraculously Rupert woke up.

Bounding upstairs after her, he decided this was one relationship he would have absolutely no difficulty firming up.