Chapter 23

 

 

In what seemed like such a short time, because a lifetime runs deceptively fast, Lala’s life circumstances had undergone dramatic change. Her Teddy had died, and the settled status of European affairs had begun to be trashed by nationalists of the kind long thought rid of in gentle Britain. She followed the twists and turns on the radio, relayed by Porsche’s blustering, schoolboy pomposity, as wave after wave of them told lies and half-truths and were believed. It did not help with her insanity, which was always there, waiting to erupt, and got worse with each episode, which were then followed by long bouts of alternate shaking and catatonia. The drink did not, could not help.

She heard no more from Baden - the Tories had won their election, after shoving the hapless Mrs May aside in favour of a lethal clown - and he was busy laying down plans of action for when the inevitable call to high office came. He had won through loyalty to the Brexit cause, in a carefully con