“And thank God for it,” Dillon said.
The President smiled and shook Dillon’s hand again. “You always come through, my fine Irish friend.” He turned to Ferguson. “I’ve spoken to the Prime Minister at Number Ten, given him a résumé of what happened, apologized for using you in such a cavalier way but stressed the unusual circumstances.”
“Oh dear, that could be awkward,” Ferguson said.
“Not at all. He was most understanding and looks forward to hearing about it from your own lips. Now, is there anything else I can do for you?”
“Nemesis, Mr. President?”
Cazalet shrugged. “There’s got to be a better way.”
“I agree,” Ferguson said. “So one last favor. I think we should be getting back to London as soon as possible. If we could borrow the Gulfstream?”
“Of course. No problem, is there, Teddy?”
“Not really,” Teddy said. “We’ll probably need a new crew is all. A question of them exceeding their hours in the air.”
“Take care of it.” Cazalet turned to them again. “Our sincere thanks.”
Marie kissed the Brigadier on the cheek, hugged Hannah, and stood looking at Dillon, strangely shy and apparently unable to speak but she managed.
“You are a remarkable man, Mr. Dillon.”
“It’s been said before, Countess.” He laughed out loud and Teddy opened the door for them.
Two hours later, they climbed up from Andrews out to the Atlantic and leveled off at fifty thousand. Dillon pressed the buzzer and the flight attendant came from the galley. This one was white and called Roscoe.
“I’ll have a Bushmills,” Dillon said, “a large one.”
“Coming right up, sir.”
Dillon grinned at Ferguson and Hannah. “I’ve earned it.”
For once, Hannah agreed. “Yes, I think you have, Dillon.”
Roscoe brought the Bushmills, and Dillon said, “Yes, happy endings is what I like, and I suspect Jake Cazalet is a happy-endings man at heart.”
“What on earth are you babbling about?” Ferguson demanded.
“It’s just that deep down inside, I’m an incurable romantic.”
“You?” Hannah said. “Romantic about what?”
“Oh, you know what they say. Read all about it in the papers. The great Dillon is never wrong,” and he settled back and drank his whiskey.
• • •
At the Ritz-Carlton in Washington on Massachusetts Avenue, the great and the good and the Russian Prime Minister awaited the appearance of the President of the United States. When he arrived at the front entrance, got out of the limousine and waved to the crowds, the Comtesse Marie de Brissac was at his side, wearing a simple black evening dress, a gold cross at her throat. Teddy got out of the next limousine with two Secret Service men, and ran ahead.
Cazalet smiled. “Countess?” She took his arm and they walked through the foyer and paused at the entrance to the dining room.
Teddy moved just inside. “Mr. Prime Minister, ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention.”
There was a flurry of movement as everyone rose. Teddy took a deep breath and announced in ringing tones, “The President and the President’s daughter.”
Table of Contents
VIETNAM 1969
ONE
LONDON • SICILY • CORFU EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN 1997
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SICILY • LONDON WASHINGTON 1997
SIX
SEVEN
IRELAND • LONDON • FRANCE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
WASHINGTON Epilogue