Winter of the World

Fitz was in the dining room, with raindrops on the shoulders of his dinner jacket. Grout, the butler, had set out cheese and fruit, as Fitz had skipped dessert. The family sat around the table as Grout poured a glass of claret for Fitz. He drank some and said: ‘It was absolutely dreadful.’

Andy said: ‘What on earth happened?’

Fitz ate a corner of cheddar cheese before answering. ‘Neville spoke for four minutes. It was the worst performance by a prime minister that I have ever seen. He mumbled and prevaricated and said Germany might withdraw from Poland, which no one believes. He said nothing about war, or even an ultimatum.’

Andy said: ‘But why?’

‘Privately, Neville says he’s waiting for the French to stop dithering and declare war simultaneously with us. But a lot of people suspect that’s just a cowardly excuse.’

Fitz took another draught of wine. ‘Arthur Greenwood spoke next.’ Greenwood was deputy leader of the Labour Party. ‘As he stood up, Leo Amery – a Conservative Member of Parliament, mind you – shouted out: “Speak for England, Arthur!” To think that a damned socialist might speak for England where a Conservative Prime Minister has failed! Neville looked as sick as a dog.’

Grout refilled Fitz’s glass.

‘Greenwood was quite mild, but he did say: “I wonder how long we are prepared to vacillate?” and at that, MPs on both sides of the house roared their approval. I should think Neville wanted the earth to swallow him up.’ Fitz took a peach and sliced it with a knife and fork.

Andy said: ‘How were things left?’

‘Nothing is resolved! Neville has gone back to Number Ten Downing Street. But most of the Cabinet is holed up in Simon’s room at the Commons.’ Sir John Simon was Chancellor of the Exchequer. ‘They’re saying they won’t leave the room until Neville sends the Germans an ultimatum. Meanwhile, Labour’s National Executive Committee is in session, and discontented backbenchers are meeting in Winston’s flat.’

Daisy had always said she did not like politics, but since becoming part of Fitz’s family, and seeing everything from the inside, she had become interested, and she found this drama fascinating and scary. ‘Then the Prime Minister must act!’ she said.

‘Oh, certainly,’ said Fitz. ‘Before Parliament meets again – which should be at noon tomorrow – I think Neville must either declare war or resign.’

The phone rang in the hall and Grout went out to answer it. A minute later he came back and said: ‘That was the Foreign Office, my lord. The gentleman would not wait for you to come to the telephone, but insisted on giving a message.’ The old butler looked disconcerted, as if he had been spoken to rather sharply. ‘The Prime Minister has called an immediate meeting of the Cabinet.’

‘Movement!’ said Fitz. ‘Good.’

Grout went on: ‘The Foreign Secretary would like you to be in attendance, if convenient.’ Fitz was not in the Cabinet, but junior ministers were sometimes asked to attend meetings on their area of specialization, sitting at the side of the room rather than at the central table, so that they could answer questions of detail.

Bea looked at the clock. ‘It’s almost eleven. I suppose you must go.’

‘Indeed I must. The phrase “if convenient” is an empty courtesy.’ He patted his lips with a snowy napkin and limped out again.

Princess Bea said: ‘Make some more coffee, Grout, and bring it to the drawing room. We may be up late tonight.’

‘Yes, your Highness.’

They all returned to the drawing room, talking animatedly. Eva was in favour of war: she wanted to see the Nazi regime destroyed. She would worry about Jimmy, of course, but she had married a soldier and had always known he might have to risk his life in battle. Bea was pro-war, too, now that the Germans were allied with the Bolsheviks she hated. May feared that Andy would be killed, and could not stop crying. Boy did not see why two great nations such as England and Germany should go to war over a half-barbaric wasteland such as Poland.

As soon as she could, Daisy got Eva to go with her to another room where they could talk privately. ‘Boy’s got a mistress,’ she said immediately. She showed Eva the condoms. ‘I found these.’

‘Oh, Daisy, I’m so sorry,’ Eva said.

Daisy thought of giving Eva the grisly details – they normally told each other everything – but this time Daisy felt too humiliated, so she just said: ‘I confronted him, and he admitted it.’

‘Is he sorry?’

‘Not very. He says all men of his class do it, including his father.’

‘Jimmy doesn’t,’ Eva said decisively.

‘No, I’m sure you’re right.’

‘What will you do?’

‘I’m going to leave him. We can get divorced, then someone else can be the viscountess.’

‘But you can’t if there’s a war!’

‘Why not?’

‘It’s too cruel, when he’s on the battlefield.’

‘He should have thought of that before he slept with a pair of prostitutes in Aldgate.’

‘But it would be cowardly, as well. You can’t dump a man who is risking his life to protect you.’