That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel

by Adrienne Vaughan

  “Archie!” Humphrey said sharply. The eyes opened.

  “Humphrey, what a lovely surprise!” The corpse wriggled a bit. “Thought I’d give this a go, must have dropped off.” Archie sat up.

  “You unspeakable little shite!” Bernice yawped, landing her sibling such a blow to the chest he collapsed back onto the astral blue silk. Before he could catch his breath, the door opened again.

  “I forgot you said you’d try it for size, I’ve been looking all over.” Pearl skipped into the library clutching her map and pack of coloured pens. “Now, where are the caves?” she said, looking expectantly from her host to his guest.

  SKULLDUGGERY, NO LESS

  Dinner was almost over by the time Ross Power returned. Pearl had exhausted both Archie and Humphrey with questions about the island, insisting every snippet of information be added to her map. When Pearl had proudly presented her find, Archie dismissed it as something a tourist had mislaid but Humphrey left the trinket untouched; he had not touched another morsel of food either. The broken necklace lay like a question mark on the table between them.

  Finally, pale with tiredness ‒ it was long past Pearl’s bedtime ‒ Mia scooped their inquisitor up and tucked her under an eiderdown in the room next to hers. She closed the door quietly and descending the stairs, met Ross in the hallway.

  “I’ve just put your niece to bed, she’s out for the count.” He looked wiped out too, exhaustion adding another layer to the worry behind his eyes. For the second time that day she saw a chink in his armour, a vein of vulnerability. “Manage to sort out the problem at the hotel?”

  “Sure. Just had to rehome an entire wedding party in time for tomorrow.”

  “Sounds bad.”

  “Bad enough. Water damage to a couple of rooms. I’d to move the guests to Ashton Manor, thank goodness they’d a last-minute cancellation.”

  “Ouch, expensive,” Mia said. “Will you have to pay compensation too?”

  “We’re insured.” He sounded deflated. “They wanted a wedding by the sea, I’m just sorry their plans have been ruined.”

  “Your rooms are ruined too.” Mia recalled a leak in her flat, spoiled everything including two of her favourite paintings. Leela appeared at the kitchen door, Ross’s mask snapped back on, giving her a warm smile.

  “Just in time,” she said. “I’ve a lovely bowl of my award-winning chowder and a big glass of wine waiting, you look ready for it.”

  “Thank you, ma’am, but if you don’t mind putting the wine on hold, I’m bushed, I’d hate to fall asleep in front of your guests.”

  “We’ve no guests here, friends and family only and I’m counting you in that,” she beckoned him in.

  “I’d no idea you were a professional cook, Leela, winning awards and all.”

  “It’s a special system.” Mia explained. “When someone declares one of Leela’s dishes delicious, she asks if it would win an award. If the answer’s yes, she gives herself one of Bernice’s old Pony Club rosettes.”

  Ross burst out laughing, the mantle above the range in the kitchen was studded with ribbons. “Great idea! Think I’ll introduce that at the hotel.”

  “You could do worse,” said Leela, sniffily, pinching Mia in the arm for giving the game away.

  The formal dining room was the grandest in Galty House. The Edwardian table seated twenty people comfortably, there was a large walnut cellar-board against one wall and a beautiful marble fireplace gracing another. Elegant and welcoming, the glowing chandeliers gave it a softness, blurring the faded wallpaper, worn rugs and dusty drapes.

  Archie was delighted Ross had arrived, introducing him to the barrister and moving everyone round so Ross could sit between the men. Leela, who had been swathed in smiles once she realised their guest was Humphrey Beaumont, served Ross chowder while Archie, ignoring his protests, poured wine.

  Bernice was also pleased to see Ross, hoping his arrival would turn the conversation in her favour. Asking about plans for the hotel might force a discussion about the future of Galty House. Eamon, taking her lead, also attempted to raise the subject but when it was obvious he was being ignored in favour of Humphrey, he ordered Driscoll to take him home.

  By now Archie and Humphrey were on their favourite subject ‒ near-death experiences on the high seas. Bernice had heard this all many times before so decided it was time to say goodnight but Mia had found her second wind; this was a rare treat, the two old seadogs who had taught her to sail, recounting some of the most exciting adventures of her life.

  Ross was fascinated by the change in her. She called them pranksters and frauds and laughed till she cried. It was obvious that this Mia, this carefree, unfettered Mia, utterly adored these men and was relishing glimpses of the childhood they had given her. These were her father figures, the men who had played their part in creating her happiest times and she loved them for it.

  Ross could not help but be moved by her joy. He so wanted this specialness for Pearl.

  Wiping tears of laughter from his eyes, Ross explained his father had been equally calamitous where adventures were concerned, taking himself and his sister on impromptu voyages and having to be rescued on more than one occasion.

  “So, we have a full crew right here,” grinned Humphrey, looking around the table. “What about a sail tomorrow? I’m dying to see this new plaything, what’s she called, Banshee? Must have cost a fortune, how on earth did you get that past Bernice?”

  “Didn’t tell her.”

  “Like the coffin?”

  “The coffin?” Mia and Ross said together.

  “Ah.” Archie reached for the decanter. “That was a bargain. Now, who’s for a nightcap?”

  Humphrey declined, taking his leave, the coffin episode had upset him more than he let on.

  Archie bade him goodnight. “If I don’t see you in the morning, will you keep your promise?”

  “’Course I’ll see you in the morning, we’re going sailing.” Humphrey squeezed his friend’s hand. “And you’ve my word, I’ll keep my promise.” He closed the door gently behind him.

  Mia withdrew to check supplies, if they were taking the boat out a good breakfast was essential. It suited Archie to be left alone with Ross. He wanted to talk to him about the future, a future he would not see, yet needed to influence.

  “Now, I’m all ears and the soul of discretion.” Archie lit another cigar. “If I’ve any breath left it certainly won’t be for spreading gossip!”

  Ross was wary. “What do you mean?”

  “I can see you’re worried, son, a bigger concern than a leaky pipe, just wondered if you needed to share anything, while I’m still here.”

  Despite refusing a nightcap minutes before, Ross poured himself a cognac. Archie waited.

  Ross lifted the brandy balloon to his lips, then put it down.

  “Nothing I can’t handle, it’ll be fine.”

  “Excellent! Hotel doing well. Young Pearl and the rest of the family all tickety-boo. Love life top notch. All good then.”

  Archie blew a smoke ring into the air.

  Silence. The grandfather clock chimed the hour. Ross took a drink.

  “It’s not going particularly well, if I’m honest,” Ross said. Archie waited. “I keep coming up against problems, new ones every day, it’s hard enough keeping the hotel full but these structural problems are getting worse. I’ve re-examined the plans, checked the sign-off on the building regulations and it doesn’t make sense.”

  “What do you mean, exactly?” Archie was pleased Ross was opening up.

  “The structure of the building … well.” Ross lowered his voice to a rasp. “It seems unsound. Cracks appearing all over the place, almost as if it’s moving.”

  Archie recalled the loose railing when he and Bernice were there for lunch, the day she lost her keys. “Isn’t that just, what do they call it, settlement?”

  “I thought so at first but now I’m not sure. I’m going to have to call in some experts to give me a worst cas
e scenario.”

  “Seems the logical course of action but ..?” Archie knew there was a but.

  “Time’s against me, as you know the hotel’s shortlisted for a major award. If we win it’ll make a huge difference, international acclaim, really put us on the map.” He took another drink. “But I’m not sure how long we can hold out before I call in the professionals and when I do, we’ll have to close the hotel while work’s underway.”

  “Expensive?” Archie offered.

  “Expensive and disruptive and what about the award? We need the recognition but how long can we hang on, patching things up as we go?” Ross stared into his glass. Archie had seen a change in him recently. The optimism following the launch had waned, stress shimmered just below the surface and Ross was distracted, Archie had witnessed him gazing out to sea more than once, far too preoccupied to enjoy the view.

  “You can handle it, you’re a professional hotelier, in the blood, remember?” Archie knew about problems during construction. A tradesman sacked for stealing had blabbed how the architect was cutting corners, saying the structural engineers were abandoning the project in disgust. He had also heard about backhanders going to the planning committee and that the health and safety regulators were on the take too. Archie appreciated that most of this had occurred before Ross’s arrival but wondered how much his young friend knew, because whatever had happened in the past, it was all Ross’s responsibility now.

  There was, however, another much bigger issue bothering Archie.

  “I’m guessing if you win the award, phase two will swing into action, the phase that encompasses Galty House. That’s why you want me to attend the awards in New York, so it looks as if I’m totally in support.”

  “I’m sorry?” Ross was confused.

  “The plans for the golf course,” Archie confirmed.

  “Whoa, they’re way off,” Ross said.

  The long term plans for the hotel were common knowledge, they featured in all the marketing material underlining the Power Corporation’s long term commitment to the area but the scheme encompassing Galty House was supposedly under wraps. Ross swallowed, nothing remained secret around here for long.

  “Would you demolish the house or refurbish it?” Archie was direct; his timeframe was tight.

  “Not gotten that far.”

  “Well, someone’s discussed it in detail with my sister, had the place valued etcetera …” Archie was no longer smiling. “We all know this house and the land is perfect for the next stage of the hotel’s development but whoever is schmoozing my sister is barking up the wrong tree. That’s one of the reasons I’m leaving it to Mia. Bernice would sell the lot like a shot. Mia might think about it.”

  “Mia’s getting the house?” Ross looked uncomfortable. “Archie … I …”

  Archie raised his hand. “With respect, Ross, you’re being used. You’re desperate to make a success of the hotel because of how much your family has invested in it and getting your hands on Galty would be relatively easy if I leave it to my sister.” He stubbed out his cigar. “However, I’m leaving it to Mia. I would like the house to stay in the family, be part of the next generation. But I expect you to play nicely, nothing underhand or inappropriate, no threats, no intimidation.”

  “What do you mean, sir?” Ross flared. “I don’t operate like that, never have!”

  “Steady on. I don’t mean you. I’m referring to the company, the ever powerful Power Corporation. Like I said, Ross, you’re being used, in more ways than one, not only front man and child minder but fall guy if it all goes wrong.”

  “Now, come on.” Ross was defensive.

  “The Harbour Spa is an ambitious project but the corporation needs a return on its investment and you need an international golf course, it’s the one facility you don’t have that will bring in the bucks.”

  “You seem to know a lot about it.” Ross was smarting.

  “Not my line, but it is Humphrey’s.” Archie waited, watching Ross taking that in. “An investigation is already underway. A high level, undercover operation into backhanders, blackmail and all the deceit and skullduggery most of today’s politicians and bankers seem particularly adept at.”

  Ross was really listening now.

  “It’s not just about the hotel, underhand dealings regarding development along this particular piece of coastline have been taking place for some time and the whistle is about to blow. If you’re to make your home here, Ross, and I think deep down that’s what you would like to do, you must extricate yourself from any shenanigans, because if there’s one thing I know about this place, mud sticks.”

  Archie, quite breathless after his speech took a drink of water and wiping his eyes looked at Ross.

  “You don’t seem too surprised?”

  He could see Ross struggling with what he was about to say.

  “I’m only surprised how much you know but I’m not completely naïve, I’ve had my own suspicions.” Ross met Archie’s gaze. “I’ve found irregularities, evidence of payments going into certain accounts, correspondence I wasn’t meant to see and the worst of it is, it looks like people I trust, trust implicitly, have been less than honest.”

  “Underhand practice?” Archie queried.

  “Worse, bribery and corruption is what it is!” Ross’s fists were clenched on the table. “If all this underhand practice, as you so politely put it, comes to light, our reputation will be shot. The whole Power Corporation brought to its knees … it doesn’t bear thinking about.” He picked up his glass, put it down again. “If I call in the professionals and they close us down we’re out of the competition. If I patch things up until the competition is over we’re in with a chance. Without it we’ll never attract enough funding for the golf course and without the golf course we’ll never make enough money to pay the investors back.”

  Archie gave this some thought.

  “You could have chosen your advisors more wisely, I feel.” He lit another cigar. “Eamon, for example, has never been known for subtlety. He’s managed to persuade a member of your board he has power of attorney and has already taken a deposit on the sale of my estate once I’m pushing up daisies.”

  “What?!” Ross was genuinely shocked. “How do you know?”

  “Humphrey tipped me the wink and I put a call into your uncle Christie, before I even asked him about his interest in my property, he told me how pleased he was we’d reached an agreement and that the deposit was being transferred to my lawyer’s account the next day.”Ross whistled through his teeth.“Said he didn’t like the idea of the Power’s coming across as faceless, land grabbers and next time he was over we were to have dinner. Needless to say, I chose not to enlighten him he’d been conned. Besides we need concrete evidence if we’re to nail the bastards, because those responsible are for the high jump, make no mistake.” Archie’s voice was faint now but his eyes were hard, glinting at the injustice of it all. He took a breath. “Sadly, Bernice is involved, naivety more than anything, so I’m leaving Humphrey to extricate her in his own way. I’m sure it’ll work out, Humphrey can be very persuasive.”

  The door opened, Mia looked in. The two men were huddled together, deep in conversation.

  “I’m off to bed.”

  She slipped an arm around Archie and kissed him.

  Ross looked up. “Pearl?”

  “Fast asleep, someone will drop her back tomorrow, is that okay?”

  It was the first time she had looked at him directly all evening. His closeness today had unnerved her. Somehow, outside in the open air, she was fine, she could cope but here in the house she was too aware of him. She had to shield herself from those dark shining eyes, something about the pirate had been far too beguiling this evening. She turned to leave, she was tired too.

  “If that someone is you, I’d be pleased to show you round, have that dinner I promised,” he said, quietly.

  “Thanks, but I think we’re sailing tomorrow. Shall I check the weather?” she asked Archie.

/>   “I already have, now off to bed,” he ordered, not wanting to change the course of his discussion with Ross. “I’ll see this young man out.” She kissed him again and left. “You were saying?” Archie was exhausted, but this might be his last chance, he wanted to make the best of the opportunity.

  “I’m not sure which is the lesser of the two evils, get help now or keep going until after the awards. At least if we gain some sort of recognition I’d be in a better position to face whatever else is coming.”

  “Faced with two evils, why on earth would you chose the lesser?” Archie asked. Ross gave him a look, Archie had a habit of throwing a side ball.

  “Might the lesser be more manageable?”

  “Bit pointless being evil if it’s manageable and I wouldn’t want the lesser of anything, myself,” the older man chuckled as they walked to the hall door. “You’ll know what to do when it comes to it, Ross, you seem a decent sort of fellow, the sort of guy I’d put my money on anyway.” Archie was exhausted now and he still had another conversation on his agenda. Ross shook his hand.

  “Well, goodnight sir, and thank you for your hospitality and your advice.” Ross gazed at his host, maybe they were more alike than he thought, maybe he did not want the lesser of anything either.

  “If I don’t make it to the awards, remember I’m full of admiration for you in spite of everything and I’ll be with you in spirit. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you these last few months, my friend.”

  “And I you, Archie. Knowing you has meant a lot to me.”

  Ross pulled his collar up against the coolness and looking back at the slight, smiling man in the doorway, lifted his hand; somehow it felt like goodbye. Archie blew him an extravagant kiss and closed the door against the night.

  Upstairs Archie knocked and waited before letting himself in. Pearl was fast asleep in the outer chamber, the soft glow of the night-light making her hair shine like spun gold as it fell across the pillow.