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.Behind the Queen’s suggestion, he suspected, was the fear one always sensed in London—that Canada was slipping away as other Commonwealth nations had done and that anything, anything—even a silken skein—should be tried in an attempt to delay the drifting.“I shall inform the Cabinet of your feelings, ma’am,” James How den said.It was a polite lie; he had no intention of doing anything of the kind.“As you see fit.” The Queen inclined her head graciously, then added, “On a related subject, one of our happier prerogatives in awarding honors is to confer an earldom upon Prime Ministers at their retirement from office.It is a custom we should be most happy to extend to Canada.” Her innocent eyes met Howden’s directly.An earldom.Despite his own conviction, imagination stirred.It was almost the loftiest rank in British nobility; only marquesses and dukes ranked higher.Of course, he could never accept, but if he did, what title would he take? The Earl of Medicine Hat? No—too outlandish; people would laugh.The Earl of Ottawa? Oh yes! It had a rolling sound, and with deep meaning.The Queen took a linen napkin, wiped a trace of jam delicately from a manicured finger tip, then rose, James Howden following suit.The intimate tea party was at an end and considerately, as she often did on informal occasions, the Queen strolled with him.They were halfway across the room when the Queen’s husband entered breezily.The Prince came in through a narrow private doorway camouflaged by a long gilt-framed mirror.“Is there any tea left?” he asked cheerfully.Then seeing Howden, “What!—leaving us already?”“Good afternoon, Your Royal Highness.” Howden bowed.He knew better than to reciprocate the informality.The Prince had been responsible for clearing away a good deal of stuffiness around the throne, but he still demanded deference and his eyes could flash and his tone become icy if he sensed it lacking.“If you really must go, I’ll walk with you,” the Prince announced.Howden leaned over the Queen’s hand which she offered, then with momentary formality retreated the rest of the way out.“Careful!” the Prince warned.“Chair astern to port!” He made a halfhearted attempt at backing out himself.The Queen’s face was stony as they left.Howden surmised that sometimes she felt her husband’s breeziness went a little far.Outside, in an ornate anteroom, the two men shook hands as a liveried footman waited to escort the Prime Minister to his car.“Cheerio then,” the Prince said, unabashed.“Before you go back to Canada try to pop in again.”Ten minutes later, driving down the Mall, away from Buckingham Palace and toward Canada House, James Howden had smiled, remembering.He admired the Prince’s determination to be informal, though when you had a permanent rank like the Queen’s husband you could turn informality on and off as you pleased.It was permanence of that sort which made a difference to a man, inside as well as out, and politicians like himself always knew that someday soon their tenure of rank would end.Of course, in England most retired cabinet ministers were given titles as a reminder that they had served their country well.But nowadays the system was out of date … an absurd charade.It would be even more ridiculous in Canada … the Earl of Ottawa, no less.How amused his colleagues would be!And yet, in fairness, he supposed he ought to examine the Queen’s proposal carefully before dismissing it.The lady had a point when she spoke of the need for distinction between Canada and the United States.Perhaps, after all, he should sound out the Cabinet as he had promised.If it was for the country’s good …The Earl of Ottawa …But he had not sounded out the Cabinet, nor mentioned the subject to anyone until this moment in Washington with Arthur Lexington.Now, though omitting the Queen’s reference to himself, he explained, with touches of humor, the conversation as it had taken place.At the end, glancing at his watch, he saw that only fifteen minutes remained before they must cross Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.Rising, he strolled once more to the open library window.Over his shoulder he asked, “Well, what do you think?”The External Affairs Minister swung down his legs from the footstool and stood upright, stretching.His expression was amused.“It would make us different from the U.S.all right, but I’m not so sure it would be in the right direction
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