Being Elizabeth. Barbara Taylor Bradford

gloves because I don’t want to make enemies for Elizabeth. I was especially mild, and I think I put him totally at ease. It didn’t hurt that I’d made him responsible for planning all aspects of Mary’s funeral.’

      Robert’s intense dark eyes settled on Cecil, and he said in a warning tone, ‘But he bears watching, take my word for it.’

      ‘Oh, I do. And I feel the same, Robert. So does Elizabeth, actually. Now, a word about the meeting. Elizabeth wants to come in once we’re seated, and she will come in alone. She will run the meeting, so we have to play it by ear. Be careful what you say, don’t give any of our plans away. Understood?’

      The three men nodded, their expressions solemn.

      Robert Dunley sat on Elizabeth’s right, and as he listened to her speaking he was filled with enormous pride. She was calm, collected and confident, and spoke eloquently about Deravenels. Also, he was proud of her appearance. Elegant in her navy-blue pinstriped suit, a crisp white shirt with an open collar, and large pearl earrings, she was the epitome of style. Beautiful but businesslike, right on the mark, as far as he was concerned.

      They were sitting around the large mahogany table in the boardroom, and until she had entered a few minutes ago the men had been standing around chatting amongst themselves as they waited for her. Charles Broakes, Sidney Payne, Nicholas Throckman, Francis Walsington were grouped together at one end of the room; Elizabeth’s cousins Henry Carray and Frank Knowles were engaged in deep conversation with Cecil, whilst he had been talking to John Norfell and Elizabeth’s great-uncle Howard, getting on in years but still a director of the company and a viable consultant. Nine of them altogether; seven he was sure about; one had a big question mark over his head. Robert had long been wary of John Norfell because of his closeness to the late Mary Turner.

      ‘And so I’m sure you understand that I will go beyond the call of duty to make certain Deravenels prospers and grows stronger in the next few years as we move towards the twenty-first century.’ Elizabeth paused, looked around the table, smiling at the assembled men, and continued, ‘I now want to announce my first appointments.’ Turning to Cecil on her left, she said, ‘Cecil Williams and I have long worked together because he has been looking after my personal affairs for some years. Today he will become Chief Financial Officer and Director of the Legal Department. And Robert Dunley –’ She paused, turned to Robert on her right. ‘I am appointing Robert Chief Operations Officer, and Director of Transport. In effect, the three of us will be running Deravenels together.’

      Cecil and Robert both thanked her, and the other men acknowledged the appointments with applause.

      Swiftly, Elizabeth proceeded in a brisk voice, ‘I have chosen Nicholas Throckman to be Director of Public Relations and Roving Ambassador for the company, and Francis Walsington will be Director of Security Worldwide.’ Again, the two men thanked her warmly, and the others nodded their approval, or clapped.

      Staring down the length of the table, Elizabeth’s gaze settled on Sidney Payne. She smiled at him. ‘I know Cecil spoke to you yesterday, Sidney, and passed on my request that you take the job of Director of Human Resources. Let me just say that I’m delighted you were delighted to accept.’

      Sidney, a longtime employee of the ancient trading company and devoted to Elizabeth, smiled broadly. ‘Thank you, Elizabeth, and thrilled would be a better word, I think, to describe my feelings.’

      She inclined her head, and finished, ‘Those are the only appointments I’m making today, but there will be others within the next two weeks.’ She focused her eyes on John Norfell and Charles Broakes. ‘John, Charles, I will be offering you both new positions in a matter of days, and Henry, Frank, you’ll also be included in my new arrangements.’

      She smiled at her cousins Frank Knowles and Henry Carray, who nodded their understanding.

      Finally, her eyes swung to her great-uncle Howard; he acknowledged her with a warm smile when she said, ‘And of course you will continue as you were, Uncle, and I hope you will become one of my advisers. That would make me happy.’

      ‘It’s my pleasure to be of service,’ he responded, looking extremely pleased and not a little proud.

      ‘Well, gentlemen, that’s it for today,’ Elizabeth announced in her businesslike manner. ‘I thank all of you for coming, for attending this meeting, and now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to leave you.’

      ‘That was the fastest disappearing act I’ve ever seen,’ John Norfell said, adding, in a somewhat disparaging voice, ‘No doubt she has better fish to fry – a lunch with girlfriends, or perhaps it’s a new man?’

      Cecil, appalled and angered by these critical and unnecessary comments, had a hard time concealing his furious reaction, and threw Norfell a withering look. ‘Please don’t speak about Elizabeth in that tone of voice. What she does is none of your business, or mine, John. She’s free, white and twenty-one, and she just happens to be managing director of this company, not to mention its largest single shareholder. In other words, she’s the boss.’

      John Norfell, never one to apologize, nevertheless had the good grace to look uncomfortable, and suddenly regretted his comments. After a moment’s reflection, he said, in a much more conciliatory voice, ‘It’s a disappointment, actually, Cecil. You see, I was hoping she would do us the honour of joining us for lunch but –’ He threw up his hands helplessly, looking chagrined. ‘She didn’t give us a chance to invite her. She just left.’

      ‘That’s her way. All business. She’s gone back to her office to work, if you want to know the truth,’ Cecil told him in a steady, controlled manner, even though he was still seething inside. ‘She never has lunch, nor will she be going to any lunches, so you might as well get used to it. You see, Elizabeth doesn’t believe in them, and especially not for business. Her attitude is that one never really enjoys the food, and business never gets discussed properly.’

      ‘I see. So, now we know, and none of us will expect any … socializing.’

      ‘That might be the best attitude,’ Cecil murmured quietly.

      ‘What does she have in mind for me?’ John Norfell blurted out anxiously.

      ‘She hasn’t discussed it.’

      ‘That’s hard to believe, Cecil. Come on, she tells you everything.’

      Cecil ignored this remark, and explained swiftly, ‘What I do know is that you will be getting a promotion.’

      ‘Oh, well, thank you for informing me of this, old chap. It’s nice to know I’m not going to be pushed out,’ Norfell replied with a harsh laugh.

      To Cecil’s relief, Sidney Payne joined them, and after only a moment’s casual chat, John Norfell walked across the room to speak to Charles Broakes.

      Sidney said, ‘I hope I did the right thing, coming over to join you, Cecil. I noticed the pained look in your eyes and decided you needed – rescuing.’

      ‘Thanks, Sidney, I did,’ Cecil replied with a chuckle. ‘Norfell was never my cup of tea, nor Elizabeth’s, but he’s a powerhouse here, and he has to be catered to, you know.’

      Sidney grinned at his old friend. ‘Well, just a little bit, surely?’

      Cecil Williams laughed, nodded, and drawing Sidney across the boardroom, aiming for the door, he confided, ‘I’m glad you accepted this job. You told Elizabeth you were thrilled … she was happy about that, because you’re not getting the easiest job, you know.’

      ‘Removing the dead wood? Is that what you’re referring to?’ Sidney asked.

      Cecil merely nodded.

      ‘I’ll manage,’ Sidney reassured him.

      EIGHT