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“Certainlynot,”saidLucia.“Aparallelcaseonly.And
thenthere’sthis.Itwouldbeintolerable
tomydemocraticprinciplesthat,ifIwentintothe
grocer’stomakesomesmallpurchase,othercustomers
alreadythereshouldstandasideinorderthatImight
beservedfirst.Thatwouldneverdo.Never!”
Georgiesurveyedwithanabsentairtheprettypiece
ofneedleworkonwhichhewasengaged.Hewas
embroideringtheBorougharmsofTillingincoloured
silksonthebackofthewhitekidgloveswhichLucia
wouldwearattheinauguralceremony,andhewasnot
quitesurethathehadplacedthedeviceexactlyinthe
middle.
“Howtar’some,”hesaid.“Well,itwillhavetodo.
Idaresayitwillstretchright.AbouttheLord
Chancellorinshorts.Idon’tthinkIshouldmind.
Itwoulddependalittleonwhatsortofkneeshehad.
Asforothercustomersstandingasidebecauseyou
weretheMayor,Idon’tthinkyouneedbeafraid
ofthatforamoment.Mostunlikely.”
Luciabecameviolentlyinterestedinhergloves.
“Mydear,theylooktoosmartforanything,”she
said.“Beautifulwork,Georgie.Lovely.Theyremind
meofthejewelledglovesyouseeinprimitiveItalian
picturesonthehandsofkneelingPopesandadoring
Bishops.”
“Doyouthinkthearmsarequiteinthemiddle?”
heasked.
“Itlooksperfect.ShallItryiton?”
Luciadisplayedthebackofherglovedhand,leaning
herforeheadelegantlyagainstthefinger-tips.
“Yes,thatseemsallright,”saidGeorgie.“Give
itmeback.It’snotquitefinished.Abouttheother
thing.Itwouldberathermarkedifyousuddenly
stoppeddoingyourmarketingyourself,asyou’vedone
iteverydayforthelasttwoyearsorso.Except
Sundays.Somepeoplemightsaythatyouwereswanky
becauseyouwereMayor.Elizabethwould.”
“Possibly.ButIshouldbepuzzled,dear,tonameoff-
