by Mark Stanley
“Have you been their?”
“Yes and I intend to return with my family next month when we’re all going to be working on a water project and a school.”
Victoria looked at me and smiled.
“Did you know about this Victoria?”
“No David but it does sound exciting doesn’t it?”
"It does. This seems an appropriate moment to have another break after which we’ll have a chat about last night.”
“Welcome back and lets revisit the events of last night so maybe I can ask this of you Victoria? How does a wife view a husband who is so in love with her that he continues to put himself into danger? Aren't you a little bit ashamed that you're taking advantage of him?"
The audience laughed and Victoria smiled a wry smile.
"Let me put it another way. Last night, when he went into action, what were you thinking?"
"Well at the time, I was being thrown into a couple who were smooching on the dance-floor; I thought it was just another new extravagant dance move, a little exuberant perhaps..."
The audience laughed and so did the host.
"...but even then I didn't realise what was happening."
"When did you know?"
"There were two commotions and the one that I was in had my full attention. You can see how big Mark is and how small, in comparison I am? When he threw me away, discarded me like a wrapper that he didn't want anymore..."
More laughter.
"...I took this couple out, it was like, I'm coming through..."
More laughter.
"...and then I landed, on the man..."
"His lucky day!"
More laughter.
"...But his partner toppled over landing on both of us, of course then we were all tangled up in and being suffocated by the Taffeta of her dress, fighting to breathe as we scrambled around."
Victoria was milking this, just a tad and the audience loved it.
"Then what?"
"Then the screams started and the crowd backed away and two more people toppled over and fell onto us. Actually, it began to get a little scary as we were in danger of being trampled, all because Rambo over here was scaring everyone."
"And Mark what were you thinking?"
"He doesn't think David, ever, that's the problem, he just acts!"
It went on but it was pretty light-hearted.
"Can I ask you Victoria, what's the best bit of being married to Mark?"
She looked at me pensively, before she replied.
"He's very smart, both in looks and brain, he has a compassion for his fellow man, but beyond that, he's just so incredibly exciting to be with, this trip to Malawi being just a perfect example. I know nothing about it but it will be…incredible because he’ll make sure it is. When he's away, there's a huge void and we all feel it, not just me. He has an energy which even the children struggle to keep up with, always wanting to do something and always challenging, them and me...he's just...the best."
"...And the worst?"
Victoria looked at me again smiling. “Apart from his ego and his extremely high self-esteem?”
The audience and David Ruskin were beside themselves with laughter but Victoria then became serious, just for once.
"The worst thing about being married to Mark is that I have to share him with so many people. I want to be with him every moment of everyday, but..." She shook her head and turned away before starting to laugh. "Oh and fresh flowers, he has to have the house filled with fresh flowers, he drives me and the staff crazy!"
More laughter all at my expense.
"Mark, can I ask the same questions of you?"
"Victoria, talks about compassion and our fellow man, but it's her drive and desire which I attach myself too. She has always wanted to use her wealth and privilege to help others and with the development of our personal Foundation this is being expanded and enhanced, almost daily, but it's her energy and vision that makes it work so well. She has an empathy with people and they're drawn to her and I'm just so privileged to be with her and allowed to be a part of this remarkable legacy that she's building. On top of all of this, she's a fabulous Mother to our six children and a very adequate wife and knocks on the head the old wives tale of 'one can be smart or pretty but not both'."
"And the worst?"
"Very easy, her foul temper."
"Is it bad?"
I sat and smiled, shaking my head. "You have no idea. Facing an armed man is nothing compared to when Victoria is in full cry. She’s reminiscent of a Tyrannosaurus Rex with toothache. "
"Can you tell us more?"
"No he can't!"
This got the loudest of laughs.
"So, Victoria you go home tomorrow and when does G.I. Joe, join you?
"I can speak for myself David; it's only my wife who thinks that I'm mute. I leave on Friday so that I have the weekend with the older children and then it's back to the day job."
"But, and I make no apology for returning to the subject, because the first time round you avoided the question, I did notice you know! When do you think you'll be the next Prime Minister?"
"The position has been taken by a very competent person and so there is no vacancy." I smiled.
"But the rumours abound that it might be soon?"
"Lies travel far faster than the truth. All I can say is that, in my opinion, Christopher is doing a very fine job and he shouldn't be made to look over his shoulder in my direction because there's nothing to fear."
"And yet the rhetoric doesn't match up? You say that you're not interested in the Prime Ministers position because it's filled and yet, you are constantly being promoted as Great Britain's saviour? Let me ask you this? If, in a few weeks or a few months, the weight of public opinion is so great and so loud, would you take the job, if it were offered?"
Christ, this is relentless. I took a very deep breath and looked across at Victoria who met my look and nodded. "David, I love my country and I love the people that live there and if it was felt that I was worthy of such an appointment, that I could offer something that would enhance either, then...yes I would answer positively."
"And turning back to you Victoria, what would be your take on this?"
"Mark is his own man, as he spectacularly proved yet again last night. People should understand that he looks at things completely differently to other people, he doesn't follow the well trodden path he explores other routes and isn't afraid to do so, that's why he is so successful in business and here at the United Nations. His speech the other day, of which I knew nothing of the contents until I heard it at the same time as everyone else, is a case in point, it was and is inspired, whether he can pull it off is another matter but it doesn’t matter for he creates talking points and then he inspires people and that's a difficult thing to achieve in such a cynical World, but most of all, he's honourable and trustworthy, totally unsuited to politics!"
"We need to wrap this up. Before we do…at your wedding it was widely reported that you serenaded Victoria in front of two thousand guests and were more than adequate? We always finish on a musical note so will you play us out?”
This was unplanned and I was unprepared.
“Er…”
“We’ll pay a few thousand dollars to the foundation!”
“…Well I suppose I can but I can’t promise you won’t lose most of your audience.”
“Let me worry about that. Can I say what a delight it's been to have you both here tonight and to learn so much about you both? I feel and I'm sure the audience feels the same way, that you are a remarkable couple, of which we and the World are going to hear an awful lot more about, probably in the very near future and I can't think of a show that I've enjoyed being a part of more, will you come back and see us again?"
"Of course we will."
"Mark & Victoria, Lord and Lady Stanley thank you so much. Join me tomorrow night when my specials guests will be, Janet Jackson, Michael Bloomberg and Hugh Jackman. Now with Mark at the piano
we’ll slide over and give him some encouragement. Goodnight!"
There was a small band and I’d had about thirty seconds to get a song in my head and tell them what I was going to play. It was all impromptu but they were seasoned pro’s so that part didn’t worry me but my performance did. Victoria and David arrived and right on cue I started playing.
“You make me feel so young
You make me feel as though Spring has sprung
And every time I see you grin
I'm such a happy individual
The moment that you speak
I want to go and play hide and seek
I wanna go and bounce the moon
Just like a toy balloon
You and I
Are just like a couple of tots
Running across a meadow
Pickin' up lots of forget me nots
You make me feel so young
You make me feel there are songs to be sung
Bells to be rung
And a wonderful fling to be flung
And even when I'm old and gray
I'm going to feel the way I do today
Because you make me feel so young
You make me feel so young
You make me feel as though spring has sprung
And every time I see you grin
I'm such a happy individual
The moment that you speak
I want to go and play hide and seek
I wanna go and bounce the moon
Just like a toy balloon
You and I
Are just like a couple of tots
Running across a meadow
Pickin' up lots of forget me nots
You make me feel so young
You make me feel there are songs to be sung
Bells to be rung
And a wonderful fling to be flung
And even when I'm old and gray
I'm going to feel the way I do today
Because you, you make me feel so young
You make me feel so young
You make me feel so young
Ooh you make me feel so young
Written by Josef Myrow, Mack Gordon • Copyright © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
The cameras were still rolling as Victoria came and sat, draping her arm around my shoulders and kissing me.
A little later we were in the car taking the short trip back to the hotel and a seat in the Café Carlyle for a late meal and hopefully some soothing music, the spat of earlier today consigned to near history.
“Thanks for dropping the Malawi bombshell.”
I squeezed her hand. “Do you mind?”
“Of course not.”
“I want the children their because it’s important that they see not only what my work is about but they experience what life is about for so many people, the daily struggles for fresh water and food.”
"Do you think Christopher will resign?"
"Hard to say, he's certainly not himself, but whether that's a short-term or long-term problem is still to be decided."
"But Daddy won't wait forever, he's already delayed acting because of your injuries and now that you're fit...I worry Mark that you're taking on too much. All of the businesses, the UN, the children, me." She squeezed my hand and I looked at her.
"I promise, the day that I feel that I can't cope or I need to rest I'll stop."
"Will you also stop with your foolhardy penchant for finding trouble?"
"Of course I will but you'll have to ask trouble to stop finding me."
Wednesday morning and I waved goodbye to this half of my family as they made their way home, accompanied by Victoria's new car which was hopefully stowed in the hold. I had two more days of meetings and then I'd also return home.
As I arrived at my desk, Caroline was talking on the telephone.
"He has just arrived Lord Brompton I'll put you through."
"It's Lord Brompton he's talking on a secure line, hence the slight echo?"
"Thank you Caroline."
I took a deep breath to try and find some inner calm which I had a feeling I'd need.
"Hello."
"You fucking idiot, you could have spoilt everything with your tomfoolery what possessed you?"
"I didn't feel that I had much choice for it was either act or suffer the consequences and I chose the former."
"They say that he had been waiting in Mali for you with a team to kidnap you but when they were intercepted in Niger this fucking Libyan madman changed the order from kidnap to kill?"
"So I understand."
"So in future, let the fucking professionals take charge."
"That's all well and good and I did let the fucking professionals take charge in Niger, had I waited on Monday night then I'd have been shot or killed so don't lecture me when you weren't there and you're relying on second hand information from your friends. Now what do you want I've a meeting with the Brazilian Foreign Minister in ten minutes."
"It'll take as long as it takes and the Brazilian Foreign Minister can go and fuck himself! Now I want you back in the UK for the foreseeable future, no more foreign jaunts this is going to get serious."
"As we well know, what one wants and what one gets are two totally separate things. I have to go to South Africa next month and five other countries on the same trip, none are particularly dangerous but the meetings are very important and even better, it'll offer the BBC the chance to film me getting my hands dirty."
"Where?"
"Malawi. A very stable democratic country which we hope will be replicated throughout the region and the more positive publicity we can give them the longer the stability will continue."
"Is the BBC onboard?"
"Very much so, I'm doing it during the children's long leave and so you should approve, they'll be with me and be completely exploited in the name of Danny Brompton."
"I'm not sure that I've ever told you this?"
"What?"
"I don't like you, not one bit. You think that at some stage you'll be able to fuck me over and get your revenge for your brothers misadventure, of course that was nothing compared to your ex-wifey's little problem was it?"
"What do you mean?"
"How the fuck do you think that she died, drug overdose? You are a fucking stupid cunt!"
"What?"
"Penny still not dropped? Not so smart now are you Stanley? I arranged it, Daphne was killed by me!"
Chapter 19
"Well it's a rum business. Do you believe him?"
"Why would anyone, even Danny say such a dreadful thing if it weren't true?"
"What did he say when you asked him why?"
"About me not towing the line and needing to be kept in check."
"But killing Daphne, what on earth could be achieved by such a dastardly deed? I mean Daphne, never harmed anyone in her life and then presumably forced fed barbiturates."
"Can you not elucidate on the manner of her passing, I'm having enough nightmares without you adding to the picture."
"Sorry old boy didn't mean to upset you. I can only imagine that it must have served him well to do it but quite frankly even for him it's the work of a bottom feeder. So what are you going to do?"
"What I can't understand is that he knew that I'd be seeking revenge after what he had had done to James? It's as though he's second guessing and guessing right all of the time but to answer your question, I'm not going to do anything, I've learnt my lesson and for the sake of my children and family, I'll comply…for now."
"Absolutely the right thing to do old man."
"Now what's troubling you?"
"Charles is being obstructive, he's in cahoots with Giles and I'm been thwarted at every turn by the two of them and I can't do any deals, had I known it would be like this I'd have been happier being with the great unemployed drawing social benefit."
"It's now called Job Seekers Allowance and I doubt if you could live on seventy quid a week."
"A week? You can't get a decent
Merlot for seventy pound."
"What do you have that's causing such depression?"
His face brightened perceptibly at my enquiry.
"Well you fine fellow, I have it in my power to deliver a fully undeveloped side of Kensington Garden Square. No planning permission but I can't see that would be an issue. I got Colin Parker to have a look on the quiet and you know Colin is top notch, well he thinks that we could redevelop them into twelve one bed, two dozen two bed and six three bed apartments, without extending. Now, if we get permission to extend out the back, well we could squeeze in another four, two bedders per block so another, couple of dozen, but Curmudgeon Charles and Judgemental Giles, well they won't have it at any price."
"And what is that price?"
"I can get it for thirty eight."
"With what return?"
"Without the extension, sixty five minimum, with the extension, a hundred and twenty, perhaps more."
"Development costs?"
"Without, fifteen, with thirty five."
"The figures stack up, what's there concern?"
"Over-stretching us, difficult market, this infernal Governments desire to expose tax cheats, additional Stamp Duty, you can imagine, there are lots of reasons to pour scorn on a job and lots of reasons that one can put up to stop developing but I wouldn't suggest doing it if I didn't think I could sell it."
I twisted the stem of my water glass and watched the contents as I mulled over the conundrum that Ludo had posed, how best to resolve it?
"We'll do it as as JD with Brompton's? I'll sign off the purchase and then MSP can develop it and you’ll get commission through Brompton’s but Ludo, the next time you get a hot one come to me, bypass Charles and Giles, I know it's not what we discussed and I'll have to deal with the fallout but if it's good and the right money then I want us to do the deals."
"Cracker jack old boy, thank God you've returned."
This was my first day in the office for a little while and although I tried to keep on top of all of the paperwork, the disruptions of Africa and the last three weeks travelling had been awkward to do as much as I wished and it hadn't gone unnoticed by Felicity but for once she kept her mouth shut, I surmised that she must be suffering from laryngitis for she was far too quiet. I rang her extension. "Felicity would you mind coming in when you have a moment?" She arrived in less than five seconds. "Shut the door." She turned and did as I asked. "Take a seat...now what's going on?"