“Forgive me, Senator, this is my doing, but I thought she should know.”
“That’s all right, Teddy.” Cazalet was filled with emotion, his heart beating.
Teddy went back to the limousine and the two of them were left staring at each other. “Don’t be mad at him,” she said. “You see—I already know. My mother told me a year or two after we met at the Ball, when she was first ill. It was time, she said.”
She put her rose into one of the other holders. “There you are, Mama,” she said softly. “One from each of us, the two people in the world who loved you best.” She turned and smiled. “So here we are, Father.”
As Cazalet wept again, she put her arms around his neck and held him close.
Afterwards, sitting on the bench, holding hands, he said, “I must put things right. You must allow me to acknowledge you.”
“No,” she said. “My mother was adamant about that, and so am I. You are a great Senator, and as President of the United States of America you could achieve remarkable things. Nothing must spoil that. An illegitimate daughter is the last thing you need. Your political opponents would have a field day.”
“Screw them.”
She laughed. “Such language from a future President. No, my way is best. Only you and I know, the perfect cover.”
“And Teddy.”
“Ah, yes, lovely Teddy. Such a good man and your true friend. My mother told me about him. You mustn’t be annoyed that he spoke to me.”
“I’m not.”
She raised her voice. “Teddy, come here.”
Teddy Grant got out of the limousine and joined them. “I’m sorry, Jake.”
“You did right, Teddy. I’m grateful, but she won’t allow me to go public. Tell her she’s wrong.”
“No, I’m afraid she’s right. You could cripple your chances. The opposition would make it look real dirty. That’s politics.”
Jake’s heart churned, but in his head, he knew they were both right. Damn it! “All right.” Cazalet turned to her, still holding her hand. “But we must see each other on a regular basis.”
She smiled gently and raised her eyebrows to Teddy, who said, “I’m sorry, Jake, but there would be talk. Hell, the press would jump on it. They’d think you’d found yourself a new girlfriend.”
Cazalet’s shoulders sagged. She touched his face gently. “Perhaps the odd occasion, some public function. You know the kind of thing.”
“God, but this is painful,” he said.
“You are my father and I love you, and not because you were that glorious young war hero who saved my mother in some godforsaken swamp. It’s the decency of a man who nursed his wife through an appalling illness to the very end and never wavered that I admire. I love you, Jake Cazalet, for yourself, and I’m truly glad to be your daughter.” She held him close and turned to Teddy, who had tears in his eyes. “Look after him, Teddy. I’m going now.” She stepped out into the rain and walked away.
“God help me, Teddy, what am I going to do?” Jake Cazalet said brokenly.
“You’re going to make her proud of you, Senator. You’re going to be the best damn President our country has ever seen. Now let’s go.”
As they walked to the limousine, Cazalet said, “Kennedy was right. Anyone who believes in fairness in this life has been seriously misinformed.”
“Sure, Senator, life’s a bitch, but it’s all we’ve got,” Teddy said as they got into the limousine. “Oh, and by the way, I just had a call on my mobile. Senator Freeman’s decided not to run. The nomination is yours. We’re on our way.”
LONDON • SICILY • CORFU
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN
* * *
1997
TWO
Rain swept in across London from the west during the night, driven by a cold wind, hard and relentless. By morning, the wind had dropped, but when the prison officer in a navy blue mackintosh opened the gate to the exercise yard at Wandsworth Prison, the rain itself was more relentless than ever. The officer was called Jackson and sported a clipped military moustache, which was hardly surprising as he was a former Grenadier Guard.