‘Her. She’s part of William Warwick’s inner team, and, more important, she isn’t averse to receiving the occasional brown envelope.’

‘Then keep supplying them. That way we can stay ahead of both Christina and the Warwicks.’

‘So you’re willing to cough up the million she’s demanding?’

Miles smiled as he picked up his knife and fork. ‘On one condition,’ he said. ‘Make it clear that if Christina ever breaks the agreement, I’ll dock her monthly allowance until the million is paid back.’

• • •

‘So how was the lecture?’ asked William, pulling back Beth’s chair before she took her place at their table.

‘We listened to different arias from La bohème, after which Catherine explained the dramatic realism of Puccini’s operas. I can’t wait for tomorrow.’

‘Tosca or Madame Butterfly?’ asked William as Franco handed him a menu.

‘Madame Butterfly – want to join us?’

‘I fear I’ll be otherwise occupied with a chrysalis who’s hoping to become a butterfly. Did you find out if she’s the wife of Mr Justice Whittaker?’

‘The same, and Charlotte has invited us to join them for dinner tomorrow evening,’ said Beth. William became distracted when Fraser Buchanan entered the dining room with his wife on his arm. He was dressed in a smart double-breasted dinner jacket that disguised his weight, while she wore an elegant long cream gown which caused several women in the room to take a second look, including Beth.

The chairman took his place at the top of the table. All the men stood and waited for his wife to take her seat at the other end of the table – a cricket pitch away.

‘Who’s the man sitting next to the chairman’s sister, Flora?’ asked Beth, once Franco had taken their order.

‘Andrew Lockhart,’ said William. ‘He’s the company’s doctor and sits on the main board. He’s also the chairman’s personal physician. Buchanan had a heart attack a couple of years ago and since then Lockhart has accompanied him on every trip.’

‘I’m not surprised,’ said Beth. ‘He must be two or three stone overweight.’

‘I’d be two or three stone overweight,’ said William, ‘if I spent half my life on a cruise liner.’

‘Would you like to order, madam?’ said Franco.

‘Two consommés followed by Caesar salads,’ said Beth without looking at the menu.

William smiled as he closed his menu and handed it back to Franco.

‘Are you married, Franco?’ he asked innocently.

‘Only for fourteen weeks a year, sir.’

‘About the same as me,’ said Beth, taking William’s hand.

• • •

The British have many qualities and even more failings, George Bernard Shaw once told the English Speaking Union, and one of those qualities is to ignore an altercation that’s taking place in front of them. The Italians can’t resist watching from a distance, the Germans want to take sides, while the Irish just have to join in.

Beth pretended to be unaware of the raised voices coming from the chairman’s table, while continuing to eat her consommé.