Chapter Forty
Ari’s heels clicked as she walked along the stone pavement towards Harvey’s, a popular restaurant with a great reputation for food. Part of its charm was in its lively vibe and it was the perfect venue to have a private conversation as everyone was too busy talking to listen to their neighbours. Checking her watch, she was pleased to see she was ten minutes early. This would give her time to gather her thoughts and decide on a plan of action. As she gave her name to the server, she was ushered towards a side table as requested and sighed when she saw Edward come to his feet as she approached.
‘I’m afraid I was in the area earlier than expected,’ he said warmly, pouring her a glass of water as she settled herself down and placed her order. The joy of a regular lunch spot was that she didn’t need to bother with a menu.
‘Looks like we both were.’ She smiled politely and decided that this wasn’t a power-play that she needed to engage in. He clearly liked to have the upper hand and she wasn’t the sort to bother with ego, his or hers. Although she noted he mirrored her menu choice, so he wasn’t that bothered about being in control. At least not over the small things. She suspected the rest of the conversation might not be so easy. ‘Thank you for joining me for lunch today.’
‘It was my pleasure.’ He sipped his water and waited for her to proceed.
‘I just felt that given how much you have recently been involved in our family matters, the least I could do was take you out for lunch to say thanks.’
‘Well, I must admit I wasn’t helping your family out so much as Aster.’
Seb had wanted to come to lunch as well, but Ari had felt the two men might become confrontational. Now, given Edward’s tone, Ari knew she had made the right decision. She had realised since Edward had told her and Nick off that he was very unimpressed with them, but she wanted to see if it was simply because of their poorly executed business operations in India, or if there was more to it. She thought she knew the answer, but she had chosen this lunch to test out her theory.
‘Yes, you’ve spent a lot of time with her recently, haven’t you?’
‘Our paths have crossed.’
This really was like pulling teeth.
‘It has been quite the week, hasn’t it? Sister Bernard is still singing. I found the whole event very exciting.’
Edward visibly relaxed.
‘I would have loved to be in the room. You should have seen the look on Aster’s face when she first spoke to me. She thought I was such an idiot, potentially losing all that money for the nuns.’
‘Yes, she can be a bit black and white when you’ve made a mistake. It’s not personal, she just holds people to a higher standard.’
‘God’s?’ asked Edward confused.
Ari laughed. ‘Hers. Aster is not religious.’
‘That’s what I thought. But she is very fond of those nuns, isn’t she?’
‘Extremely. And was furious when she thought someone had pulled a fast one on them.’
He put his hands up in defence. ‘I was only trying to make them a quick buck.’
Ari raised an eyebrow and Edward groaned. ‘I know. Not my finest hour.’
‘No, I think that was rescuing Aster in the nightclub.’
His face clouded over again and Ari realised that if the conversation steered towards Aster in trouble, Edward became very closed and defensive.
‘Still, it’s been quite a newsworthy week, hasn’t it? What with the Secretary for Foreign Affairs’ fatal crash.’
She studied Edward, her eyebrow raised. Both knew the truth behind the headlines, but in theory Ari knew nothing about it, given how much the government were currently keeping a lid on things. Plus Aster had signed the Official Secrets Act, thereby forbidding her to discuss the matter with anyone without the correct clearance. Edward had watched Aster smile as she readily signed the document and it was all he could do not to roll his eyes. He wondered if the ink had even had time to dry before she was telling her sisters all about it.
Edward took a mouthful of crab linguine and nodded his head appreciatively, changing the subject.
‘This is good!’
‘It is, isn’t it?’ said Ari appreciatively. ‘Since moving to Norfolk, I’ve become a real fan of crab. It was too much of a luxury growing up. Even tinned was out of our price range. But on Mum’s birthday, Da would always buy two fresh crabs from Billingsgate.’
‘Your change in circumstances has been extraordinary, hasn’t it?’
‘It has, but the more things change, the more you see what lies at your core. In our case, it’s each other.’
She took another forkful before returning to her previous conversation.
‘With the death of Jones, I imagine there will be lots of overseas developments. Not just in India. Obviously, it’s very sad when someone dies but it’s an ill wind that blows no good.’
She couldn’t make it plainer in the busy restaurant that she knew exactly the extent of Anthony Jones’ vile criminal network, courtesy of Aster. Edward looked thoughtful and nodded his head.
‘Although of course whatever those changes are, need to remain quiet whilst all the ramifications are brought to the surface.’
‘Loose lips sink ships and all that jazz?’
‘Quite.’ His lips were pursed and Ari wondered how he would respond. ‘When you said just now that at your core you sisters have each other?’
‘Yes?’
‘Do you think that’s to your detriment?’
Ari’s fork clattered on her plate as she coughed and then started laughing. ‘It’s our main strength.’
‘Even if it means you treat some of the family still as children?’
The gloves were off now, and he raised an eyebrow. All sense of previous good humour gone. He might be still talking in allusions, but Ari tackled him head-on.
‘If you think we have ever treated Aster as a child, you only display your ignorance.’
‘You sent her to India, under prepared and outgunned.’
‘And you think that’s how we treat a child? Aster was in control of that decision. She failed to properly assess the situation and so did we. And you have no idea how many sleepless nights I have had since then for my total stupidity in not properly assessing the risk.’
She stabbed at her plate and chewed quietly as she felt her cheeks burn.
‘But Aster could have died.’
Tears prickled Ari’s eyes. ‘I know, dammit.’
Edward swore quietly and then ordered two glasses of wine for the table whilst Ari composed herself in silence. Taking a small sip, she fixed her gaze on Edward.
‘To reiterate. We have never treated Aster as a child, but we have protected her. Kept her out of the limelight. Allowed her to shine in her very special way and occasionally mopped up after her.’ Ari shrugged. ‘But those days are behind us now. Since she was a teen, she has been in control.’
Ari took a sip of wine as Edward watched her closely.
‘Which is why that event at your club caused her such intense stress. Aster is always five steps ahead, always in control, has a perfect memory, and is never duped. Waking up in a stranger’s house with no memory crushed her.’
‘But she handled it so well, the way she got justice for those other girls.’
‘That was Aster at cruising speed. You should see her when she’s full guns blazing.’
‘I think we witnessed that two days ago.’
Ari hadn’t been fully involved in the takedown of the MP but she knew from what Aster had mentioned that it was a substantial operation. Although by her own admission, Aster’s primary motivation was to protect the Hiverton Estate.
‘Just so. If you don’t mind me saying, you appear to have become very protective of Aster.’ Her voice raised lightly and she tilted her head.
‘Our paths have crossed a few times and I find her interesting.’
‘She’s not an exhibit,’ said Ari sharply.
Edward flushed and now it was Ari’s turn to wait whilst he composed himself.
‘Have I been invited for lunch just for you to warn me off?’
‘Not at all, but as head of my family it’s my duty to take care of everyone.’
‘As we have established, Aster is not a child.’
‘No, but emotionally…’ Aster trailed off.
Edward smiled softly to himself. ‘Emotionally, she’s just a bit more vulnerable.’
‘Yes. And as such it’s only fair to warn you that messing around with her will only hurt her, not you. Although I promise you my sisters and I would do much to redress that.’
Edward lifted his wine glass, smiling tightly.
‘I promise you. I will never hurt Aster. And whilst I’m by her side, no harm will ever come to her.’ He looked at her pointedly. ‘From any source.’
Ari laughed. ‘My tip to you. Never, ever ask Aster to side against her family. No matter what you think of us.’
Concluding her lunch, Ari stood up and smiled at Edward, putting her hand out.
‘Nice to meet you and I do sincerely hope we meet again.’
As Ari left the restaurant, she dialled Clem.
‘How did it go?’
‘My God. He is so in love with her.’
‘Genuinely?’
‘Yes. Every time he mentioned her, he had this dippy look on his face. It was like watching a mountain melt.’
‘Blimey. And what about Aster?’
Ari sighed. ‘That is less certain. I think he is clearly on her radar, but it’s Aster. Who knows? I think now we have to leave it in the lap of the gods. But if Aster falls for him, I approve.’
The phone rang just as Aster was settling down into the sofa. Her laptop was to one side and she was looking forward to planning her next trip away. So far, every time she tried, she found herself distracted, which seemed to have been her default state for the past three days and it was annoying her. Looking at the screen, she sighed and answered the call. At least Nick wasn’t one for prolonged chats.
‘I need a favour.’
‘Shoot.’
‘I want you to run a bit of a background check on someone, but they’re well placed so we need to move carefully.’
Aster leant forward and pulled a pencil and her notepad towards her.
‘Go ahead.’
‘Edward Montclair.’
‘What?’
‘Well, don’t you think he’s too close to the family right now? Why was he out in India at the same time as you? I know he’s working with the government. I mean, look how they all brought down the Foreign Secretary.’
‘But-’
‘Yes, I know they couldn’t have done that without your help. Christ, you were the main driver. But don’t you think he is too powerful to be so close to our business? I don’t want a full root and branch investigation into him but I do want something on him. Something that I could use as a shot across the bows if he tried to get any closer.’
Aster’s stomach churned. Her palms were sweaty. Her pencil slid out of her hand and back onto the sofa. She dried her palm on her thigh as she listened to her sister.
‘Have you spoken to Ari about this?’
Aster had fully confided in Ari the extent of Edward’s involvement with the government, but hadn’t told Nick. Maybe she should have, but she had tried to uphold her promise to keep his reputation as a dilettante in place.
‘Nick, I don’t think he’s a threat-’
‘How can you say that? He’s-’ Nick’s protest dried up as she suddenly groaned. ‘I’m an idiot. Of course you don’t want to do this.’
‘What? Why?’
‘Because of the drugging. I’m an idiot. Of course you probably feel obligated to him.’
‘No. Hang on a minute. I’m quite capable of remaining detached.’
‘Yes, but he literally saved you. No wonder you feel you owe him.’
‘I don’t. I just don’t think he’s a threat.’
‘Of course he is. You see, your reasoning is compromised.’
‘It is not!’ There was a silence between the two sisters following Aster’s outburst before she took a breath and continued. ‘Okay. Maybe you have a point. I’ll look into him.’
Aster bit her lip. She had already of course fully investigated Edward and had found loads of skeletons and suspicious events and activities, probably as many as she herself had. But sharing that information felt like a betrayal. She had found nothing in his actions that suggested self-promotion, or greed. She had only found noble intentions.
‘Thank you,’ said Nick, ‘I’ll tell Ari, she was concerned.’
‘She was?’
‘Bound to be. She was asking me what I thought about him the other day.’
‘Did she say why?’
‘No, Will and Leo started fighting, so she had to hang up, but it stands to reason. He has been closely involved with us, you in particular, and we know nothing about him. So, I just need to know if he’s squeaky clean. And if he’s not, I need to know what I can use against him in case he tries to blindside us. I’m never having a repeat of Harrington’s again.’
‘That wasn’t your fault.’
‘Hmm. Not strictly true.’
‘You’re not invincible, Nick.’
‘Take that back!’
The two sisters laughed and then Nick carried on. ‘Thanks for this. Are you sure that you aren’t conflicted? God knows I understand that. My feelings for Gabe could have destroyed the family.’
‘But he wasn’t working against you or us. He’s okay.’
‘Really?’ Nick’s surprise was evident. ‘Have your feelings towards him mellowed?’
‘I suppose he can’t help his father or those brothers of his.’
Aster was trying to keep the tone light, but her stomach was still churning. Investigating Edward was wrong, but she couldn’t say why.
‘Well, he’ll be very relieved to hear that.’
‘Why?’
‘Because he worries you don’t like him.’
‘What does he care what I think of him?’
‘Because you’re my sister and I love you.’
‘Oh, if you’re going to be wet, I need to go.’
Nick laughed.
‘Off you go, then, and see what you can dig up. Let me know as soon as possible.’
Hanging up, Aster stared at the phone for a bit longer and then looked out over the garden. Why didn’t she want to do this? What was her issue? She already had the report. With one click of an e-mail, Aster could send the file to Ari and Nick. God knows there was enough to properly compromise Edward and even embarrass the government, although Aster knew instinctively that neither sister would go that far. But she still didn’t want to share her knowledge.
She was startled when a fox ran across the lawn, switching on the security lights. Moths flew in and out of the dark. How long had she simply sat there, looking vacantly at the garden as the night had fallen around her? Getting up, she stretched her stiff limbs and headed to bed, where she lay with her eyes open until dawn broke. Her mind gyrating on one broken spindle over and over again. Making no sense, never resolving itself.
As the sun rose, she got in her car and drove to Hiverton.