Читать книгу Absolute Truths - Susan Howatch - Страница 32

‘South Canonry,’ I said into the receiver as I sat down in the chair behind my desk.

‘Hullo, old boy, it’s Jack!’

I was so disorientated, both by the Desmond disaster and by Michael’s arrival, that I suffered a moment of amnesia. ‘Jack who?’

‘My God, the Bishop’s gone senile! Charles, it’s your distinguished friend of far too many years’ standing, the editor –’

‘– of the Church Gazette. Sorry, Jack – temporary aberration. I hope you’re not planning to cancel our lunch tomorrow.’

‘Far from it, old chap, calling to confirm – and to say that I’ve got the most shattering piece of gossip for you. Order a brandy in anticipation if you arrive at the Athenaeum before I do.’

‘What gossip?’

‘Oh, I couldn’t possibly reveal it over the phone! I just wanted to make sure you rushed panting to London.’

‘Does it have anything to do with Piccadilly Circus?’

‘Piccadilly Circus? No, I seem to have missed that one. Hang on while I find a pencil and paper –’

‘See you tomorrow,’ I said. ‘Sorry – got to dash.’ But having replaced the receiver I found I still could not face the ordeal of confronting Michael. For some minutes I lingered, speculating about Jack’s piece of gossip and then brooding on Desmond’s disaster, but finally I remembered I had promised to call Charley back. At once I put through the call.

‘It’s me again,’ I said as he answered on the first ring. ‘Sorry about the interval. Are you all right? I hope Aysgarth didn’t upset you with all that talk of Samson.’

‘No, but I admit I’m bothered about something else. Are you by any chance going to be in London this week?’

‘I’m lunching with Jack Ryder tomorrow before chairing a committee meeting at Church House. Why don’t we meet for tea at four-thirty downstairs at Fortnum’s?’

Charley was pleased by this suggestion and seemed to think this marked the end of the telephone call, but I hung on, unable to resist the temptation to delay my interview with Michael. ‘Any other news?’ I enquired hopefully.

‘No – except that I’ve just heard the most awful piece of gossip about Michael. I bumped into Eddie Hoffenberg today and he told me that Venetia had told him that Marina had told her that Michael was actually talking of marrying that ghastly tart of his! Could he really be so fantastically unhinged?’

The door of my study crashed open and Michael stormed into the room.