The Quality of Mercy Read Online Free PDF Page A

and weaknesses of the Lagonda, which Edward rashly promised he might drive in the grounds if Lord Louis did not object. Harry, by this time, had lost his sullen expression and Edward saw that Sunny and Ayesha were grateful for the trouble he was taking with their son.
    ‘Gosh, may I really, sir? That would be wizard! I’m a bit of a nut over cars. In fact, I’m building one myself.’
    ‘You are what ?’ Frank broke in, momentarily distracted from his admiration of Sunita.
    ‘At home, in India. My father’s got lots of cars, you know,’ he said earnestly. ‘Some he’s never even got round to driving.’ Sunny looked embarrassed but proud of his son. ‘I’m taking one of his old Rolls-Royces apart and building something else with the bits. I’m going to call it the Batiala Bullet.’ Frank looked impressed. ‘I say,’ Harry continued excitedly, ‘Lord Louis was showing me his collection of motorbikes this morning. Would you like to see them?’
    He looked at Frank appealingly. Frank hesitated and Edward thought he was going to refuse but he caught Sunita’s eye and her message was clear. ‘Of course, I’d love to see the bikes, Harry. You’ll come, won’t you?’ he asked the boy’s sister, his admiration so naked Edward winced inwardly.
    Harry again looked annoyed that his sister might spoil things but when she said to him gently, ‘If you don’t mind, Harry,’ he relented and smiled his assent.
    ‘Don’t be long, Baby,’ Sunny said anxiously. ‘You mustn’t be late for lunch.’ He looked at Edward with a half-smile of apology. ‘We call her Baby at home but she made me promise not to call her that in public so now she’ll be cross with me.’
    When the three young people had departed, Edward looked over to the other side of the room. ‘Who is that woman over there? She must be a film star. I almost feel I recognize her.’
    ‘She is beautiful, isn’t she,’ Ayesha said, smiling. ‘All the men keep looking at her, have you noticed? But I’m not sure it gives her pleasure. She has hardly spoken a word, even to Dickie.’
    ‘But who is she?’
    ‘Joan Miller. She’s married to that man over there, Helmut Mandl.’ Edward saw a coarse, heavily built man smoking as if his life depended on it.
    ‘He looks a nasty piece of work,’ he whispered. ‘Is he German?’
    ‘Austrian, like her. Joan Miller’s just her stage name.’
    ‘And Mandl?’
    ‘He’s very rich – the owner of Hirstenberger Patronen-Fabrik, so Dickie tells me.’
    ‘The arms manufacturer? Of course! I’ve read about him. It comes back to me now. Joan Miller’s the girl who cavorted naked in that film everyone was talking about. What was it called?’
    Ayesha giggled. ‘ Last Night in Vienna . Now you see why the men are gawping at her.’
    Before Edward could comment, Mountbatten brought over a young man.
    ‘Lord Edward, I want you to know Stuart Rose,’ he said in his commanding bark. ‘Stuart’s over from Noo York.’ Mountbatten’s attempt at an American accent was pitiful. ‘I think we should keep him here. I gather you have a friend in common.’
    Mountbatten turned to talk to Ayesha and Edward saw him briefly take her hand. She tried to look angry but Edward had the feeling there was something between them and felt sorry for his friend. He decided he disliked Mountbatten. He was one of those men who must have what they wanted whatever the cost – like a small boy demanding another child’s toy.
    ‘You know that lady?’ Rose said, seeing his face.
    ‘The Maharani? I have only just met her,’ he answered abruptly and then, feeling he was being rude, added, ‘I was at school with her husband.’
    ‘Ah, you English and your school friends!’ Rose said, laughing. ‘Cigarette?’ He proffered a silver case. Edward took one and Rose lit it for him with a florid-looking lighter decorated with a camel. ‘I have studied at St Paul’s Concord, Harvard, Yale and Columbia and picked up a few friends on