good as Gwyneth don’t come around that often,’ said Emma, turning her attention back to the map.
Harry accelerated past a lorry. ‘I still can’t get used to the idea of Seb no longer being a schoolboy.’
‘Have you got anything planned for his first weekend back home?’
‘I thought I’d take him to see Gloucestershire play Black-heath at the County Ground tomorrow.’
Emma laughed. ‘That will be character building, to be made to watch a team that loses more often than it wins.’
‘And perhaps we could all go to the Old Vic one evening next week,’ he added, ignoring her comment.
‘What’s on?’
‘Hamlet.’
‘Who’s playing the prince?’
‘A young actor called Peter O’Toole, who Seb says is the in thing, whatever that means.’
‘It will be wonderful to have Seb back for the summer. Perhaps we should throw a party for him before he goes to Cambridge. Give him a chance to meet some girls.’
‘He’ll have more than enough time for girls. I think it’s a crying shame that the government’s ending National Service. Seb would make a fine officer, and it would be the making of him to take responsibility for other men.’
‘You’re not middle-aged,’ said Emma as they turned into the drive, ‘you’re positively prehistoric.’
Harry laughed as he brought the car to a halt outside the Manor House, and was delighted to see Jessica sitting on the top step, waiting for them.
‘Where’s Seb?’ was Emma’s first question as she climbed out of the car and gave Jessica a hug.
‘He didn’t come back from school yesterday. Perhaps he went straight to Barrington Hall and spent the night with Uncle Giles.’
‘I thought Giles was in London,’ said Harry. ‘I’ll give him a call and find out if they can both join us for dinner.’
Harry climbed the steps and went into the house. He picked up the phone in the hall and dialled a local number.
‘We’re back,’ he announced when he heard Giles’s voice on the line.
‘Welcome home, Harry. Did you have a good time in the States?’
‘Couldn’t have been better. Emma stole the show, of course. I think Feldman wants her to be his fifth wife.’
‘Well, it would have some definite advantages,’ said Giles. ‘It’s never a long-term commitment when that man’s involved, and being California, there’ll be a pretty healthy divorce settlement at the end.’
Harry laughed. ‘By the way, is Seb with you?’
‘No, he’s not. In fact, I haven’t seen him for some time. But I’m sure he can’t be far away. Why don’t you ring the school and find out if he’s still there? Call me back when you find out where he is, because I’ve got some news for you.’
‘Will do,’ said Harry. He put the phone down and looked up the headmaster’s number in his telephone book.
‘Don’t worry, darling, he’s no longer a schoolboy, as you keep reminding me,’ he said when he saw the anxious look on Emma’s face. ‘I’m sure there’ll be a simple explanation.’ He dialled Beechcroft 117, and while he waited for someone to answer, he took his wife in his arms.
‘Dr Banks-Williams speaking.’
‘Headmaster, it’s Harry Clifton. I’m sorry to bother you after the school has broken up, but I wondered if you had any idea where my son Sebastian might be.’
‘I’ve no idea, Mr Clifton. I haven’t seen him since he was rusticated earlier in the week.’
‘Rusticated?’
‘I’m afraid so, Mr Clifton. I fear I was left with little choice.’
‘But what did he do to deserve that?’
‘Several minor offences, including smoking.’
‘And any major offences?’
‘He was caught drinking in his study with a serving maid.’
‘And that was considered worthy of rustication?’
‘I might have turned a blind eye, as it was the last week of term, but unfortunately neither of them had any clothes on.’
Harry stifled a laugh, and was only glad that Emma couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation.
‘When he reported to me the following day, I told him that after some deliberation, and having consulted his housemaster, I was left with no choice but to rusticate him. I then gave him a letter which I asked him to pass on to you. It’s clear that he has not done so.’
‘But where can he be?’ asked Harry, becoming anxious for the first time.
‘I’ve no idea. All I can tell you is that his housemaster supplied him with a third-class single ticket to Temple Meads, and I assumed that would be the last I would see of him. However, I had to travel up to London that afternoon to attend an Old Boys’ reunion dinner, and to my surprise