Mike Dixon

„So. You‟re writing a history of George‟s Special Investi-
gations Section. Don‟t you need security clearance for that
sort of thing?‟
„It‟s not going to be that sort of history, Elsie. It‟s going
to be about people. Not about what they did.‟
They talked about old times. Elsie had been George
Paget‟s personal secretary and had continued in that role
when he moved to the Prime Minister‟s office. Kirstin made
copious notes. It was a slow and tedious process. Elsie
talked endlessly and, after a while, the conversation came
round to the subject of Charles Paget and his marriage to
Grace.
„I met her the other day,‟ Kirstin remarked. „I couldn‟t
believe how old she looked. She‟s more George‟s age than
Charlie‟s.‟
„She looked much younger when she married him.‟
„We all did thirty-five years ago, Elsie.‟
„No! That‟s not what I mean.‟ Elsie paused to gather her
thoughts. „I mean she looked much younger than her age
then. She‟d had a facelift. I think that‟s what you call it.
One of those operations film stars have. That‟s what people
said. At any rate, she looked far younger than she really
was.‟
„I still can‟t get used to Charlie with an older woman,‟
Kirstin ventured. „I went out with him a few times.‟
„Oh. Yes. I remember George talking about Charlie and
the Danish girl. I think he fancied you himself. He always
was a bit of a ladies‟ man.‟
She pulled at the ends of her shawl.
„The truth is he fancied Grace. They‟d had a relationship
going for years.‟
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