The Complete Ravenscar Trilogy by Barbara Taylor Bradford

Author:Barbara Taylor Bradford [Barbara Taylor Bradford]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780007514533
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2012-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-FIVE

Alfredo Oliveri was the first to arrive at Rules, and as he was shown to their usual table and sat down, he focused his mind on George Deravenel.

That he was a problem was known; that he now appeared to be dangerous was a new element that had to be put into the equation. Alfredo had been as alarmed as Amos and Edward when he had heard about the gun, a somewhat bizarre accessory to take to the office under any circumstances. It smacked of violence to him.

Leaning back against the banquette, he pondered the current situation, wondering what they should do with George within the company. Having once thought it would be a good idea to send him travelling, to get him out of Edward’s hair, he now realized he would only make a mess of Deravenel business abroad. It would be foolhardy not to have him in their sights at all times.

His mind began to work as he contemplated a variety of solutions. Oliveri, now in his early fifties, had been at Deravenels for over thirty-four years. When Edward had taken over the company fourteen years ago, Alfredo had already been working there for twenty years, having begun as an apprentice. At that time, he was considered part of the old guard. He was certainly that now, one of the old-timers who had become part of the very modern present.

Having started out in the mining division, now he was head of that division on a worldwide basis. All of their mines around the globe came under his aegis … diamond mines in India, diamond and gold mines in South Africa, and other mines in South America and Asia that produced emeralds, sapphires and rubies; their opal mines in Australia were a new and successful acquisition.

He and Edward Deravenel had first met in Carrara, when Edward and Neville Watkins had come to investigate the murder of their fathers and brothers. Will Hasling had been with them. At that time, Oliveri was overseeing the Deravenel marble quarries in Italy, and he had quickly made it known to the three men that he had much more of an affinity with the Yorkshire Deravenels than with the Lancashire Deravenel Grants. Edward’s father had been good to him over the years, and seen that he got the proper promotions when they were due him.

Alfredo had helped them as much as he could in Carrara, and had then come to London almost immediately, ostensibly to check in with the head office and his boss, Aubrey Masters. But he had really come to see them, and he had soon become their spy inside the company.

Apart from being one of the greatest experts on mines and mined stones, he was a tireless worker, and a pleasant, amiable man with a talent for getting the best out of people. Everyone liked him; as an executive he was revered.

Most people thought of him as more English than Italian. Certainly his looks were English. Pale of complexion, his face was

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