Valentine's Dinner?

67. Bricks and Stones

Before breakfast on Saturday, Valerie, Lorne and Chloe took Chianti on a meandering walk through Saint James Park and Green Park, enjoying the rare clear February morning. On their way back along Buckingham Gate, Lorne pointed to the left. "They're about two hundred yards along there, at the corner of Buckingham Place."

"Hmmm, Cleave and Company." Valerie shrugged. "Not heard of them."

"Few have since they're almost entirely bespoke. I've used them for several years now as a source of unique corporate gifts. They've been granted Royal Warrants by the Queen and the Prince of Wales, and among their clients are Heads of State, plus government, military and civil organisations around the world for official regalia and so on."

Chloe chuckled as she looked up into Lorne's eyes "They should be good enough to design Mummy's ring, then, shouldn't they, Daddy?"

"I would think so, Sweetheart. We'll find out at ten thirty."

As they arrived back home, Valerie asked, "You keep all your diamonds here? Aren't you afraid of burglary?"

"It's safer than the commercial vaults." He shrugged. "Look at Hatton Garden last Easter. Two hundred million taken from safe deposit boxes and almost none of it yet recovered."

"Yeah, most banks have discontinued offering safe deposit boxes. I've moved mine to Metrosafe."

"I've buried mine in the garden."

"You've what?" Valerie giggled. "As Chloe would say, you're joshing, aren't you?"

"No, not joshing." He unlocked the door and ushered the women into the foyer. "We'll take a look while breakfast is being prepared."

Chloe took off her coat and stood with her arms raised in front of Lorne. "I would like to have you help me hang this, please, Daddy."

After the lift, hug and cuddle, he set her down and led the way along the hall. "Behind this panel is a lift which descends to the vault. During the height of the Cold War, this house was owned by an American who believed his government's claptrap, and he was obsessed with surviving an inevitable nuclear war. He built a fallout shelter under the garden."

Lorne twisted two pieces of decorative moulding and opened the panel to reveal a small closet, and he motioned inside. "Shall we?" Once they had entered, he pointed to the sides. "Stand clear of the walls; this is an open car." He pushed the Down button, and they began their descent.

"There wouldn't be power to run this after a nuclear attack, would there, Daddy? How did he plan to get out?"

Lorne pointed behind Chloe. "The ladder up the side. That's why the open design of the car. Also, that crank. It fits into this slot, and the lift can be operated by hand."

When they arrived at the bottom, Valerie nodded toward the vault door. "Seems you've upgraded the fallout shelter.