“Where does that leave us, you mean,” Rob muttered. “I don’t much care what happens to Chamberlain, to be honest. I’m more worried about who’s going to take over if they get their way and force him out.”
“Well, there has to be a next in line, right?” Chris asked, looking from one to the other. “In America, if something happens to the President, the Vice President takes over.”
“Well, I suppose it will be Lord Halifax,” Rob said after a moment’s thought. “He’s the party favorite.”
“But not the overall favorite,” Miles said. “My father writes that several prominent leaders in the House of Commons say they won’t support Halifax as Prime Minister.”
“Then we’ll be right back where we are now,” Rob said glumly. “Half the reason everything is in chaos in London is because the Houses refuse to unite and agree on anything.”
“Wait. I’m confused. Doesn’t your Parliament vote on the next Prime Minister?”
“In a way. The government hierarchy will nominate the next Prime Minister,” Miles explained. “It will be the party leaders who nominate the next one if they get Chamberlain out.”
“Nominate? If the people don’t vote on it, who do they nominate to?”
“The King, dear boy,” Rob drawled with a grin. “We do still have one, you know.”
“Yes, but...does he actually have a say?” Chris demanded, surprised. “I thought he was just more of a figurehead.”
“Figurehead he may be, but his is the only say that matters,” Miles said. “He approves and appoints all Prime Ministers. In fact, he has to invite them to form a government in his name.”
Chris shook his head and drank some beer. “I’m glad I’m American,” he said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “I don’t see what a King has to do with the government.”
“Well, of course you don’t. You don’t have a monarchy.”
“Thank God!” Chris was quiet for a minute, then he looked up. “Is that really what’s going to happen? Do you think the Prime Minister will be kicked out?”
“I think it highly likely,” Miles said with a nod. “Things are getting heated in Parliament and, as Rob said, it’s utter chaos. We need a united government if we want any hope of winning this war, and Chamberlain clearly is not the one to manage it.”
“You really need to read the newspapers from today. It’s already happened. Parliament held a vote of no-confidence today,” Rob told him. “Lloyd George said that since Chamberlain has asked for sacrifice from the people for the war, he could think of no better sacrifice than for Chamberlain to give up his place in office.”
Miles was surprised into a burst of laughter. “He didn’t!”
“He did! Or something thereabouts. Anyway, they called a vote of no-confidence, but Chamberlain survived it by something like eighty votes.” Rob reached for his beer. “Mind you, half his own party abstained from the vote, and if it weren’t for the House of Lords, he would have lost it.”
“That doesn’t show much confidence, does it?” Miles asked, shaking his head. “He may have survived it, but if his own party won’t unite behind him...”
“What does that mean?” Chris asked. “Sorry to be the obtuse American, but if he survived a vote to kick him out, then it’s all over, right?”
“Wrong, dear Colonial,” Rob said with a grin. “It’s just getting started.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I’m not surprised, Yank. Most of England doesn’t understand how our government gets on,” Miles said with a laugh. “Chamberlain isn’t out of the woods yet. In fact, he’s gone deeper into it. The Houses will have to decide what to do now, and if there were a lot from his own party who declined to pass judgment, it shows that he doesn’t even have the confidence of his own party. They’ll most likely hold another vote after another round of debates. Something will have to be done.”
Rob drained his pint. “And done soon. Hitler isn’t going to wait forever to get moving towards France, and when he does, we need a united government in London. Hitler knows we’re in chaos in Whitehall. He must know that now is his best chance of getting into England. At least, he does if he has an ounce of sense in that smug head of his.” He pushed his chair back and stood up, picking up his empty glass. He glanced at the other two. “I’m for another. Miles?”
“Yes, thanks.”
“Chris?”
“I’m all right. I’m still working my way through this one.”
Rob nodded and turned to go to the bar. Once he’d gone, Chris looked at Miles and raised his eyebrows questioningly.
“You both seem very calm considering that, if what you’re saying is true, you won’t have a Prime Minister soon.”
“Oh we’ll have one. We just don’t know who.” Miles grinned. “There’s no point in being upset over it. Neither of us like Chamberlain, and whoever takes his place can’t do much worse as regards this war. So what’s the sense in being bothered?”
Chris was silent for a long moment, then he exhaled and reached for his beer.
“Well, I guess when you put it that way,” he said. “Here’s hoping it all works out for you. Otherwise, to hear you call it, the Krauts will march into England, and I’ll have to go back to Boston and be a respectable son and brother.”
“Perish the thought, Yank.”
Chapter Ten
Evelyn smiled at the waiter and watched as he removed the empty plates from the table.
“That was delicious,” she announced as the plates and utensils were cleared away. “I’m so glad you suggested this, Mssr Bernard.”
“Please. I thought we agreed you’d call me Jens,” he said. “Each time you say Monsieur, I look around for someone older than myself.”
Evelyn laughed and reached for her wine glass. “Fair enough. Jens it is, and you must call me Marie.”
“Do you know what I’ve been wondering all through dinner?” he asked, pulling a cigarette case out from the inside pocket of
