Free Quentins by Maeve Binchy

were going to have. How had he guessed?
    Ella wondered what would happen if she said he had guessed because she had told him about it in bed that very morning. Nothing good would happen, so she didn’t. She watched him move the conversation from himself to getting her parents to talk. He was alert and attentive to everything they said.
    Ella watched him objectively. She let her mind wander. It was not an act, he did like these people just as he had liked the people at the fund-raising dinner, just as he liked the people in Holly’s hotel, at Quentins and presumably everywhere. It was a wonderful gift and he used it well.
    She tuned in again as he was talking to her father.
    â€œI agree with you entirely. You can’t ask people to buy stock that you would not buy yourself. That way you lose your integrity.”
    â€œBut, Mr. Richardson, you wouldn’t believe how greedy and impatient young people are these days. The old, safe options aren’t good enough . . . they want something fast, something now , and I have a terrible time urging a bit of caution.” His face looked sad and complaining, as it often did of late.
    Ella heard Don speak in a slightly lowered voice. “It’s the same for all of us, Mr. Brady. They all want the new car, the boat, the second home . . .”
    â€œAh, but it’s different for you over there in Rice and Richardson. You have high fliers going in to you, people who already have money.”
    â€œNot so. We get all sorts of people who hear that we’re good. It’s a lot of pressure to be good every week. You’re talking to someone who knows about it.”
    Don Richardson was making himself the equal of her timid father.
    â€œI think that every Monday morning,” Ella’s father said sadly.
    â€œWell, speaking about tomorrow, let me share something with you that I’m going to do myself first thing in the office . . .”
    The voices were really low now. Ella heard mention of a building firm that just might be going to get a huge contract. It would be the nearest thing to a safe bet that they could offer to their demanding high flier.“If it’s only a might . . . ?” Ella heard her father say fearfully.
    â€œI wouldn’t steer you wrong.” His warm voice was so strong and reassuring. Don wouldn’t steer anyone wrong or lie to them. It wasn’t in his nature. Please, may Dad be strong enough to take his advice. If Don said these builders were going to get the contract, then he knew they were. Don knew everything.
    Naturally, the builders got the contract. And amazingly, her father had actually passed on the tip and he was much more highly regarded in his company than before. Her father told her happily that it had been a real act of kindness of that man to give him the word. And Ella forced herself not to sound too pleased.
    Her mother said that the partners in the law firm where she worked couldn’t believe that Rice and Richardson had recommended them to do some work. Nothing complicated, just run-of-the-mill testamentary and probate work. It had done her no end of good. People used to think that it was almost time for her to retire, but not anymore. Ella said it was only her mother’s due.
    Nick told Ella that Don Richardson must have a filing system in his head. At least twice a week they got a call from someone saying that Don had given them the name of Firefly Films. It was like a seal of approval.
    And finally, the last citadel fell, and Deirdre said she liked him. “You don’t have to tell me this, Dee. I’ll survive even if you don’t,” Ella said with a laugh.
    But no, Deirdre wanted to make her position clear. She had been in a trendy nightclub and Don had come up to her. “Very far from all your domestic fronts tonight,” Dee had said to him.
    â€œI know you disapprove of me, Deirdre, and in many ways I respect you for