The Chainmakers (29 page)

Clancy put the problem in a nutshell. 'We can't possibly invite the Vetti clan here,' he said. 'If we do, we can't invite anyone else. They won't come.'

It was true. Clancy and Anna now had a wide circle of friends and neighbours who would not be impressed to find the notorious Vittorio Vetti at any function to which they were invited, bridegroom's uncle or not.

'We needn't invite any of our friends,' Anna said. 'After all Jennie hardly knows them. We'll invite Jennie's personal friends from the business, that's all, and Paolo's guests.'

'All two hundred of them?' Clancy said. 'That was the last count according to Jennie. Anyway that's not the point. I don't want that... that gangster in my house.'

'I'm sure he's not as bad as you make out,' Anna said dismissively. 'You talk as if he's like that Al Capone.'

'He's exactly like Al Capone,' Clancy snapped. 'He's into every racket in this city...'

'You can't know that, you can't possibly know that!' Anna cried. 'If you will listen to every rumour you hear...'

Clancy lost his temper. It was such a rare occurrence that when he banged his fist down on the table Anna jumped, realising she had gone too far.

Clancy controlled himself with an effort. He came across to his wife and pointed to the armchair. 'Sit down there!' he commanded, his voice shaking. 'Sit down and for once in your life, listen to me!'

Anna sat down. Clancy, still upset, sat opposite.

'There are one or two things you have to understand Anna, and I want no arguments about them, because I am in a position to know the facts, so I am, and you are not. You are not!' he repeated loudly, as Anna made to speak. 'First, Vetti is a gangster, with a finger in everything. Not just a bit of gambling and a few numbers rackets, but extortion, blackmail, prostitution and every other dirty game you can think of. You say you are fond of Paolo, and I have always liked him, but that doesn't alter the fact that he works for his uncle, doing God knows what. I wish Jennie wasn't marrying into that family but she is, and we can't do much about it.'

Anna sat silent, and Clancy continued firmly, 'There is one thing I can control, and that is who I invite to my home, and that... mobster... will find no welcome here. And that's final!'

Anna remained silent for a few moments and then said acidly 'Have you finished?'

'Yes. And I hope you have understood.'

'I have. The plain fact remains we have a wedding reception to plan. If the numbers are as you say, we couldn't hold it here anyway, we don't have the room.'

'Right, that's agreed then,' Clancy said. 'It will have to be an hotel.'

'But that's so impersonal...'

'Then impersonal is what it will have to be!' Clancy retorted, and for the moment, that was that.

In the event it was the subject of their quarrel himself who provided the answer to their dilemma. After two days, when relations between them were still strained, Clancy arrived home to find Anna's mood considerably improved. She handed him a whisky and said, 'We have to talk about this wedding business, I think we may have a solution.'

Clancy smiled to himself. At least she hadn't said 'I have the solution.' He sipped his drink and said, 'I'm listening.'

'This afternoon I had a telephone call. From Vittorio Vetti.'

Clancy bridled. 'What did he want?' he asked coldly.

'To see if he could help. I think it had occurred to him we might have a problem.'

'Oh?'

'Yes. He didn't say so, not in so many words, he said how much Paolo and Jennie appreciated our offer of the reception. Then he asked if we realised the size of the guest list, it has reached two hundred and forty from his side already.'

'Good grief!' Clancy said. 'I think he intends to invite everyone who pays him protection money! What did you say?'

'I told him we didn't have enough room here and were thinking of an hotel... I mentioned the Plaza or the Ritz Carlton. Then he suggested we hold it at his home, in the gardens. He thought it might be enjoyable for the guests, as the weather should be good in May.'

'That means we have to go to his place.'

'I know, but at least it will be only ourselves and Jennie's friends from the business, they won't mind. I thought that for such a wicked and vicious gangster it was rather a sensitive suggestion,' Anna added pointedly. Getting no response she added, 'According to Jennie, Vetti has a very large country house, and the setting is beautiful. As it is quite a way from the city it will at least be private.'

'Yes, I'm sure. Huge iron gates and armed bodyguards! What did you say?'

'That I would talk to you about it and let him know.'

Anna sat down. Her shoulders slumped dejectedly and Clancy saw a small tear run down her cheek. He stared at her with concern. 'What is it darlin'? Surely you're not upset because we had a little tiff...?'

'Oh Clancy, please say you agree. It is the best solution we can get... and even you have to compromise sometimes.'

Anna wiped her eyes, and continued,
'He said we can have the ceremony on the south lawn, and we could provide the food ourselves, so we could do Jennie proud...'

'Alright.' Clancy said.

'And none of our friends need...' She stopped. 'Did you say yes?'

'Yes. Now dry your eyes.'

'Oh Clancy! And you'll come?'

'I have to don't I? I'm giving the bride away, so I am.' He put his arms around her. 'I'm not happy about it, but it's better than having the Vetti mob here, or being seen with them in public. I wasn't simply making difficulties Anna, we are in business. We have to be careful, so we do.'

'I know. You're right.' She began to cry again.

'What now? What is it darlin'?'

'Nothing,' she sniffed, then...'Oh Clancy, here we are arguing about a wedding, and at home all those dear lads are dying in France!'

He hugged her close. 'Billy will be all right Anna, I'm sure of it, and we don't even know if he's in France.'

She clung to him, weeping openly now, 'It said in the paper today that the Germans are using poison gas.'

'I know. I saw it.' Clancy shared her distress.

'I know he's eighteen but somehow I can't think of him as a
soldier... I always think of him as I remember him... scampering along the ginnel... he was such a little imp.'

Anna smiled beneath her tears, and then said, 'Do you think America will join the war?'

'I doubt it. Not yet at any rate,' Clancy said seriously. 'President Wilson wants to keep us neutral.' He hugged her again. 'Try not to worry about Billy darlin'. According to Will, the lad has a good head on him. He'll be alright.'

~

The day of Jennie's wedding dawned clear and bright, and even Clancy was impressed by the arrangements. Vetti's large Palladian style mansion was filled with flowers, and the elegant satin lined marquee on the south lawn was carpeted and furnished lavishly, with a raised dais for the ceremony.

Paolo was nervous and uncomfortable, but even more handsome than usual. Jennie looked almost ephemeral, the cream lace dress Anna had helped her choose showed her willowy figure to perfection, and she seemed completely relaxed, smiling around her at the assembled guests as Clancy escorted her down the centre aisle. Anna could not help a thrill of pleasure as she watched her husband. He looked so distinguished, she thought, the handsome good looks of his youth had developed into a maturity which suited him. The slight greying at his temples had added an air of refinement and distinction, Anna decided, and as Clancy gave Jennie's hand to Paolo and then resumed his seat next to her, she caught his hand and squeezed it, and received a reassuring smile from the still magnetic Irish eyes.

In contrast, Vittorio Vetti had not matured so well, Anna thought, studying the man intently. He was older than Clancy of course, but even allowing for that it was obvious that his maturity had a fleshy, rather vulgar coarseness. His hair was becoming thin on top, and his large frame had become corpulent under the expensive grey vicuna suit. His heavy lidded eyes were somnolent and lazy, but Anna noticed that occasionally his gaze travelled around the scene, wary and snakelike, as if watching for the moment to strike, and she shuddered, wondering if Clancy's opinion of the man came near to the reality.

An hour later, as the guests strolled in the grounds enjoying the free flowing champagne and the warm sunshine, Anna was able to put her doubts behind her once more. Vittorio Vetti approached her with hand outstretched, a welcoming smile transfiguring his features.

'My dear Mrs Sullivan,' he exclaimed, and Anna recalled immediately the low musical voice and heavy Italian accent she had last heard in her own drawing room, on the evening Vetti had arrived in New York. 'I have been looking for you,' he continued. 'What a great success! I have received so many compliments... the buffet is superb!'

Anna smiled as she shook Vittorio's hand. 'Thank you Mr. Vetti. I admit I am pleased, but it was not difficult. I have twenty excellent chefs to call upon, and they all wished to impress.'

He laughed aloud. 'They have done so. But please Mrs Sullivan, call me Vittorio. We are not quite family... but almost.' He was still holding her hand. Now he tucked it into his arm with a proprietorial gesture and said confidentially, 'May I show you my rose garden? It is looking wonderful at the moment, although it is early in the season. I should appreciate the opportunity of a quiet chat, and it seems it must be with you, as I think your husband is carefully avoiding me.'

Anna felt a momentary alarm, and stammered 'I... I think Clancy has taken James to find Paolo...' but her companion appeared to be quite at ease. He steered her through a small arbour and along a walk covered with climbing roses, pointing out differing varieties as they went. He seemed knowledgeable about his subject, discussing flower form at length, and Anna found it hard to imagine this man could combine such an interest with the horrors Clancy had described.

'Yes,' Vittorio concluded, as they entered the formal rose garden, 'Fragrance is the most important thing in my view. A rose is not a rose without fragrance.' He smiled softly. 'As a woman is not a woman without perfume,' he added. Anna smiled, wondering what was coming next, but Vittorio had serious matters on his mind. He said quietly, 'I expect you and your husband were very much against this marriage?'

'We... er... it is really no business of ours.'

'Not legally, no. But you are Jennie's closest friends. Actually, I have never understood that. Surely Jennie is only one of your cooks?'

'Much more than that,' Anna explained. 'Jennie joined us when she left the orphanage, at that time we only had the catering business. She was so intelligent and adaptable that she soon became my right hand, and used to help me run the business, including finding new menus. She was with us all the time we were building up the delicatessen chain, and when Clancy was at College I don't know what I would have done without her.'

'Yes, Paolo told me about that...' Vittorio said speculatively. 'Your husband seems to be quite a man, Mrs Sullivan, it is a pity he dislikes me so much.'

Anna coloured, 'Vittorio, I assure you...'

'Don't worry about it,' Vittorio said lightly. 'I understand his feelings completely. Unfortunately he has believed some very silly stories about my business interests.'