The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike, est. 2007) Part 2613 by Angharad Copyright© 2015 Angharad

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This is a work of fiction any mention of real people, places or institutions is purely coincidental and does not imply that they are as suggested in the story.
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Back at my parents in law’s house I changed into the dress and did my makeup draping towel across the front of me to protect the dress. A squirt of the Chanel and my jewellery and a watch and I was ready to go. Stella had left a grey wool and silk stole which was embroidered with poppies. It didn’t quite match the dress but it was close enough and popped my purse and mobile into the small grey clutch bag I bought with the shoes.

“You look really nice, Mummy,” offered my fan club.

“You be a good girl for Nanny Monica, won’t you?”

“She won’t give me any trouble,” replied Trish which made Monica goldfish and then laugh. Henry arrived as we were still laughing and he approved of his daughter in law.

We took the limo to the Ritz hotel. En route, I asked Henry to forward me the bill for the dress and shoes. “Cathy, you are on official business for the bank, so the bank will take care of the account.”

“In which case, I should give them to you as soon as we get home.”

“They wouldn’t fit me, so I suggest you keep them—a perk of the job. If you are able to help resolve this business before anyone else gets hurt, I’ll buy you a dozen such dresses.”

“If we can resolve this business, I’ll remind you of your promise, though I suspect you might have to get them in various sizes.”

“Eh?”

“I’m only here because the rest of my family is supporting me, they each deserve a nice frock at the end of it.”

“Fine, that’s what we’ll do then. What dress size is Simon?” We arrived at the hotel chuckling at his pretended silliness and it helped take the edge off our anxiety. “Whatever you do, don’t act nervous or in awe of this guy. He’s clever, he’s powerful but he’s also human and just as vulnerable as you or I.”

“Okay, I’ll just imagine him in his bra and pants then.” Henry snorted at my response.

“Your Lordship, how nice to see you again,” remarked the doorman, “and who is this delightful lady?”

“My daughter in law, Lady Catherine.”

“At your service, Lady Catherine,” he said doffing his hat and bowing.

“Thank you, Albert,” said Henry and shaking his hand put some money in it.

“Have a good evening, your Lordship, your Ladyship.”

A uniformed page met us inside and led us to a small bar where Henry ordered a Scotch with water and I had a dry vermouth. “The other party has just arrived, Lord Stanebury,” announced the page. Henry nodded and ushered me to a table in a nook beside the bar.

“Where are we eating?” I asked him.

“Through there, I think,” he indicated a door just past the bar. As we sipped our drinks, a tall, dark and distinguished looking man appeared with a very lovely blonde woman on his arm. Her dress was exquisite and probably cost thousands as did the Jimmy Choo shoes with skyscraper heels. I felt underdressed already. They walked to the bar and ordered drinks.

“Is that him?” I asked even if was pretty obvious.

“It is.”

“Nearly as good looking as you, Henry,” I said my tongue lodged firmly in my cheek.

“Bless you, my child,” he replied gently tapping my knee. “Here they come.” Henry stood up as the glamorous couple walked towards us.

Henry and the handsome hunk shook hands. “Mr Ambassador, may I present my daughter in law, Lady Catherine.”

The Russian extended his hand and I gave him mine. “Enchanted,” he said with a vague American accent. How is it all these foreigners speak English sounding like they came from Boston?

“Permit me to introduce my wife, Tatiana.” She shook hands with Henry and then with me. My workaday mitts looked neglected compared to her beautifully manicured hands.

“You are also a professor, no?” Tatiana asked me.

“Yes, at Portsmouth University, I teach ecology.”

“I teached English at Moscow university.”

“Ah,” I acknowledged glad I wasn’t on her course.

“Taught, dearest,” corrected her husband.

“Taught?” she queried.

“Past tense of teach.”

“Of course, so silly of me, do forgive me,” she said blushing.

“Your English is better than my Russian,” I confided to her.

We chatted informally for ten or fifteen minutes and had a second drink. This time I went for lime and soda which made Henry’s eyebrows rise. Hard drink to me is one with ice in it. Mr and Mrs Ambassador were knocking back the G and Ts like there was no tomorrow.

Led to our dining room we were introduced to a Mr Spicer from the Foreign Office and some Russian bloke called Georg, I think. They were there to advise us and translate—in other words to try and ensure everybody understood what was being said.

We ate a sumptuous meal for which I would not liked to have paid. I had a fruit starter which was delicious, Henry had the pâté which looked very nice too. I felt anxious not to over eat or drink as it would blunt my mind and the ambassador looked a smart cookie.

Over the meal we chatted about our families. I said with contrived innocence that my husband and daughter were both ill in hospital the one having been kidnapped and left to die, the other having been hit by a car in an attempted murder. I felt Henry wince, but the bastard sitting opposite was responsible. His wife made reassuring noises—so perhaps she didn’t know.

She showed me a photo of her daughter, Nikola. As soon as I saw it I saw a darkness over her right eye. “Pretty girl,” I remarked.

“Yes, she is my precious child.”

“Is she well?”

“Yes, just little headache.”

“Tatiana, please get her headaches checked out.”

“It’s nothing—too much television.”

“Please—for me.”

“You know something? Ecology is not medicine, is it?”

“Cathy gets these hunches,” offered Henry.

“Hunches—places rabbits live?” checked Tatiana.

“Intuitions,” said her husband and she nodded.

“What is matter with Nikola?”

“Probably nothing but please check it out.”

“Embassy doctor don’t say nothing, just eye strain.”

“That’s probably all it is then.” I knew different but why should I help these people who put two of my family in hospital and killed my bodyguard. Their daughter had a tumour pressing on the optic nerve, she would be blind in a month and dead in twelve unless they acted soon.

My main course was fillet of Welsh lamb, Henry had the same the Russians had steak. For dessert I had sorbet though I could have chosen half a dozen other things they looked so enticing. I drank a glass of red wine—a Merlot which went down rather well with my meal. Afterwards coffee and liqueurs—I ordered a sex on the beach, which got some raised eyebrows—so, I like cranberry juice.

The social niceties over, the table was quickly cleared for the main course—our discussions. Mrs Ambassador sat back from the table, I quite pointedly took my place next to Henry. I also asked for tea to be added to the drinks being placed on a side table with fresh milk not the awful UHT sort.

“Lady Catherine is acting as a negotiator?” checked the Russian official.

“Lady Catherine, requested this meeting,” replied Spicer.

“Very well, shall we begin?”