First Among Equals - books

Goya and a Rembrandt-Just another reminder of his
great-grandfather's
ability to select winners--could distract even the most
self-indulgent
gourmet. Charles did not wait to make a decision between
the Cheddar and
the Stilton as he wanted to be back in the Commons for
Question Time.
On arriving at the House he immediately made his way to
the smoking room,
long regarded by the Tories as their preserve. There in
the deep leather
armchairs and cigar-laden atmosphere the talk was
entirely of who would
be Sir Alec Home's successor.
Later that afternoon Charles returned to the Commons
chaniber, He wanted
to observe Heath and his Shadow team deal with
Government amendments one
by one. Heath was on his feet facing the Prime Minister,
his notes oa the
dispatch box in front of him.
Charles was about to leave the chamber when Raymond
Gould rose to move
an amendment from the back benches. Charles remained
alued to his seat.
He had to
0
listen with grudging admiration as Raymond's intellectual
grasp and force
of argument easily compensated for his lack of oratorical
skill. Although
Gould was a cut above the rest of the new intake on the
Labour benches,
he didn't frighten Charles. Twelve generations of cunning
and business
acumen had kept large parts of Leeds in the hands of the
Bridgewater
family without the likes of Ra, mond Gould even being
aware of it.
Y
Charles took supper in the members' dining room that
night and sat in the
center of the room at the large table occupied by Tory