Page 50 of An Eye for an Eye

‘Lady Morland,’ said the chairman, unsure which side of the argument the eccentric old lady would support.

‘Allow me to ask you a question, if I may,’ said Lady Morland sweetly, ‘do you think the switch of our latest acquisition might have been prevented if you had not been the director?’

This even took the chairman by surprise. Beth considered the question for some time before she said, ‘I’m not sure what you’re getting at, Lady Morland.’

‘I think you know exactly what I’m getting at, Dr Warwick, but allow me to put it another way: some journalists have been hinting that the whole incident was personal and would not have happened if you hadn’t been the director.’

‘The gutter press,’ said Christina, coming to Beth’s aid.

‘Nevertheless,’ continued Lady Morland, ‘if you were to remain as director, do you consider there’s a possibility that an incident like this might occur again?’

Beth could hear William saying, if you’re in a hole, stop digging.

‘I think it most unlikely,’ said Beth, ‘but I suppose it’s just possible.’ She could sense that the mood in the room was changing.

‘Are there any more questions?’ asked the chairman, hoping not.

‘One last question, if I may, Sir Nicholas,’ said the company secretary. ‘I read inTheGuardianthat you’ve been shortlisted for the post of director of Tate. Is that correct?’

‘It was at the time,’ admitted Beth, ‘but I have since withdrawn my name.’

‘Voluntarily?’

‘That was uncalled for, Ms Bates,’ said the chairman – a sentiment that was accompanied by muffled hear, hears, which Christina took advantage of.

‘Dr Warwick,’ she said, ‘can you remind the board how many more people have visited the gallery since you became director three years ago?’

‘We’ve had around two hundred thousand extra visitors,’ reported Beth, ‘over half of whom were children.’

‘Am I also right in thinking,’ continued Christina before she could be interrupted, ‘that those increased numbers have helped us make a small profit for the first time?’

‘Greatly assisted by our conscientious finance director.’

‘Who you appointed, if I remember correctly,’ said Christina. ‘And it was also on your watch that we raised enough money to secure Rembrandt’sAngeland save it for the nation.’

‘Made possible by a single generous donation of a quarter of a million pounds from an anonymous donor,’ interrupted Ms Bates.

Beth wondered for the first time if Ms Bates knew who the anonymous donor was. She had always assumed it must be Wilbur Hackensack. She looked directly at Christina, whose head was bowed.

‘If there are no more questions,’ said the chairman, fearing the exchange between the two women was becoming a little too acrimonious, ‘perhaps I can ask our director to step outside for a moment, as I feel confident we can deal with this matter expeditiously.’

‘Thank you, Chairman,’ said Beth before she rose, left the room and returned to her seat in the dock.

In truth, Beth would have preferred to be a fly on the boardroom wall so she could listen to the exchanges taking place – exchanges that took another forty minutes before the door finally opened and the chairman reappeared with a large smile on his face.

‘I know you’ll be pleased to hear, Beth, that the board have given you a vote of confidence and wish you to continue as our director.’

‘Was it unanimous?’ asked Beth.

The chairman hesitated for a moment before he said, ‘I have to admit there were a couple of abstentions.’

‘Only two?’ pressed Beth.

‘Well …’

‘So, what was the final vote?’ asked Beth.

The chairman didn’t reply immediately, as if he were searching for the appropriate words.