Ahmed Iqbal and Edward "Eddie" Horniman in “Refined Aggression”

How may I help you, Your Grace?

I need to get a large amount of cash by the end of the week.

How much exactly?

Eight million pounds. [laughs]

Goodness. Jesus Christ.

Six million sterling.

Your inheritance has made you a very wealthy man, but that doesn’t mean to say that you’re rich. You’re asset rich, cash poor.

[inhales sharply] Tell me, how come there are no significant transactions in any of my father’s bank accounts in the last five years?

Your father’s personal expenditure was something we never discussed.

Right. What about bonds, stocks and shares?

There aren’t any. There...? There might have been matters we… didn’t address. But, of course, I couldn’t comment.

Well, that’s rather cryptic, Ahmed.

You could sell the Gainsborough. But to attain the ultimate value will take a number of months. There has been a... slightly unconventional approach from a lawyer based in London. His client has expressed an interest in purchasing Halstead Manor.

When someone dies, the vultures start circling. Rather cheeky, isn’t it? Hmm. What’s his name?

The potential purchaser wishes to remain anonymous at this stage. But his lawyer has stated that he’d be willing to pay well above the market value. That could be a significant sum. But there’s probate and capital gains to take into account.

Tell them I’d be willing to potentially entertain an offer if he’s aggressive and quick.

Forgive me for stating the obvious, but I would be in remiss of my duties not to point out that Halstead Manor’s been in your family for generations.

Since 1550.