First Among Equals - books

hidden discreetly from
the dance floor.
On Monday morning Simon perused the shop windows in Bond
Street before
emerging from Cartier's with a small blue leather box
which he placed in
the pocket of his jacket. Simon returned to the Commons
unable to
concentrate fully on the orders of the day.
fie left the Commons a little after seven to return to
Beaufort Street. On
arrival home he watched the earlyevening news before
washing his hair and
taking a shower. He shaved for a second time that day,
removed the pins
froin an evening dress shirt that had never been taken
from its wrapper and
laid out his dinner jacket.
At nine o'clock he transferred the little box from his
coat pocket to his
dinner jacket, checked his bow tie,
40
FIRST AMONG EQUALS
and as he left, he double-locked the front door of his
little house.
When he reached Chelsea Square a few minutes later he
parked his MGB
outside Number 4 and once again the omniscient butler
ushered him
through. Simon could hear Lavinia's high tones coming
from the drawing
room, but it was not until he walked in that he realized
it was her
father she was addressing.
"Hello, Simon."
"Good evening," Simon said, before kissing Lavinia
gently on the cheek.
She was dressed in a long green chiffon pown that left
her creamy white
shoulders bare.
"Daddy thinks he can help with Ted Heath," were
Lavinia"s opening words.