Page 114

‘But you’re going to tell me anyway,’ said James, as he put down his knife and fork.

‘In a prison cell,’ admitted William. ‘Both of them were arrested while taking part in a Saudi protest rally outside Number Ten. Young Hartley even threw an egg at me.’

‘Did you have them clapped in irons?’ asked James.

‘They both would have been if Ross hadn’t come to their rescue.’

‘Join the club.’

William raised an eyebrow, but got no response. ‘What’s the latest on the Declaration?’ he ventured.

‘It’s already hanging in the Library of Congress,’ said James, ‘and will be unveiled by President Clinton next month.’

‘Without Faulkner or Booth Watson putting up a protest?’ said William.

‘We haven’t heard a word out of either of them since Simon Hartley confirmed the Jefferson letter was the one that had been in their family archives for over two hundred years.’

‘But Faulkner keeps telling anyone who will listen that the letter is a forgery,’ said William.

‘I know,’ said James. ‘And can you believe that Booth Watson is accusing the FBI’s dirty tricks department of being responsible for the deception, even though I told him we could never be involved in such an outrageous activity?’

‘It wouldn’t be the first time,’ suggested William.

‘Nor the last. But not on this occasion,’ said James, glancing across at Ross while wondering just how much William knew.

William looked back down to find his speech had disappeared. He wasn’t in any doubt who the guilty party was. Someone who just happened to be chatting to Christina when his back was turned.

‘So where are you two going on your honeymoon?’ Christina asked.

‘We’re catching a plane to Dublin this evening,’ said Ross, ‘and will be staying at the Shelbourne Hotel where I once worked as a student.’

‘You never cease to surprise me,’ said Christina.

‘Yes, I had a holiday job there as a bellboy. But I was sacked after only a couple of weeks.’

Christina smiled. ‘Let me guess, one of the guests …’

‘No,’ said Ross. ‘I was caught in a guest bedroom with a maid, and she wasn’t making the bed.’

‘And after Dublin,’ said Christina, laughing, ‘where else will you visit?’

‘Limerick, Cork, ending up in Blarney.’

‘Where I hear they’ll be renaming the stone after you,’ said Christina.

‘Then we’ll be flying back to London,’ said Ross, ignoring the barb, ‘by which time Faulkner should be safely locked up in the Scrubs with no chance of remission.’

‘And when you’re back,’ asked Christina, ‘are you also hoping to be promoted?’

‘I’ll be returning to the Yard as a Chief Inspector under my new Commander,’ said Ross, looking across at his best man. ‘William wants me to go undercover in the East End and find out who’s taken over from the Richardsons.’

‘That should keep you well occupied,’ said Christina.

‘And if that wasn’t enough,’ said Ross, lowering his voice, ‘Alice is pregnant.’

‘Congratulations,’ said Christina, a little too loudly.

Ross’s mother broke off from her conversation with Alice and asked, ‘What are you congratulating Ross on?’