Chapter 26

Mr Jeeves, I am going to pass to you in confidence a little knowledge of our investigations. The lawyer is telling us that Mrs Dawes’ former husband was instrumental in the forgery. He apparently was persuaded to assist, in an apparent apology for planting listening devices on his ex-wife.”

“Of course!” I exclaimed. “The listening devices were in the car that he provided as part of the divorce settlement. We only discovered them recently, and had to conclude they were installed at his behest.”

Blenkinsop pursed his lips as he mused, “Interesting. That supports the lawyer’s contention. I think Mr Dawes should be asked about that matter by our investigators – without any reference to yourself, Jeeves.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Is there anyone in the household who could confirm that such documents ever existed?” He explained, “I am thinking ahead to a defence lawyer claiming the originals were lost and that the so-called forgeries were merely replacements.”

“I am afraid I have only been here a matter of months, sergeant, and Miss Frobisher, the personal secretary, had only been in post for about a year. Only the family members would have been here at the time referenced. The daughter would have been too young to have been consulted, so it is solely Mrs Dawes that might have any direct knowledge of an original. She might never have seen the divorce documentation; she may have just been told by her lawyer to sign on the dotted line.”

“That is a distinct possibility, Jeeves, so there is little chance of proof being forthcoming from that quarter. By the way, I have spoken to Frobisher’s cover officer, and he confirms what you say about the timetable of events. Now, what is your own opinion of Mrs Dawes?”

“I rather think she is an upwardly mobile social climber, for she treats all staff as mere menials to be ordered about at a whim. She has discovered that does not work with me, and we have reached a point of mutual respect, sort of; a kind of armed neutrality. I think that she is basically an honest woman coping with a husband who has historical criminal links; as did her first husband. She has made unfortunate choices in her social climbing.”

“I get you. A woman unlikely to contradict her husband, for fear of consequences?”

“I would not go quite so far, but you are not far off, I believe. She will back up whatever he says, I think.”

“Pity. We may have to rely on circumstantial evidence, and on what the lawyer claims. Dawes may get off entirely, or get just a light sentence. This has been reported to your employers, in case it affects your work here.”

“A wise precaution, I think, sergeant. I shall no doubt hear from them in due course.”

We concluded out interview, and the sergeant left, joining his patient driver outside. The man was studying a manual of some sort, so I approved this use of his time.

The evening meal was almost ready to serve as I approached the kitchen and reported to chef. “All done, chef. I am free now. Where are we at present?”

“Jennifer laid the table under my supervision, and did a grand job. That girl is an excellent worker, and I shall give her a good reference when she leaves. The starter is ready to serve, Mr. Jeeves: Galia melon balls, skewered with cherry tomatoes. The main course is a choice of vegetarian curry or lamb chops with baby potatoes and a rocket salad. Any questions?”

“Perfect, Amanda. I shall recommend your vegetarian curry, based on my last experience with it.”

“The lamb chops are nice too, Mr. Jeeves. Do not push the curry too much.”

“I stand corrected, chef. It shall be as you say.”

“Oh, and Jeeves? It is Catherine’s eighteenth birthday in three weeks.”

“I was unaware of that impending event. Thank you for the reminder, Mrs Hargreaves. I shall attend to the table now.”

I got there just as Catherine joined her parents. She gave me a brilliant smile before she sat down. The starter was already at their places, along with the menu, so I asked their selection of main course. “Both choices are worthy of note, chef informs me, sir”, I told Dawes.

“Lamb chops for me, Jeeves.”

Mrs Dawes and Catherine both plumped for the curry, and I departed with the orders. I half expected Dawes to quiz me about my statement, but he had correctly decided that food came first.

Afterwards, I reported on my statement, reassuring him that I had declared no knowledge of any forgery attempt or intention on his part. He was visibly relieved, which I thought unnecessary, so I added, “I am confused, sir. Did the documentation not already exist, sir, that your lawyer felt the need to manufacture it?”

“I cannot say for certain, Jeeves. There appears to have been some collusion between my lawyer and Mrs Dawes’ former husband, and I have been dragged into it by them. Needless to say, your name has not been mentioned, as they were unaware of your engagement here.”

“Ah, I see. So why have you been charged, sir?”

“Association, Jeeves. I am seen as associated with the deed, particularly as I, or rather my wife, was to be the beneficiary. Mrs Dawes felt that half of the sum should go to Catherine for her education. The cash is still at present under seizure until the matter is clarified, I am told.”

“Sir, if I may say this, my association with Catherine – sorry, with Miss Catherine - is intended by us to be permanent; financial settlement or no financial settlement. I can look after her on my salary, I am sure. As you will appreciate, I spend very little while I am on contract to a client, so the budget is adequate for us.”

“I am sure you mean well, Jeeves, but your employment could not support a big house, even one a quarter the size of this edifice. If the cash is forthcoming, it will go with Catherine, but under her control. For her age, she is a sharp cookie, and will not waste it.”

“I agree with your estimation, sir. I have been quite amazed at her abilities.”

“Do you have any immediate plans for the future, Jeeves?”

“Nothing of immediate import, sir.”

He paused. “You know, Jeeves, despite your professional guise, I really ought to know your real name, should you potentially be joining the family.”

“I accept your reasoning, sir. If you would kindly keep it to yourself, sir, my full name is John Hawkins Freeman.”

He gaped at me. I said, “Is there something wrong, sir?”

He gasped and recovered. “I am going to do something I never intended, Jeeves. I am going to tell you my original name, before I changed it for my own security. I kept my first name, but my surname used to be ... Freeman.”

My jaw dropped. I was genuinely shocked at the discovery, and stammered, “So ... you and I ... have the same name?”

“Exactly. For Catherine’s sake, I do hope we are not related, John. There is no Hawkins that I know of, in my ancestry.”

“Of course. I see the point, sir. We should compare our family lines to make certain, though I am sure I would have heard of you if we were related. Were you well known in the circles you inhabited previously, sir?”

“Fairly well known; in fact, TOO well known, so I decided on a name change and change of lifestyle too. Mrs Dawes is my only connection to my former life, as her first husband was also associated with my former activities.”

“Oh, dear,” I exhaled. “Does this mean, sir, that the gentleman had access to the forgery trade?”

“It could very well be so, Jeeves. You will understand my concern.”

“Indeed, sir. Can I assume that Miss Catherine is unaware of such associations?”

“Yes, my boy. She is the proverbial innocent, and should remain so.”

“I shall do my best to see it remains that way, sir.”

“Good man. I shall depend on you to be quiet.”

“It is my job, sir.”

I left him to his ruminations, and got on with my work.

Life settled back down into normalcy for a while. I agonised over an eighteenth birthday present for Catherine. I wanted it to be an item that pleased her, but without being expensive, for an expensive item would reflect her normal family life. I wanted to be different.

I decided on a ring which would make a statement. Not a diamond ring, which would be too flashy, but an amethyst one. The ring would have THREE amethysts, set in a gold band. Catherine would understand the symbolism of the three stones; and while I would not state it as being such, she would see it as an engagement ring. The central stone would be slightly larger than the stones on either side. I would order two of these rings: one for Catherine, one for Elizabeth, to express my commitment to them.

I managed to have my order dealt with through the Internet. The total price was less than a thousand pounds, so bang went my idea of an inexpensive present. Instead, it was my version of an engagement ring for my two ladies, with Catherine being the first recipient.

On her birthday, Catherine was treated by me perfectly normally, while her parents treated her as their birthday girl. Chef made a birthday cake with eighteen candles arranged in the pattern of that number.

Her parents gave her a new cocktail dress, to reflect her grown-up status. Her half-brothers sent nothing, having forgotten her birthday. Catherine was used to her brothers’ forgetfulness. She regarded it as a continuation of her parents’ self-centred outlook, but she was happy with the cocktail dress.

She looked disappointed at not getting anything from me, but I waited until the evening meal, when she was enjoined to blow out the candles before chef cut the cake into slices.

When she sat down again, I moved over to stand behind her and whispered in her ear, “Happy birthday, Miss Catherine!” and swung my hand round to her front and opened my hand to display the ring box.

She gasped: “John! You cruel, wonderful man! Thank you.” She scrabbled to open the box and stared at the ring. She stared at it a bit longer, as the implications set in, then turned her head towards me.

“Jeeves, what a wonderful ring! I shall treasure it all my life.” She slipped it on the third finger of her left hand, and brandished it before her mother, “Look, Mummy at the lovely ring Jeeves has given me for my birthday.”

Mrs Dawes admired the ring, then became aware of what finger Catherine had put it on. She took hold of Catherine’s hand, and pointedly turned it towards her daughter. “I see you have decided to wear it on that finger, Catherine.”

“Yes, Mummy. It looks just right there, doesn’t it?” She refused to admit to anything, but was willing to let her mother draw conclusions. Catherine next showed her ring to her father.

“Isn’t that a lovely ring, Daddy? How nice of Jeeves to think so well of me!”

Dawes examined the ring on her hand, but his mind was only on the value. “Jeeves, this looks like a rather expensive ring to me.”

“Indeed, sir. A ring of value for a young lady of value, I thought.” I gazed at him without indicating my intentions towards Catherine. He drew his own conclusions, and spoke to Mrs Dawes.

“A lovely ring, don’t you agree, my dear? Jeeves has indicated his own commitment to this family.”

She started, and looked from her husband to Catherine, then to me. “What? Jeeves?” She asked me in a querulous voice.

“Commitment, madam,” I reiterated, adding nothing more, merely looking at Catherine with a smile. Mrs Dawes subsided, and stared at her husband, who was smiling approvingly at me. She came to her own conclusion, and said, “Oh. John? You approve of this ring?”

“Yes, dear. It is quite an investment that our friend Jeeves has made today. We should appreciate it, my dear.”

“Investment? Yes, I suppose that ring must have cost a lot, in his terms.”

“Catherine certainly looks happy to have his ring,” Mr Dawes said, pointedly.

She looked at her husband, who was nodding his head towards Catherine. She suddenly put two and two together, and said to him, “This has your approval?”

“It has,” he responded, and she now looked more closely at me.