‘Agreed,’ said Charlie. ‘And there’s another factor we should take into consideration. If Sasha were to become an MP at the next election, he’ll find it hard to keep an eye on two restaurants, let alone three.’
‘Especially if I were selected for a northern seat,’ said Sasha. ‘I’d have to spend half my life in a train or car. I’ve just been invited to attend an interview for Wandsworth Central, but it’s such a safe Labour seat I’ll be lucky to get shortlisted.’
‘May I suggest,’ said the countess, ‘that we all have lunch at Luini’s during the week, and then Elena can let us know if the idea is worth pursuing. Because without her particular brand of magic, we would be wasting our time.’
‘Agreed,’ said Sasha. ‘And on that note, I declare the meeting closed.’
*
The two of them walked down the town hall steps, holding hands.
‘Just smile,’ said Sasha. ‘Don’t say anything until we’re in the car.’
He opened the car door and waited for Charlie to get in.
‘You haven’t done that for a while,’ teased Charlie, as he climbed into the driver’s seat.
Sasha waved to Bill Samuel, the local party chairman, before he put the car into first gear. He didn’t speak until he’d eased away from the pavement and joined the early evening traffic.
‘Well, how do you think it went?’ he asked as they headed towards the river.
‘You couldn’t have done much better,’ said Charlie. ‘I’m confident you’ll be their candidate by this time next week.’
‘A week’s a long time in politics, as Harold Wilson once reminded us,’ said Sasha. ‘So I’m not going to take anything for granted.’
‘They all but selected you tonight,’ said Charlie.
‘How can you possibly know that?’
‘The chairman’s wife, Jackie, told me you got 149 votes, and the other two shortlisted candidates got 151 between them. If you’d only got two more votes, she said they would have selected you this evening. So by this time next week!’
‘One of the safest seats in the country,’ said Sasha. ‘Less than twenty minutes from the House of Commons and only fifteen from our home in Fulham. What more could a man ask for?’
‘I’m pregnant,’ said Charlie.
Sasha slammed on the brakes. There was a cacophony of angry horns coming from behind him, but he ignored them, as he took Charlie in his arms and said, ‘That’s wonderful news, darling. But we must make sure the committee know before they meet next week. Perhaps you should give your new friend Jackie Samuel a call.’
‘I must confess that wasn’t quite the reaction I was expecting,’ said Charlie.
*
‘Congratulations, darling,’ said Elena when she heard the news.
‘Thank you,’ said Sasha. ‘But they haven’t actually selected me yet.’
‘Not you, idiot. I was congratulating Charlie. What are you hoping for, a girl or a boy?’
‘A girl of course,’ said Sasha. ‘After all, there hasn’t been one in the Karpenko family for four generations.’
‘I don’t care,’ said Charlie, ‘as long as he or she doesn’t want to be a politician.’
‘But she could end up being Labour’s first woman prime minister,’ said Sasha.
‘It’s not natural for a woman to be prime minister,’ said Elena.
‘Don’t let Fiona Hunter hear you saying that,’ said Sasha, ‘unless you want to be banished to the Tower.’
‘If that woman ever became prime minister, I’d seriously consider returning to Russia,’ said Elena. ‘Meanwhile, some of us ought to be getting back to work, especially if we’re going to have a Member of Parliament in the family. I’m told they’re not very well paid.’
‘And they don’t get any tips, either,’ said Charlie.
‘Other than everyone telling them how to govern the country,’ said Sasha as he ran a finger down the evening bookings, coming to a halt when he noticed a familiar name.
‘I didn’t know Alf Rycroft was booked in for tonight.’
‘Yes,’ said Elena. ‘He rang this morning, said he hoped both of you would be able to join him for dinner, as there’s something important he needs to discuss with you.’
‘He’s probably hoping you’ll agree to contest Merrifield again at the general election,’ said Charlie. ‘But of course he doesn’t know that you’re about to be selected for a safe seat.’
‘He’ll be delighted when he hears the news,’ said Elena, ‘and so proud that his protégé will soon be a Member of Parliament. How’s that Hunter woman getting on?’
‘Rather well, actually,’ said Sasha. ‘After only a couple of years of sitting on the green benches, she’s already been appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs.’
‘How important is that?’ asked Charlie.
‘It’s the first step on the ladder for MPs who are thought to have a promising career ahead of them.’
‘It will be interesting to see which one of you gets into the Cabinet first,’ said Elena.
‘Don’t let’s get ahead of ourselves,’ said Charlie.
‘Agreed,’ said Sasha. ‘I’ve still got to make sure I’m selected for Wandsworth Central, and as I’ll have to prepare a completely new speech for the final round you won’t be seeing much of me before next Thursday. By the way, Mother, have you given any more thought to whether you want to run a third restaurant?’
‘Yes, I have,’ said Elena, before disappearing into the kitchen.
*
Sasha opened a bottle of champagne and poured Charlie and himself a glass. ‘I’ll have to pick the right moment,’ he said. ‘Preferably before Alf even has a chance to raise the subject of Merrifield.’
‘And how do you propose to do that?’
‘I shall behave like an Englishman for a change. Talk about anything else, even the weather, before touching on the one subject that needs to be discussed.’
‘He’s just coming through the door,’ whispered Charlie.
Sasha jumped down from his stool at the bar and walked quickly across the restaurant to greet his former constituency chairman.
‘Do come and join us, Alf. I’ve opened a bottle of champagne in your honour.’
‘Are we celebrating anything in particular?’
‘I’m about to become a father.’
‘And I think I’m the mother,’ said Charlie, grinning.
‘Wonderful news,’ said Alf, kissing her on both cheeks.
‘Thank you,’ said Charlie as a waiter handed them menus.
‘What do you recommend?’ asked Alf, not even opening his menu.
‘Elena’s moussaka is the house special,’ said Sasha. ‘Customers travel for miles just to sample it, to quote the Spectator.’
‘Not a magazine I read regularly,’ admitted Alf, ‘but I’ll take their word for it. In any case, I’m a huge fan of your mother, a remarkable woman.’
‘I’m surrounded by remarkable women,’ said Sasha, ‘and I look forward to a child who will worship me.’
‘I suspect it will be the other way round,’ said Alf.
After they had ordered, and Sasha had poured three more glasses of champagne, they discussed the televising of Parliament, the problems in Northern Ireland, and finally the weather, before Sasha suggested they go through to dinner.
‘I can’t wait to hear what Fiona’s been up to,’ said Sasha after they had taken their seats.
‘All in good time,’ said Alf. ‘But first, I want to know how you’re getting on at the Courtauld, Charlie?’
‘You are sitting next to Dr Karpenko,’ said Sasha, giving his wife a nod.
‘Many congratulations. You must be very proud.’
‘Not as proud as I am of Sasha, who may well be an MP after the next election,’ said Charlie, coming in bang on cue.
Alf couldn’t hide his disappointment. It was some time before he managed, ‘So you’ve been selected for another seat?’
‘Not quite yet,’ said Charlie, as Gino served their first course. ‘But he’s on the shortlist for Wandsworth Central, and as he came top in the first round by a fair margin, we’re feeling fairly confident.’