In the Lion’s Den. Barbara Taylor Bradford

with a cheeseboard to follow?’

      ‘Sounds perfect to me. Thank you so much, Mrs Bellamy.’

      ‘There’s just one other thing, m’lady. What time will Miss Claudia and her husband be arriving this afternoon? In time for tea?’

      ‘Oh no, they’ll be here for supper. They have to attend an engagement party first, and—’ Jane cut her sentence off abruptly. She glanced at Mrs Bellamy as the sound of carriage wheels rattling on the cobblestones outside in the courtyard was heard.

      ‘Are you expecting someone, Your Ladyship?’ Mrs Bellamy asked.

      ‘No, I’m not,’ Jane murmured. Excusing herself, she hurried down the hallway to the front door and opened it.

      A look of enormous surprise crossed her face as she stood on the front steps. Well, well, well, she thought.

      Walking toward her was a young man in his early twenties, tall and good-looking, with fine features and fair hair.

      Lady Jane stepped out into the courtyard and walked forward, smiling at the young man. He extended his hand and said, ‘Let me introduce myself, Lady Carpenter. I am James Falconer, and I’m here at the behest of Mr Malvern. I have a letter from him for Miss Malvern.’

      Jane stretched out her hand to him. He shook it, and she said, ‘I’m very pleased to meet you, Mr Falconer.’

      ‘It is my pleasure, Your Ladyship. If I could speak to Miss Malvern and give her the letter, I can be on my way, Lady Carpenter.’

      ‘She’s not here, I’m afraid, but she’ll be back fairly soon. You must come in and wait for her. Come along.’

      James did not move an inch, although he did reach into his inside jacket pocket and took out an envelope. ‘Could you please give her this when she returns? I will have to come back later because Mr Malvern needs her answer today.’

      ‘Why do you say come back? You can wait here for her, Mr Falconer. Unless you have somewhere else to go?’

      He did not address her question. Instead he said, ‘I don’t believe Miss Malvern would think that quite appropriate. However, there is one thing I would like if it’s not too much trouble … could the driver take the carriage to the back, please, so the horses can drink some water? He knows Goldenhurst, and where the trough is.’

      ‘Of course he can, and he might want a drink of water himself, or a cup of tea. And so might you, Mr Falconer,’ Jane exclaimed in a brisk manner.

      Before James could respond, Broadbent, the butler arrived. ‘Can I help with anything, m’lady?’

      ‘I think the horses might need water. Oh, and Broadbent, this is Mr Falconer. He runs the Malvern Company for Mr Malvern.’

      Broadbent inclined his head and smiled at James, and said to Jane, ‘I know this driver, Your Ladyship. It’s Bolland. He works for Mr Malvern.’

      ‘Very good, Broadbent. Thank you. Now that is settled, let’s go into the house, Mr Falconer.’

      James had no option but to walk alongside Jane and enter the house. She led him along the corridor and into the library. ‘I won’t be a moment,’ she told him, and hurried off.

      James looked around the library with interest, admiring the simplicity of the decor, which was clean-lined and soothing. Walking over to the window, he looked out, thinking how well the gardens had been planned. They must be a riot of colour in the summer, he thought.

      A moment later, he turned around when Jane entered the room. ‘Please, do come and sit down, Mr Falconer. Mrs Bellamy is making a pot of tea.’

      ‘Thank you, Lady Carpenter. That is very kind of you.’ He took a seat in the armchair opposite her, and smiled.

      She smiled back and couldn’t believe the colour of his eyes. They were as blue as cornflowers. Realizing she was staring at him, she said swiftly, ‘I know your uncle George. Well, I’ve met him a few times, to be accurate. My husband likes his work, especially his editorials.’

      ‘That’s such a nice thing to hear. I know Uncle George loves The Chronicle. My grandmother is always saying he’ll never get married because he’s married to his newspaper.’

      Jane laughed, fascinated by the ease, grace and confidence she discerned in this very good-looking young man. And wondering why Alexis had been so nasty about him. She suddenly knew it had nothing to do with Falconer, in the sense that he was more than likely innocent of any wrongdoing. The fault was probably with Alexis and her troubled mind.

      James said, ‘I grew up in Kent as a small child, and my great-grandfather, Edward, owned a grocery shop in Rochester. Anyway, it is a beautiful county, especially around here.’

      ‘It is indeed. I love it too. Although we have a house near Cirencester, I still enjoy it here.’

      ‘May I ask you a question, Lady Carpenter?’

      ‘Yes, please do. I’ll answer if I can.’

      ‘I couldn’t help wondering why you told Mr Broadbent that I ran the Malvern Company.’

      ‘Because you do, don’t you? I know Mr Malvern is not well at all, his brother Joshua is dead, his cousin Percy is missing. And his heir, Miss Malvern, is mostly here at Goldenhurst. That leaves you, as I see it, in charge.’

      ‘I think Mr Malvern does very well, under the present circumstances, Lady Carpenter. I would prefer to say it’s a joint effort, and we do have another good man, Peter Keller, who has taken charge of the Wine Division.’ He leaned forward slightly, staring at her. ‘I wouldn’t want Miss Malvern to think … that I was …’ His voice trailed off and he just shook his head.

      Jane thought, oh God, he’s right. She’ll think he really is an opportunist, and I’m sure he isn’t. After a moment Jane gave a small chuckle and, trying to make light of it, she finished his sentence for him. ‘She might think you’re getting too big for your boots … that’s what you were going to say, isn’t it?’

      He nodded and leaned back in the chair. ‘I try to do my best,’ he said, and then added, ‘Basically, I’m following in my great-grandfather’s footsteps. I love retailing and I hope to open my own shop one day. A shop like Fortnum and Mason in Piccadilly. That’s my ambition.’

      ‘I love Fortnum’s!’ Lady Jane exclaimed, and thought to add, ‘And I’ll be your first customer.’

      At this moment, Mrs Bellamy came in with the tea tray. Once she had poured for them, she left with a smile and a nod, taking with her the menu Jane had left on the desk.

      Jane said, ‘I hope I’m not intruding into your life, Mr Falconer, but it sounds to me as if you are planning quite a different career for yourself … what I mean is, it sounds as if you will be leaving Malvern’s.’ She raised a brow and gave him a penetrating look.

      ‘You’re not intruding, Lady Carpenter. Everyone knows about my dream … but I won’t leave Mr Malvern until he’s really well again. I wouldn’t let him down.’

      ‘I believe I already know that,’ Jane said, and changed the subject, asking James if he had any hobbies.

      He chuckled at the question and said, ‘It’s perhaps the same as yours, Lady Carpenter.’ He glanced at the book on the desk. ‘I love reading, and I’m especially devoted to Dickens. Are you enjoying Our Mutual Friend?’

      Jane did not answer at once, thinking that James Falconer was full of surprises. Finally she said, ‘Yes, I am. Who cannot love his marvellous books?’

      The sound of horses’ hooves clattering in the yard announced the arrival of Lord Reginald and Alexis. Jane nodded at the window and said, ‘They have returned from their ride around the estate … Miss Alexis and my husband are about to join us.’