‘It’s all a game, Fabian. And you need to learn to get ahead. Think of any sport,’ she said. ‘Take skiing. You choose your turn before you get there, don’t you? You place your pole in the snow way before your body even rises to sway you around it. Cricket. You watch the way the bowler runs, how he raises his arm before he lets the ball loose. You’re reading if it’s going to be long or short even before he’s halfway down the area, trying to predict where it’s going to land and where to place your bat. Business is the same, my darling. So is politics. Let them all have their say on your father. Success always comes with enemies, otherwise it wouldn’t be an elite sport, would it? The secret is to predict what your enemies will do next, and get there first.’

She continued stroking his hand. Her words, as always, connected the dots in his mind. She was right. He had to hold his nerve. He knew first-hand that his father had many business ventures that, if exposed, could bring them unwelcome scrutiny and loss of confidence. Letting idiot conspiracy theorists to espouse a little, in a controlled way, could work to their advantage.

‘But he called Dad a fraud, and a cheat,’ he said. ‘He’s not even buried yet.’

‘I know. But they’re just words. Sticks and stones…’

‘Oh for God’s sake, Mum. We’re not in primary school; we’re talking about billions of dollars.’

‘We’re talking about people, and adults remain stuck in that school playground. Where do we learn to fight? And to survive? And to win?’ she asked him. ‘And as for news, my God, it lasts a day. By the time your father is buried, this will all have blown over. Quentin is publishing another article this afternoon about your work in South America.’

‘What?’

‘People who don’t bother finding the facts for themselves and rely on a daily fix of news are lazy, Fabian. Give them the faults first, then show them the philanthropy behind it, and forgiveness follows very quickly. Besides, it was your father who might have made a few mistakes. His heir isn’t going to be like him. Give him a chance. Forgive past blunders. That’s what people love to do. Let them lambast the dead, what does it matter? We know who your father was and that’s all that deserves our energy. The shares will be back up by this afternoon, you watch.’

He smiled. ‘I hate them talking about Dad like he was some kind of heartless hustler.’

‘I know. But there is so much worse they could be saying about him. You should feel sorry for the family of Lord Reilly. Now there’s a family who is about to fall spectacularly from grace. He’s being demolished in the press, and he might survive to read it all. He’ll lose his job, his credibility, and possibly his family.’