Be Careful What You Wish For: The Clifton Chronicles 4 by Jeffrey Archer Read Free Book Online

kiss the bride.’
    A ripple of applause greeted Sir Giles and Lady Barrington. The reception that followed was held at the Cadogan Arms in King’s Road. Giles seemed determined to make the complete contrast
to his first wedding obvious to everyone.
    When Emma entered the pub, she spotted Harry chatting to Giles’s agent, who had a broad grin on his face. ‘A married candidate gets far more votes than a divorced one,’ Griff
was explaining to Harry before he downed his third glass of champagne.
    Grace was chatting to the bride, who had, not so long ago, been one of her PhD students. Gwyneth reminded her that she had first met Giles at a party Grace had thrown to celebrate her
birthday.
    ‘My birthday was only an excuse for that particular party,’ said Grace without explanation.
    Emma turned her attention back to Harry, who had just been joined by Deakins, no doubt swapping stories about their different experiences of being Giles’s best man. Emma couldn’t
remember if Algernon was now a professor at Oxford. He certainly looked like one, but then, he had since the age of sixteen, and even if he hadn’t sported that unkempt beard at the time, it
would have been the same suit.
    Emma smiled when she spotted Jessica sitting cross-legged on the floor, drawing a picture on the back of the service sheet, of Sebastian – who had been allowed out of the hospital to
attend the occasion, on the strict understanding that he would be back before 6 p.m. – talking to his uncle. Giles was bending down and listening attentively to what his nephew had to say.
She didn’t have to guess what the subject must be.
    ‘But if Emma were to lose the vote,’ said Giles.
    ‘Barrington’s is unlikely to declare a profit for the foreseeable future, so you can no longer assume that you’ll always be receiving a quarterly dividend.’
    ‘Is there any good news?’
    ‘Yes, if Ross Buchanan turns out to be right about the luxury liner business, and he’s a shrewd operator, then Barrington’s can look forward to a bright future. And you can
take your place at the Cabinet table without having to worry about surviving on a minister’s salary.’
    ‘I must say, I’m delighted that you’re taking such a keen interest in the family business, and can only hope you’ll continue to do so once you’ve gone up to
Cambridge.’
    ‘You can be sure of that,’ said Sebastian, ‘because it’s the future of the company I’m most concerned about. I’m rather hoping there’ll still be a
family business by the time I’m ready to take over as chairman.’
    ‘Do you really think it’s possible that Barrington’s could go under?’ asked Giles, sounding anxious for the first time.
    ‘Seems unlikely, but it doesn’t help that Major Fisher has been reappointed to the board, because I’m convinced his interest in the company is diametrically opposed to ours. In
fact, if Don Pedro Martinez does turn out to be his backer, I’m not actually sure that the survival of Barrington’s is part of their long-term plan.’
    ‘I’m confident that Ross Buchanan and Emma will prove more than a match for Fisher, and even for Martinez.’
    ‘Possibly. But remember that they don’t always sing in unison, and Fisher will be sure to take advantage of that. And even if they do foil Fisher in the short term, all he has to do
is wait a couple of years for everything to fall into his lap.’
    ‘What are you getting at?’ asked Giles.
    ‘It’s no secret that Ross Buchanan plans to retire in the not-too-distant future, and I’m told he’s recently bought an estate in Perthshire that’s conveniently
situated near three golf courses and two rivers, which will allow him to indulge in his favourite pastimes. So it won’t be too long before the company will be looking for a new
chairman.’
    ‘But if Buchanan were to retire, surely your mother would be the obvious choice to take his place? After all, she’s a member of the family, and we still