The Importance of Ernestine

by Elizabeth Dunk

  ‘Well, I’m happy for you, John. I wish you both long life and happiness together.’

  ‘Thank you, Cecily. Now, I understand you’re involved in the housing project. How is that going?’

  She didn’t want to talk about Alec. She wasn’t sure she could hide her feelings. ‘I thought you weren’t mentoring me anymore?’

  ‘I’m not. No guidance will be offered. I just want the goss.’

  Cecily grinned. ‘The goss is that the government is going to end up looking very, very good because of it.’

  ‘I understand Alec Moncrieff managed to make Brenda look an idiot.’

  ‘Only because I gave him the opportunity. Brenda is an idiot. How she didn’t have that information at her fingertips is beyond me.’

  ‘She wasn’t prepared for someone on her side to question it. You’re supposed to just nod and agree.’

  ‘Well, I am nodding and agreeing now. I just needed the confirmation it wasn’t going to hurt us to do so and it won’t.’

  ‘Just watch Alec. If he’s involved, then there’s some sort of plan to be hatched.’

  ‘I will,’ Cecily said. ‘Although all he does is lounge down the end and smirk at people.’

  ‘Then he’s definitely up to something. Have a look through the plan and work out the twist in it. You can bet Alec’s identified it and knows how to use it to make his side look great.’

  ‘Actually, I already have and I’ve nullified it.’

  ‘Well, well. Go you. And thank you for telling me. I’ve been looking for something to hit him over the head with.’ John winked and sauntered out.

  Cecily considered texting Alec and telling him what she’d revealed to John, but decided not to. As much fun as she was having with Alec, he needed to remember her first loyalty was to the party.

  John

  ‘So, I hear one of your colleagues on the housing project has managed to nullify your plan for victory,’ John announced as he sat down at the table.

  ‘Then you heard wrong,’ Alec said.

  ‘I doubt it. Got it straight from the horse’s mouth.’

  ‘Well, that’s your problem. Talking to horses.’

  John grinned. ‘Admit it, old man. You looked through the project, found a way to twist it to your side, but someone on our side found a way to stop you and now you’re stuck working on something that will be to the government benefit only.’

  ‘It will be to the benefit of the Australian people,’ Alec said. ‘And what makes you think there’s only one way I can use it?’

  The smile dropped from John’s face. ‘Dammit. Well, when you do triumph, try not to rub it in her face.’

  ‘Her?’

  ‘The person who stopped the attempt the first. If you don’t already know who it is, you will soon.’

  ‘Don’t worry. Tina and I have an understanding.’

  John didn’t know who Tina was, but if she was keeping Alec from seeing that Cecily was his nemesis, then long may she continue to do so.

  ‘Speaking of an understanding, does Gwen know that you have no intention of joining the side of good and right yet?’

  ‘Actually, we’re not talking politics at the moment. We’re enjoying being together, learning more about each other, strengthening our relationship. It’s all wonderful and perfect.’

  ‘Until you break her heart.’

  ‘I won’t do that. When the time comes to discuss our political future, we’ll be able to work our way around it all. I don’t have to leave. She doesn’t have to leave. We can keep doing what we love and love who we are with.’

  ‘You are living in a fantasy world.’

  ‘That’s the thing about love. It can make fantasy out of reality.’

  ‘And broken hearts out of fixed ones.’

  John glared at him. ‘I have no intention of breaking Gwen’s heart. I never have, and I never will. I am not you, flitting from one person to another.’

  ‘Glad to hear it,’ Alec said. ‘Because if you do, I will tear you apart.’

  John rolled his eyes. ‘Keep telling yourself that, Papa Bear.’

  ***

  John was enjoying a wonderful moment of peace with Gwen that evening, sitting on her balcony, when she said, ‘How are you going with your research?’

  ‘Research? Fine, I guess. Not much to research, the legislation is pretty clear.’

  Gwen shook her head. ‘I meant the research into my party. You need to get your head clear of work.’

  Bloody Alec must have said something. It couldn’t be coincidence that she brought up the subject they hadn’t discussed for days right after Alec had a go at him.

  ‘Sorry, Mrs B has had me dashing around for her and I’ve not had time to go further,’ John said.

  ‘Well, what do you think so far?’

  For a moment words smashed together in his mind, frantically trying to arrange themselves into an appropriate sentence. ‘So far, I have to say that your side isn’t all evil, as my side would say. Sure, you have your fair share of idiots, but you also have some good people. Yourself being the best one, of course.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Gwen said. ‘I suppose we are so encouraged to see no good in the other side in order to fight them that you can lose sight of the fact there’s just as likely to be good people there as on your side.’

  John saw this as a conversation they could have without him promising her things he didn’t want to. ‘And just as likely to be idiots on your side. I mean, you know there are idiots, because you work with them and can clearly see they are morons without two brain cells to rub together. But it’s occurred to me that what some people see as evil on the other side is actually just that side’s idiots.’

  ‘But don’t forget there is actual evil,’ Gwen said. ‘I can name a couple of people on your side that are not just idiots, but are actually out to hurt people.’

  ‘And ditto,’ John said. ‘But in looking at the differences between our parties, we put too much emphasis on those people. We shouldn’t let them have as much of a say as they do. Either side.’

  ‘True,’ Gwen said. ‘But you must admit your side’s evil is worse.’

  ‘Not wholly convinced of that,’ John said carefully. ‘But I’ll need to do an in depth study of evil in Australian politics in general before I can make that call.’

  ‘Do some more reading and you’ll see,’ Gwen said. ‘Once your eyes are opened, it will be obvious to you. Now, I’m going to put dinner in the oven. Quiche.’

  ‘Yum,’ John said, although he hated quiche. When Gwen was gone, he let out a sigh. He was going to have to do some more reading, some more research, and make it look like he was serious about this in order to satisfy Gwen for a little longer. He didn’t think they were ready for him to decide that actually, he wanted to stay put. And he needed to work through that argument. How to say it without insulting her politics at all.

  John rubbed the back of his neck. The things you went through to get the woman of your dreams.

  Gwen

  Gwen bumped into Cecily while getting her mail. ‘Hello.’

  ‘Hello.’ Cecily smiled, a vision of happiness. ‘Been a while. How are you?’

  ‘Wonderful. And you?’

  ‘Wonderful as well.’

  ‘Sounds like we should share if we’ve got good news.’

  ‘I agree. Come on up.’

  They went up to Cecily’s flat and she got drinks and nibbles and they sat on her couch.

  ‘So, spill,’ Cecily said.

  Gwen went straight to the point. ‘Remember how you told me it was a really bad idea to get involved with someone on the other side of politics?’

  A weird expression crossed Cecily’s face. ‘Yes, I do.’

  ‘Turns out I needn’t have worried. He’s defecting.’

  Cecily’s eyes almost bulged out of her head. ‘Get out.’

  ‘Get in. It’s all very hush hush at the moment and he’s taking his time, because you’ve only just got into government and it mi
ght look bad, but he’s decided that he didn’t give us enough thought and now he’s considering it and he’s going to turn.’

  ‘Wow.’ Cecily leant back against the lounge. ‘How did you manage that?’

  ‘Apparently, I inspired him to think that life may have other possibilities.’

  ‘The power of sex.’ Cecily lifted her drink. ‘Well, congratulations. Who is he?’

  Gwen wrinkled her nose. ‘I’m not sure I should say.’

  ‘I can’t judge how much of a shit storm it will be until I know whether he’s a junior staffer for some backbencher or the PM’s Chief of Staff.’

  ‘Not a junior staffer, not a minister’s staffer either.’

  ‘Someone in between. If it’s someone on the way up, then it will be a bigger problem than someone on the way down.’

  Gwen couldn’t let Cecily think John was anything but successful. ‘He’s a very well regarded man.’

  ‘Hmm. Could be a major shit storm when he crosses over then. I hope you’re both ready for that. He’s going to be very harshly treated by our side, and your side probably won’t trust him. I’d hazard a guess that he’ll have to leave politics all together.’

  Gwen frowned. ‘That’s not fair. He shouldn’t have to lose his career just because of who he loves.’

  ‘Can you see any other option? It would take one hell of a man to weather that storm.’ Tina smiled, a rather unusual response.

  ‘He is one hell of a man. He’s the most wonderful man in the world. He’s committed, and intelligent, and determined, and he will make this work. We both will.’

  Cecily leant forward. ‘You have to tell me who it is, Gwen. He will need an ally on our side if this is to work out.’

  Gwen could see it made sense, but there was also the fear of what would happen if too many people found out. But then, they would find out when John switched sides and she felt she could trust Cecily.

  ‘All right.’ Gwen took a sip of wine, for Dutch courage. ‘It’s John Worthing.’

  Cecily spat the mouthful of wine she’d just taken all over herself. ‘John Worthing?’

  ‘You know him?’

  ‘Absolutely. He’s been my mentor since I arrived in Canberra.’ As Gwen was trying to fathom that, Cecily leant over and touched Gwen’s hand. ‘Gwen, are you sure he’s actually going to leave the party? Because the John I know is deeply committed, and is currently working on plans to further his own career.’

  Gwen’s mind started to work. ‘You’re his mentee?’ Cecily nodded and it all clicked. This beautiful, bright, funny woman was John’s CC. Who he had said was a man.

  ‘That fucking bastard.’ Gwen leapt up and raged across the lounge room. ‘That lying, stinking prick.’

  ‘Gwen.’ Cecily jumped up. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.’

  ‘Oh, you didn’t.’ Gwen continued to pace, back and forth. ‘John Worthing did. I found out he was meeting someone called CC. Actually, it was Alec who found out, and he asked me to work out who CC was. And John said it was a man he was mentoring. Oh God. Alec saw C. Carter on this building, and thought it was John’s mentee, and he was right because C. Carter is you!’

  Cecily frowned. ‘I’m not sure I get all this.’

  Gwen stopped and made herself focus. ‘Alec got into John’s phone—the two of them are good friends, although practically no one in PH knows—and saw John had a whole lot of meetings labelled CC. At first John said it was about sorting out his boss’s credit card, but Alec knew that wasn’t it. So John admitted, first to me then to Alec, that he was a mentor. He said he hadn’t told Alec the truth at first because he knew Alec would ridicule him, and he was right. Alec had a field day with it. But John told both Alec and myself that his mentee CC was a man. Now, I can see why he would lie to Alec—to keep him away from you. But why would he lie to me?’ As the words flowed out of her mouth, so did the anger and she was left with a deep sense of loss. Gwen sank onto one of the dining chairs.

  ‘If he’s lied about that, what else has he lied about? Has he been lying about switching parties?’

  Cecily came over, crouched down in front of her and put her hands on Gwen’s. ‘Gwen, I want to tell you the truth, even though I know it will hurt you, but I am not going to let him continue to gull you like this. I have no doubt he is lying to you about switching parties. John is deeply committed to our side, and he’s not going to leave. Not even for you.’

  ‘Oh God, I’ve been such an idiot,’ Gwen said and burst into tears.

  For the next little while, Cecily tended to her and comforted her until the tears were all gone. Once the flood was over, the anger came back.

  ‘I am so going to dump his arse,’ Gwen said. ‘Never again. You were right. Relationships from the opposite sides of politics are doomed.’

  Again, that strange expression crossed Cecily’s face. ‘I am so sorry he hurt you.’

  ‘Oh, not as much as I am going to hurt him. I am going to make him hurt like hell.’ Gwen frowned. ‘You aren’t going to go all supportive of him because he was your mentor, are you?’

  ‘Oh, hell no. I don’t care that he’s on my side and he’s been good to me—the way he’s treated you is reprehensible. I’ll hold him while you kick him in the nuts.’

  ‘Alec is going to destroy him,’ Gwen said. ‘He always said he would if John hurt me.’

  ‘Alec knew about the two of you?’

  ‘He worked it out. For all his seeming insouciance, the man has the instincts of a bloodhound.’ Gwen shook her head. ‘John fooled him as well. Alec thought he was serious about coming over. God, it would have been incredible, to have the two of them on the same side. But now, Alec’s going to make John’s life a misery.’

  Again, that strange look on Cecily’s face. ‘All right,’ Gwen said. ‘What’s that?’

  Cecily blinked. ‘What’s what?’

  ‘Every time I mention John changing sides, or mixed political relationships, you—I don’t know, wince? It’s not a frown. I can’t work out what the expression is, but there’s definitely something. What are you thinking?’

  ‘Nothing. Just sympathy for you.’

  Gwen frowned. Downstairs, Cecily had said her life was wonderful and she had news to share. ‘Spill.’

  ‘Nothing to spill.’

  ‘Yes, there is. Somethings going on with you. What is it?’

  ‘Nothing for you to worry about right now. Not when your heart is breaking.’

  Gwen crossed her arms over her chest. ‘I’m not leaving here until you tell me.’

  Cecily sighed. ‘All right. But you’re going to take this the wrong way, with what has happened to you. But I’m going to be okay. It’s not the same.’

  Gwen put the clues together. ‘You’re in a relationship with someone on my side.’

  ‘Yes, but he’s not really on your side. I mean, he doesn’t believe. It’s just that he got into your side first, and career wise it’s now impossible for him to switch. Only I think one day he will. Sure, it will make things a bit difficult for him for a while, but he’s so wanted by our side of politics, it will be fine.’

  There was only one person working on Gwen’s side that she knew the other side wanted working for them. ‘Please tell me you’re not talking about Alec.’

  Cecily’s spine stiffened, and then she tossed her hair back from her face. ‘Actually, I am. Alec and I are dating. But it’s not like with John. He’s not a believer, so it will be okay.’

  ‘Oh, Cecily.’ Gwen shook her head. ‘Alec is the king of the believers.’

  Cecily frowned. ‘He is not. I checked him out. He’s a member of the party, because he has to be, but that’s it. He’s not a branch member, he doesn’t do fundraising, he doesn’t attend functions and he doesn’t travel with his boss because he’s not interested in the party. He just loves the job.’

  ‘Cecily, he’s not a branch member because a few years ago at the party convention the branches all voted to not allow him branch membership bec
ause they saw it as being too much of an advantage for one particular branch. He doesn’t attend functions because he doesn’t have to network—they all come to him. He doesn’t do overt fundraising but he has twice won the award for the party’s greatest fundraiser because the rich will throw their money at him to have Alec on their side. And he doesn’t travel with the boss because he’s a lazy sod and he hates the idea that one of his precious suits might get crushed. He’s the heart and soul of the party. I’m afraid he’s lied to you as much as John has to me.’

  Now it was Cecily who collapsed onto a chair. ‘No,’ she whispered. ‘He’s been open with me. Honest with me. About so many things. And—Oh God.’ She went so pale and Gwen leant forward, worried. ‘Oh God, he knows about me. Oh God.’

  Cecily started to hyperventilate. Gwen pushed Cecily’s head between her knees. ‘Calm down.’

  ‘He can destroy me.’ The words were difficult to understand. ‘Oh God, Gwen, what have I done?’

  Gwen crouched by Cecily and stroked her back. ‘You’ve done nothing wrong,’ Gwen said in as soothing a voice as she could muster. ‘You’ve done nothing wrong and I’ve done nothing wrong. We let our hearts believe in men who were not worthy of them. They are the ones who are the villains here, not us.’

  Eventually, Cecily was able to sit up straight and when she did, her eyes glowed with anger. ‘I want to destroy them.’

  Gwen smiled. ‘So we shall, Cecily dear. So we shall.’

  Alec

  Alec pushed the buzzer to Cecily’s apartment. He was surprised by her text to ask him to visit, but had surmised she knew Gwen was out of the building and so the coast was clear. Looking up, the apartment he thought was Gwen’s was dark. Good.

  ‘Hello?’ came Cecily’s voice.

  ‘Hello, my gorgeous. Glad I get to suss out your place this time.’

  ‘Is the other one here?’

  Alec frowned. ‘Other one what?’

  ‘You’ll see. Buzz when the other one gets here.’