Twelve Red Herrings Part 15

"Not very long," admitted Hazel.

"Well, if he ever wants a job in England, don't hesitate to let me know - though I'm bound to say, you'd be a fool to part with him," he added, as a maid came in carrying a beautiful Wedgwood tea service that Hazel had never set eyes on before. "Earl Grey, if I remember correctly," said Hazel.

"What a memory you have, Lady Barker," said the Admiral, as the maid began to pour.

"Thank G.o.d for the Foreign Office briefing," Hazel thought, as sheaccepted the compliment with a smile.

"And how did the Conference go, sir?" asked Ted, as he dropped a lump of sugar - the one thing he felt might be their own - into his cup of tea.

"For the British, quite well," said Mounthatten. "But it would have gone better if the French hadn't been up to their usual tricks.

Giscard seems to regard himself as a cross between Charlemagne and Joan of Arc." His hosts laughed politely. "No, the real problem we're facing at the moment, Ted, is quite simply ... ' By the time Mounthatten had dealt with the outcome of the summit, given his undiluted views of James Callaghan and Ted Heath, covered the problem of finding a wife for Prince Charles and mulled over the long-term repercussions of Watergate, it was almost time for him to change.

"Are we dressing for dinner?"

"Yes, sir - if that meets with your approval."

"Full decorations?" Mounthatten asked, sounding hopeful.

"I thought that would be appropriate, sir," replied Ted, remembering the Foreign Office's advice about the Admiral's liking for dressing up at the slightest opportunity.

Mounthatten smiled as Carruthers appeared silently at the door.

Ted raised an eyebrow.

"I have laid out the full dress uniform, m'lord. I tookthe liberty of pressing the trousers. The bedroom maid is drawing a bath for you." Mounthatten smiled. "Thank you," he said as he rose from his chair. "Such a splendid tea," he added turning to face his hostess.

"And such wonderful staff. Hazel, I don't know how you do it.'

"Thank you, sir," said Hazel, trying not to blush.

"What time would you like me to come down for dinner, Ted ?'

Mounthatten asked.

"The first guests should be arriving for drinks at about 7.30, sir. We were hoping to serve dinner at eight, if that's convenient for you."

"Couldn't be better," declared Mounthatten. "How many are you expecting?"

"Around sixty, sir. You'll find a guest list on your bedside table. Perhaps Hazel and I could come and fetch you at 7.5o?'

"You run a tight ship, Ted," said Mounthatten with approval.

"You'll find me ready the moment you appear," he added as he followed Carruthers out of the room.

Once the door was closed behind him, Hazel said to the maid, "Molly, can you clear away the tea things, please?" She hesitated for a moment. "It is Molly, isn't it?"

"Yes, ma'am," said the girl."I think he knows," said Ted, looking a little anxious.

"Maybe, but we haven't time to worry about that now," said Hazel, already on her way to carry out a further inspection of the kitchen.

The mound of potatoes had diminished to a peeled heap.

Mrs.

Travis, who was preparing the sauces, was calling for more pepper and for some spices to be fetched from a shop in town. Aware once again that she wasn't needed in the kitchen, Hazel moved on to the dining room, where she found Ted. The top table was now fully laid with the King's dinner service, three sets of wine gla.s.ses, crested linen napkins, and a glorious centrepiece of a silver pheasant, which gave added sparkle. "Who lent us that?"

she asked.

"I have no idea," replied Ted. "But one thing's for certain - it will have flown home by the morning."

"If we keep the lighting low enough," whispered Hazel, 'he might not notice that the other tables all have different cutlery."

"Heavens, just look at the time," said Ted.

They left the dining room and walked quickly up the stairs. Ted nearly barged straight into Mounthatten's room, but remembered just in time.

The Governor rather liked his dark blue doeskin uniform with the scarlet collar and cuffs. He was admiring the ensemble inthe mirror when Hazel entered the room in a pink Hardy Amies outfit, which she had originally thought a waste of money because she never expected it to be given a proper outing.

Then are so vain," she remarked as her husband continued to inspect himself in the mirror. "You do realise you're only meant to wear that in winter."

"I am well aware of that," said Ted peevishly, ^"but it's the only other uniform I've got. In any case, I bet Mounthatten will outdo us both." He flicked a piece of fluff from his trousers, which he had just finished pressing.

The Governor and his wife left the Nelson Room and walked down the main staircase just before 7.20, to find yet another under-butler stationed by the front door, and two more maids standing opposite him carrying silver trays laden with gla.s.ses of champagne.

Hazel introduced herself to the three of them, and again checked the flowers in the entrance hall.

As 7.3o struck on the long-case clock in the lobby the first guest walked in.

"Henry," said the Governor. "Lovely to see you. Thank you so much for the use of the Rolls. And Bill, come to that," he added in a stage whisper.

"My pleasure, Your Excellency," Henry Bendall replied. "I mustsay, I like the uniform." Lady Cuthbert came bustling through the front door. "Can't stop," she said. "Ignore me. Just pretend I'm not here."

"Dotty, I simply don't know what we would have done without you," Hazel said, chasing after her across the hall.

"Delighted to lend a hand," said Lady Cuthbert. "I thought I'd come bang on time, so I could spend a few minutes in the kitchen with Mrs. Travis. By the way, Benson is standing out in the drive, ready to rush home if you find you're still short of anything."

"You are a saint, Dotty. I'll take you through ... ' "No, don't worry," said Lady Cuthbert. "I know my way around. You just carry on greeting your guests."

"Good evening, Mr. Mayor," said Ted, as Lady Cuthbert disappeared in the direction of the kitchen.

"Good evening, Your Excellency. How kind of you to invite us to such an auspicious occasion."

"And what a lovely dress, Mrs. Janson,'

said the Governor.

"Thank you, Your Excellency," said the Mayor's wife.

"Would you care for a gla.s.s of champagne?" said Hazel as she arrived back at her husband's side.

By 7.45 most of the guests had arrived, and Ted was chatting to Mick Flaherty when Hazel touched him on the elbow. Heglanced towards her.

"I think we should go and fetch him now," she whispered.

Ted nodded, and asked the Chief Justice to take over the welcoming of the guests. They wove a path through the chattering throng, and climbed the great staircase. When they reached the door of the Queen Victoria Room, they paused and looked at each other.

Ted checked his watch - 7.50. He leaned forward and gave a gentle tap. Carruthers immediately opened the door to reveal Mounthatten attired in his third outfit of the day: full ceremonial uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet, three stars, a gold and blue sash and eight rows of campaign decorations.

"Good evening, Your Excellency," said Mounthatten.

"Good evening, sir," said the Governor, star struck.

The Admiral took three paces forward and came to a halt at the top of the staircase. He stood to attention. Ted and Hazel waited on either side of him. As he didn't move, they didn't.

Carruthers proceeded slowly down the stairs in front of them, stopping on the third step. He cleared his throat and waited for the a.s.sembled guests to fall silent.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, Mr. Mayor, ladies and gentlemen,'

he announced. "The Right Honourable the Earl Mounthatten of Burma.'

Mounthatten descended the stairs slowly as the waitingguests applauded politely. As he pa.s.sed Carruthers, the butler gave a deep bow. The Governor, with Hazel on his arm, followed two paces behind.

"He must know," whispered Hazel.

"You may be right. But does he know we know?" said Ted.

Mounthatten moved deftly around the room, as Ted introduced him to each of the guests in turn. They bowed and curtsied, listening attentively to the few words the Admiral had to say to them. The one exception was Mick Flaherty, who didn't stop talking, and remained more upright than Ted had ever seen him before.

At eight o'clock one of the under'butlers banged a gong, which until then neither the Governor nor his wife had even realised existed.

As the sound died away, Carruthers announced, "My Lord, Your Excellency, Prime Minister, Mr. Mayor, ladies and gentlemen, dinner is served." If there was a better cook on St George's than Mrs. Travis, no one at the top table had ever been fed by her, and that evening she had excelled herself.

Mounthatten chatted and smiled, making no secret of how much he was enjoying himself. He spent a long time talking to Lady Cuthbert, whose husband had served under him at Portsmouth, and to Mick Flaherty, to whom he listened with polite interest.

Each course surpa.s.sed the one before: souffle, followed by lambcutlets, and an apricot hazelnut meringue to complete the feast.

Mounthatten remarked on every one of the wines, and even called for a second gla.s.s of port.

After dinner, he joined the guests for coffee in the drawing room, and managed to have a word with everyone, even though Colonel Hodges tried to b.u.t.tonhole him about defence cuts.

The guests began to leave a few minutes before midnight, and Ted was amused to see that when Mick Flaherty bade farewell to the Admiral, he bowed low and said, "Good night, My Lord. It has been an honour to meet you." Dotty was among the last to depart, and she curtsied low to the guest of honour. "You've helped to make this such a pleasant evening, Lady Cuthbert," Mounthatten told her.

"If you only knew just how much," thought Hazel.

After the under-butler had closed the door on the last guest, Mounthatten turned to his hostess and said, "Hazel, I must thank you for a truly memorable occasion. The head chef at the Savoy couldn't have produced a finer banquet. Perfect in every part."

"You are very kind, sir. I will pa.s.s your thanks on to the staff." She just stopped herself from saying 'my staff'. "Is there anything else we can do for you before you retire?"

"No, thank you," Mounthatten replied. "It has been a long day, and with your permission, I'll turn innow.'

"And at what time would you like breakfast, sir?" asked the Governor.

"Would 7.3 be convenient?" Mounthatten asked. "That will give me time to fly out at nine."

"Certainly," said Ted. Tll see that Carruthers brings a light breakfast up to your room at 7.3 - unless you'd like something cooked."

"A light breakfast will be just the thing," Mounthatten said. "A perfect evening. Your staff could not have done more, Hazel.

Good night, and thank you, my dear." The Governor bowed and his lady curtsied as the great man ascended the staircase two paces behind Carruthers. When the butler closed the door of the Queen Victoria Room, Ted put his arm around his wife and said, "He knows we know.'

"You may be right," said Hazel. "But does he know we know he knows?'

Tll have to think about that," said Ted.

Arm in arm, they returned to the kitchen, where they found Mrs.

Travis packing dishes into a crate under the supervision of Lady Cuthbert, the long lace sleeves of whose evening dress were now firmly rolled up.

"How did you get back in, Dotty?" asked Hazel.

"Just walked round to the back yard and came in the servants'

entrance," replied Lady Cuthbert."Did you spot anything that went badly wrong?" Hazel asked anxiously.

"I don't think so," replied Lady Cuthbert, "Not unless you count Mick Flaherty failing to get a fourth gla.s.s of Muscat de Venise."

"Mrs.

Travis," said Ted, 'the head chef at the Savoy couldn't have produced a finer banquet. Perfect in every part. I do no more than repeat Lord Mounthatten's exact words."

"Thank you, Your Excellency," said Mrs.

Travis. "He's got a big appet.i.te, hasn't he?" she added with a smile.

A moment later, Carruthers entered the kitchen. He checked round the room, which was spotless once again, then turned to Ted and said, "With your permission, sir, we will take our leave. ' "Of course,'

said the Governor. "And may I thank you, Carruthers, for the role you and your amazing team have played.

You all did a superb job. Lord Mounthatten never stopped remarking on it."

"His Lordship is most kind, sir. At what time would you like us to return in the morning to prepare and serve his breakfast?"

"Well, he asked for a light breakfast in his room at 7.3-'

"Then we will be back by 6.30," said Carruthers.

Hazel opened the kitchen door to let them all out, and they humped crates full of crockery and baskets full of food to the waiting cars.The last person to leave was Dotty, who was clutching the silver pheasant. Hazel kissed her on both cheeks as she departed.