by Alan Judd
Charles had been waiting for it. When accepting the job he had neither expected nor wanted to become a public figure. Still less had Sarah when agreeing to marry him. ‘When you appointed me you said I and the Service were to keep mum, shtoom, say nothing in public.’
‘But that was then. This is now. Things are different, with all that’s happened. When the facts change I change my mind and all that. You know what Keynes said, I’m sure.’
Charles knew it was a losing battle, which is why he made only a token effort. There might even be some benefit if it took attention away from Sarah, who hated publicity more than he did. ‘Yes I will hate it and yes I will do it.’
‘Thank you. In public life you should never become a slave to consistency. You always end up on the rocks. This will be appreciated, I promise you.’
‘One condition.’ They looked at him. ‘We leave Croydon and return to Westminster.’
‘Not possible,’ said Angela, ‘there’s neither the budget nor the—’
‘Agreed,’ said George.
Angela bristled. It was as if they were all young and back in Vienna, decades before. ‘George, you simply can’t say that. You can’t possibly promise it, it’s not in your gift, it’s—’
He topped up her glass before she could get her hand over it. ‘I’ll get the Prime Minister to order it.’
Back in Cowley Street Charles edged past the packing cases in the hall to find Sarah in the kitchen opening a bottle of champagne.
‘Home early? Only a ten-hour day?’
She nodded and smiled. ‘The only good thing to come of all this publicity. They felt shamed into promoting me and giving me a pay rise.’ She popped the cork.
‘That’s wonderful.’ He kissed her, thinking the last thing he wanted was champagne on top of whisky.
‘But I’m not the only one with good news.’ She watched him. ‘I’m afraid we’ve had another invitation. From Sir Jeremy and Lady Wheeler. Still together after all these years. Wonderful what a title can do. And he’s to be the next chairman of that committee you complain about, the ISC.’
Charles leant against the door jamb. Anything was possible in this world, anything at all. ‘Just hand me the bottle.’
