First Among Equals - books

digits of
Lavinia's home number, and then hung up suddenly. He
waited for a few moments
before he dialed seven digits.
It was a few minutes before they found her.
"Dr..Druaimond," she said crisply.
"Elizabetb, it's Simon Kerslake. Are you free for
dinner?"
"Why, does Lavinia need her Band-Aid changed?"
"No," said Simon, "Lavinia died-somewhat prematurely."
Elizabeth ~:,huckled. "I do hope it's not catching," she
said, before
adding, "I'm afraid I don't get off until tenthirty."
"Neither do I," said Simon, "so I could pick you up at
the hospital."
"You sound a bit low," said Elizabeth.
"Not low----older," said Simon. "I've grown up about
twenty.years in the
last two days."
Although he wasn't much more than a glorified messenger
boy, Charles
Hampton was enjoying the chal47
FIRST AMONG EQUALS
lenge of his new appointment as a junior Opposition
spokesman in
Environment. At least he felt he was near the center of
affairs. Even if he
was not actually making decisions on future policy, he
was at least
listening to them. Whenever a debate on housing took
place in the Commons,
he was allowed to sit on the front bench along, with the
rest of the
Conservative team. He had already caused the defeat of
two minor amendments
on the Town and Country Planning Bill, and had added one
of his own,
relating to the protection of trees. "it isn't preventing
a world war," he
admitted to Fiona, "but in its own way it's quite
important, because if we
win the next General Election, I'm now confident of