The Silver Falcon by Evelyn Anthony Page A

Richard. Your Irishman’s lovely. I like him.’ She twisted round to watch him come back. He was carrying her drink himself. As he gave it to her she brushed his hand with her fingers. The big blue eyes were turned on him like searchlights. At that moment Roy Farrant, followed by Richard, came to join them.
    In the bedroom, Susan Garvin turned to her husband. ‘Hook this up for me, darling.’ He came and fastened the silk blouse at the back of her neck. They had known each other since they were children. It was a very happy and successful marriage; she hoped to become pregnant while they were staying with the Farrants, but she hadn’t told him this. He didn’t feel enthusiastic about children; he liked her to come racing with him and he didn’t want their bed life disturbed by sickness and a swelling abdomen. She wasn’t worried; he was the kind of man who would be wild about a child when it was a reality.
    â€˜Gerry – what’s going on with Roy and Richard?’
    â€˜I don’t know.’ He did the tiny hooks up one by one. It was all very well to buy couture clothes but it was presupposed you had a ladies’ maid to get you in and out of them.
    â€˜Why has he brought Mrs Schriber over here – there must be something behind it.’
    â€˜Maybe he thinks I’ll learn something from them, or from Tim Ryan. If that’s the idea he’s made a bloody great mistake. I tried pumping Ryan about their horse and I got nowhere. Not a hint of anything.’
    He had finished negotiating the hooks and eyes. Susan Garvin turned round to him. ‘You be careful,’ she said. ‘Don’t let Roy get you involved in anything. Never mind about the Derby – he doesn’t care what he does so long as he wins this time. His reputation stinks anyway. But you look out for yourself!’
    â€˜Don’t worry, I’ve thought of that,’ her husband said. ‘I’d trust Richard Schriber as far as I could kick a grand piano. And they’re certainly up to something. Farrant would commit a murder to win with Rocket Man, but he knows where I stand. I want to win as much as anyone – more. We’ve never had a Derby winner. But I’m not risking my reputation or my licence. He can do his own dirty work so long as I don’t know anything about it.’
    She came and put her arms round his neck. ‘You promise me? You’re the only trainer he’s had who hasn’t been asked to pull horses and all the rest of the big betting stuff. Everybody knows it too. I’d rather you didn’t win the Derby if stooping to his level is the price.’
    Susan had never liked Roy Farrant; she was friendly and frank by nature. Farrant made her uncomfortable. She didn’t trust his bonhomie and she thought his wife a mentally retarded nymphomaniac; she often wished he would take his horses away from her husband. Gerry was successful enough not to need them. Perhaps if they won the Derby, then she could persuade him.…
    â€˜You be a good girl now,’ Gerry Garvin said. He kissed her. ‘Don’t worry about me; I promise you I won’t be drawn into anything and Roy knows bloody well I won’t. But you’ve got to be nice to the Schriber woman and chat up Ryan. Roy wants us all to be one big happy family. And for God’s sake don’t turn your nose up at Richard!’
    â€˜There’s something funny about that man,’ she said. ‘I’ve never believed in that business of being a playboy – drunk at nine in the morning and never doing a day’s work – I don’t think he’s really like that at all!’
    â€˜That’s exactly what he is, my sweet. A rich bastard with nothing to do but get himself into trouble. Especially with women. I happen to know Roy’s bailed him out a couple of times. And Roy never lets anyone forget a favour. I’d say the time has come for