Page 56 of A Sense of Fate
The steward delivered a decent bottle of claret and Marcus went through the ritual of tasting the wine and approving it. The steward poured for them both and withdrew on silent feet. Archie noticed the famous Scotland Yard detective, Lord Riley Rochester, in deep conversation with a man whom Archie didn’t know. He had crossed paths with Rochester the previous year when he had investigated an especially brutal murder in Archie’s neck of the woods and had been impressed by the man’s dedication and sharp mind. The murderer had been apprehended and hanged, although Archie doubted if that situation would have come about if anyone other than Rochester had pitted his wits against him.
‘Your very good health.’ Marcus raised his glass, then looked momentarily embarrassed. ‘Poor choice of words. Sorry.’
‘Don’t give it another thought. I am more fortunate than most, and slowly improving.’
‘True enough, I suppose, at least insofar as you don’t have to worry about putting food on your table. Even so…’
‘How is the world of politics?’ Archie asked, simply because he needed to gauge the man’s good nature before getting down to the real purpose for his visit.
‘Cutthroat, as ever,’ Marcus replied, ‘but I confess that I thrive in the environment. Occasionally, I even delude myself into believing that I make a small difference.’
‘I am sure you do. That is, after all, the reason why most men go into politics, is it not? They are driven by their consciences to improve the lot of the common man.’
‘Initially, almost certainly, but then one gets caught up in the glory, the in-fighting and what have you, and one’s ideals fly out the window, I’m afraid. Well actually, not mine. I have no desire for promotion. I prefer to remain an influential backbencher. When the house is divided, I find all manner of people courting my vote in return for favours.’ He chuckled. ‘It’s quite flattering really—or it would be if I believed one word in ten.’
‘It sounds to me as though I’m well out of it.’
Marcus leaned back in his chair, twirling the stem of his glass between his fingers. ‘You didn’t come here to discuss my political ambitions, or lack thereof,’ he said with a sapient smile, ‘so I cannot help wondering—’
‘I’m kept fully occupied maintaining the estate, so I am not tempted to dip my toe into politics…’ Archie spread his hands and allowed his words to trail off.
‘I’ll make it easy for you,’ Marcus said, leaning forward and lowering his voice. ‘You have come to ask about my annoying little brother.’
Archie put his glass aside and raised both brows. ‘As a matter of fact, I have, but I wonder how you could possibly have known that.’
Marcus grunted. ‘It wasn’t a difficult conclusion to reach, given that we are barely acquainted. Elroy, however, has made no secret of his dislike of you ever since you were up at Oxford together. He got thrown out of Coutts and is now employed by a very small bank not that far from where you live.’ Intelligent eyes twinkled as they regarded Archie. ‘I rest my case.’
‘I had the dubious pleasure of receiving a visit from your brother the other day. He came, I think, to gloat over my incapacity.’
The humour left Marcus’s expression. ‘That I can easily believe. I apologise for his behaviour, Felsham.’
Archie inclined his head. ‘You are not his keeper, much as a bible basher of my acquaintance I’m sure would have you believe, and I hold you in no way accountable for his actions. However, he led me to believe that he is still employed at Coutts. I myself already knew that to be untrue, even before I entertained one of their directors the other day. He told me that they dismissed your brother, and why, but they also said that they did so with your prior knowledge and approval.’
‘They did. Elroy is a fool and has only himself to blame for his reduced circumstances.’ There wasn’t an iota of sympathy in Marcus’s tone, and Archie realised that his political opponents would have a hard time hoodwinking him. ‘He was given every opportunity by our father…too many opportunities, in fact. He was Father’s favourite and exploited that situation quite shamelessly. In the end, Father grew tired of dragging him out of scrapes. He wangled him a position at Coutts, but he wasn’t sufficiently dedicated or intelligent to use it to his advantage, despite the fact that our father had told him it was his last opportunity to make something of himself.’ Marcus paused to take a sip of his wine. ‘I wasn’t surprised when he resorted to stealing in order to support his overstretched lifestyle.’
‘I’m sorry to have raised such an unpalatable subject, and I am grateful to you for speaking of it with such candour. Most families prefer not to show their vulnerable underbelly in public, but you are assured of my discretion.’
‘I wouldn’t have been so forthcoming if I thought otherwise. Elroy still bears the family name and I will not have anyone, especially gentlemen in your elevated position, thinking that all Conrads are as disreputable as he is.’
‘I would never think that of you.’ Archie raised his glass in salute. ‘I keep up with politics in my own way, and often see your name attached to reasoned argument—if there is such a thing in that bear pit.’
Marcus chuckled. ‘If there was a compliment buried amongst all those caveats then I thank you for it.’
Archie flashed a smile of his own. ‘There was, and you are entirely welcome.’
Archie respected the man, who was clearly both intelligent and passionate in the protection of the rights of the workers in his native Yorkshire. The fact that he had been accepted as a member of this exclusive gentlemen’s club showed that times were changing. The establishment recognised his dedication in making the voice of the growing trade union movement heard in a balanced and erudite manner that forced even those on the right wing of government to sit up and take notice.
‘Elroy is better off where he is now,’ Marcus said. ‘He is a big fish in a small pond, and he is not expected to overachieve. I live in hope that he will settle down to a life of respectability—although that is more of a wish than an expectation. I know my brother’s character too well ever to doubt that he will eventually self-destruct.’
‘I’m sorry for your sake. He and I never saw eye to eye, but you don’t deserve to be stuck with the consequences of his lazy and resentful character.’
‘Ah well, we can choose our friends but not our family.’
Marcus put his empty glass aside. The bottle was empty too. It was Archie who signalled for another. They waited for it to be delivered, tasted and poured before Marcus spoke again.
‘You want to know what the final straw was, I suppose. What caused our family to close ranks and distance ourselves from Elroy. As I say, Elroy was Father’s favourite but he pushed him too far. They argued violently, and two days later Father was dead from a heart attack. No one will ever convince me that the life of one of the finest men ever to draw breath was not cut short by the shame visited upon him by his youngest son’s unconscionable behaviour.’ Marcus’s expression turned frosty. ‘I might be willing to reveal more particulars but I should like to know why you are asking first.’
‘Your brother is making unwanted advances towards a young lady who lives in Lyneham.’
