Page 60 of Crocodile Tears

“Should I be shaking your hand?” Alex asked with a grin. “You’re one of our main competitors, after all.”

Tyler gave a good-natured laugh. “I don’t see it that way. My father, God rest him, had fond memories of working with your grandfather at Lytton AV.”

“I’ve seen the photos in the boardroom.”

“I was just speaking to your father – reminding him of the good old days.”

“Were they good?” Alex glanced over at Noah to find him scowling back.

“Hell, yes,” Tyler chuckled. “I grew up at The Orchard; I used to play with your father when we were kids. Good memories.”

“I remember your mum. She was our housekeeper when I was little.”

“That’s right.”

“And your father designed the Lytton Classic.”

“Yup.”

“I always thought you must hate the fact that my family got rich off your father’s design,” Alex said bluntly.

Tyler looked startled. “Your family took mine in after the Rising. They were good to us; I’ll never forget that. Theodore Lytton always said that my father was his best friend as well as his best indentured servant.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Your grandfather also paid for my education. I’m assuming your father never told you about all the shit he and I got up to when we were at Oxford?” Tyler gave Alex a conspiratorial nudge.

“You were here with Dad?” Alex asked, surprised.

“Yeah, we shared rooms and spent three years getting drunk and chasing girls.” Tyler laughed. “That was soon after the university reopened following the Rising. Cambridge is lost to us forever, alas, and Oxford was quite basic, back then. It’s all changed now. They didn’t have some of the fancy-arsed degrees youngsters can take here these days, like fashion design.” He held up his hands in mock outrage.

Alex laughed – this man was his father’s age, but as irreverent and full of energy as his father was staid and boring.

Tyler’s smile faded, and he squeezed Alex’s arm gently. “I was sorry to hear about your mother.”

He felt a familiar stab of pain and looked down at his shoes, not wanting to be reminded of her today, of all days. She would have loved swanning around Oxford, telling everyone about her clever son and his first-class degree.

“Such a tragic accident,” Tyler said. “Isobel was a lovely lady. You must miss her terribly.”

He looked up sharply. “You knew her?”

“Yes, of course. We were all here together – it’s where we all met. She was the most beautiful girl at the university, with that thick, honey-coloured hair, those deep blue eyes, and that big personality. I don’t think there was a young man here who wasn’t a little bit in love with Izzy. Her death was a great loss.”

“Yes, it was,” Alex murmured.

“You don’t look like her,” Tyler remarked, studying him. “You remind me of your grandfather.”

“Everyone says that,” he groaned.

“Well, you do.” Tyler grinned. “The dark hair, the grey eyes – so different to your brother and mother. You’re a Lytton, through and through. So, what’s your degree in, Alexander?”

“Business. I got a first.” He puffed out his chest, wanting to impress this important businessman.

“Really? Congratulations! Your mother would be so proud of you. How sad she couldn’t be here today.”

“Could we stop talking about her?” Alex snapped.

Tyler’s dark eyes flashed in surprise, but he nodded. “Of course – I don’t mean to upset you. So, what’s next for you?” He put his head on one side and studied him thoughtfully. “Joining the family business with a view to taking over the reins from your father one day?”

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