Page 16 of Next in Line

‘I’m a Princess,’ Artemisia replied. ‘But you can call me Artemisia.’

‘Thank you, ma’am,’ said Sarah, giving her a slight curtsey, ‘but even Princesses need their beauty sleep.’

Artemisia gave her father a hug before she and Peter left the room, both chatting away to Sarah at the same time.

‘You’re a good man, William Warwick,’ said Beth as she bent down and kissed him on the forehead. ‘The coronet I believe, but not the Chelsea shirt.’ William smiled. ‘But now I want to hear all about your visit to Kensington Palace. What was she wearing? What did you have for tea and, most important, which paintings were on display that I’ll never have the chance to see?’

William was already regretting not lingering longer on the staircase while HRH was chatting to Ross.

‘All in good time,’ he said. ‘But first, there’s something more pressing we have to discuss.’ He hesitated for a moment, before asking, ‘How do you feel about having another child?’

Beth didn’t respond immediately, but finally asked, ‘What’s changed? After all, we’ve discussed the subject ad infinitum, and always come to the same conclusion. We simply can’t afford it.’

William settled back to listen to a speech he’d heard several times before.

‘We’re a typical modern couple,’ Beth reminded him. ‘We both have full time jobs, and wouldn’t want it any other way. You’re doing the job you’ve always wanted to do, and I don’t have to remind you how lucky I feel to be working at the Fitzmolean. Not only that, but as a Chief Inspector you can’teven claim overtime, despite the fact that your workload hasn’t diminished. To make things worse, I’m paid a pittance compared to men who do the equivalent job. Such is the lot of women who work in the art world, publishing or the theatre. But that won’t stop me pushing for change in the future,’ she added with considerable feeling. ‘Women will continue to be taken advantage of as long as there’s a surplus of eager candidates vying for every job, especially when they daren’t complain about the pay. And even then, a man far less qualified often ends up being appointed to the same job because he won’t be taking time off to have a baby!’

William didn’t interrupt her. He’d witnessed the same prejudice in the police force, where time and again women were passed over for promotion while less able men were advanced, often with the justification that ‘He’s got a wife and family to support.’ He decided to let Beth continue to erupt, and then settle, before he posed his next question.

‘And don’t forget,’ continued Beth, ‘we have to employ a nanny, who’s paid almost as much as I am. Don’t get me wrong, Sarah’s worth every penny, because she makes it possible for me to do the job I love. But whenever she takes a night off, we have to pay for a babysitter if we want to go to the theatre or eat out.’

The lava was still flowing steadily down the mountain towards him.

‘It was different in our parents’ day when it was assumed that women had been put on earth to raise children, clean the house, cook the meals and support their husbands in their careers. “Love, honour andobey”,’ she emphasized, ‘just in case you’ve forgotten, caveman.’

William was once again reminded why he adored this woman.

‘I swear my father doesn’t know how many minutes it takes to boil an egg, while yours just about manages to carve the Christmas turkey.’

‘He spends some considerable time sharpening the knife beforehand,’ said William, trying to lighten the mood.

‘The truth is,’ continued Beth, ignoring the riposte, ‘that both our mothers would have been well capable of holding down demanding jobs if only they’d been given the chance.’

‘Your mother sat on the board of your father’s company,’ William reminded her.

‘Ask her how much she was paid while she kept the books in apple pie order at the same time as raising me. Be warned, Detective Chief Inspector, a revolution is about to take place, in whichhomo sapienswill be replaced by “femina sapiens”. I predict it’s going to happen in the not-too-distant future, even if most men can’t see it coming.’

Her voice was now calmer, but no less determined. William didn’t remind her that she’d left out the hunter-gatherer section of her speech.

‘I admit,’ continued Beth, ‘that thanks to the generosity of my parents, we’re fortunate enough to own our own home, but we still find it difficult to make ends meet, even though your father has set up a trust fund for the children’s education. However, the colour of my bank balance has remained red since the day I left university and yours is only in credit on the day after you’re paid. No, William, the simple answer to your question is we can’t afford another child, however much we’d like one.’

‘But if we could afford another one?’

‘I’d have six,’ said Beth. ‘The twins are the joy of my life.’

‘I’d settle for three,’ said William. ‘And I may have found a solution.’

‘Have you won the pools, caveman? Or are we going to rob a bank like Bonnie and Clyde?’ asked Beth, trying to imitate Warren Beatty.

‘Neither will be necessary. We can have a third child at no extra expense, and you won’t even have to take maternity leave.’

‘I can’t wait to hear how we’re going to pull that one off,’ said Beth with an exaggerated sigh.

‘The Princess’s personal protection officer will be retiring in the new year, and she’s offered Ross the job.’

‘So that’s the reason she invited you both to tea?’

‘Yes, but Ross doesn’t feel he can take on the responsibility of trying to bring up Jojo at the same time. Single mothers somehow manage in similar circumstances, but single fathers are far less adaptable.’

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