Page 65 of Traitors Gate

‘Time to move on to our individual roles on the day,’ said Miles as Collins topped up his whisky. ‘Let’s begin with you, Phil.’

‘When we arrive at the Tower, I’ll give the password to the duty warder. The barrier will be raised and the East Gate opened.’

‘How will you be dressed, Phil?’ asked The Understudy.

‘The Lord Chamberlain never calls me Phil. You must get used to calling me Harris, if you don’t want the Tower staff to become suspicious.’

‘How will you be dressed, Harris?’

‘In the chauffeur’s uniform I always wear for the occasion,’ he replied.

‘And you?’ Miles asked, staring at the nameless man.

‘The Lord Chamberlain has his suits made at Gieves and Hawkes. He’s slightly thinner than me, so I’ve had to lose a few pounds and have my trousers taken in a couple of inches.’

‘And what about you, Bruce?’ Miles asked, turning to Lamont.

‘I’ll be wearing the uniform of a superintendent, which I held onto after leaving the force. I’ve had to add a star to both epaulettes, so I’ll be the same rank as Warwick. I’ll also be wearing a peaked cap with silver braiding, making it difficult to see my face.’

‘Don’t forget it will be the first time the Governor has taken part in the ceremony,’ Harris reminded them, ‘so he’ll also be on unfamiliar ground.’

‘And you, Collins? Where will you be while all this is going on?’

‘Sitting behind the wheel of the Land Rover, looking innocent.’

Laughter broke out for the first time.

‘It’s not a laughing matter,’ said Miles sharply. ‘We all have to look not only innocent, but as if we’re meant to be there. So what happens after you’ve parked the Jaguar outside the Jewel House?’

‘The Resident Governor will take the Lord Chamberlain inside to collect the two boxes containing the Imperial State Crown and the Sword of State.’

‘And when they come back out?’

‘They’ll be accompanied by two Jewel House keepers who will put the two boxes in the boot of the Jag,’ said Harris. ‘I must warn you that the Resident Governor and Lord Chamberlain usually chat for a few moments before he gets back into the car.’

‘Not this time they won’t,’ said Miles. ‘Seconds wasted. His Lordship will shake hands with the Governor and suggest they have lunch at his club some time, old chap – no more!’

‘What’s the name of the Lord Chamberlain’s club?’ asked Lamont.

‘White’s,’ came back the nameless man. ‘It’s at the top of St James’s.’

Miles did like dealing with professionals. ‘What happens next?’ he asked, moving on.

‘Once I’m back behind the wheel,’ said Harris, ‘the elite motorcyclists will move off. The whole exercise usually takes around fourteen to fifteen minutes.’

‘It’s going to be tight,’ suggested Miles.

‘Not if my team play their parts properly,’ said Lamont.

‘When they take off,’ continued Harris, ‘I’ll drive slowly out of the Tower, across the middle drawbridge along the Embankment and back through the East Gate. The moment we’re on the main road, we would normally return to the palace by the quickest possible route.’

‘But not on this occasion?’ said Miles.

‘No. I’ll continue on past the front of the Tower as if heading back towards Westminster, but after about a hundred yards, I’ll swing left into All Hallows by the Tower. A local church that has four parking spaces.’

‘But if there’s space for only four cars,’ began Booth Watson, ‘isn’t it possible—’

‘I’ve had someone watching that church for the past week,’ said Lamont. ‘They’re only ever full for Matins on a Sunday morning. Even the Reverend Pascoe arrives by tube.’

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