IT RANG next morning as he was getting ready to set off for the college. Thinking that it might be Jean, with a question that had already occurred to him, spoiling his sleep, he let it ring several times before picking it up.
The question was: What if I’m pregnant, Andrew? What do we do in that case?
In that case the world would have turned upside down.
It was Leila, sounding elated. ‘Good morning, Andrew.’
He remembered last night’s tears. ‘Good morning, Leila.’
He braced himself. She was going to ask if he had been in touch with Jean and what had happened. But her subject was altogether different.
‘Have you seen the newspapers this morning?’
There were two, the Savu Times and the Savu Herald. Usually he didn’t see them till he got to the College. They were fond of big black headlines that dirtied the hands.
‘No. Is there anything special in them?’
Such as the announcement of their engagement. No, there wouldn’t have been enough time for her to put it in.
‘There are to be elections. We are to have our Parliament.’
He almost said: Is that all? It was how he felt but it would have been churlish to say it, since she was so delighted. So he simply said: ‘When?’
‘In six months. There’s to be a commission to divide the country into constituencies.’
He had to be careful how he expressed his scepticism. ‘His Highness must be very confident his side will win. He’ll get the credit of being democratic without the pain of having to give up power.’
‘Is that what you think will happen?’
‘I’m afraid so.’
‘You underestimate the people of Savu. They are proud of their country. They want it to be their country, not the Sultan’s only.’
If they got married was he to sit at home while she was out making election speeches? Even worse, was he to attend her meetings and listen to her speeches? Seeking privacy himself, how could he survive having a wife who sought publicity?
‘See you this evening,’ she said. ‘Goodbye for now.’
No endearments, he noticed. But then he himself hadn’t used any. It wasn’t a Scottish custom.
Yet, in spite of all his misgivings, he was looking forward eagerly to seeing her again. There was nothing he wanted more. He would tell her how much he loved her and she would tell him how much she loved him. They would convince each other. He would overcome his dislike of politics for her sake and promise to help her in every way he could. As her husband he would have a right, for, as Jean had said, his marriage would entitle him to Savu citizenship. Being involved, he would be better able to console her in defeat, for he had no doubt whatever that her People’s Party would be so badly beaten that they would lose heart and break up.