own with Mary. Her two sons Mark 17 and William 16 and there unplanned, unexpected little baby girl Gemma now 11. In the few short hours of the flight, they both managed to recount a lifetime of growing up, marrying and parenting. They were both looking forward to being grandparents as well. However, University and a career were ahead for their children first.
They had also discussed their Russian counterpart, General Ivanskiy's wife Anna. Neither of them had met her. They didn't really know what to expect. They both knew Russian women, but they were women who had left their own country behind to settle somewhere else. People are different in the country of their birth. All they had to go on was what their husbands had told them, they exchanged what little information they had and started to guess the rest to fill time. When they had finished they were describing Anna as some sort of half Russian Princess, half Olympic Shot-Put champion. They both giggled like schoolgirls at the image. The pressurised cabin and free champagne has certainly made an impact, a stewardess noted as she passed by.
Flight BA0874 rolled to a stop in its allocated spot. Elizabeth and Mary both disembarked with the other VIPs. Porters gathered their luggage and accompanied them through customs and into the arrivals lounge. They could both instantly tell that their husbands had found the bar whilst they had been waiting. Well , thought Elizabeth, that makes four of us unable to drive, good thing they ordered a limo .
As they entered the car, Charlie leaned in close to his wife and whispered in her ear. 'How was the flight dear?'
Elizabeth knew this to be code for “is everything OK and what do you think of Mary.” Elizabeth drew a small breath and whispered back. 'The flight was fine thanks darling, Mary and I chatted endlessly, she really is very nice.'
During the drive to the hotel, they occupied themselves with small talk. The wives gently probing their husbands for more information about the Russian General's wife Anna. The little more they gleaned was that their marriage was as much a political one as it was a personal one. Anna's family apparently being very well connected and the General, then a Colonel with his star in ascendency was as good a match for her, as she was for him.
At the hotel, they had their luggage sent straight to their rooms whilst they all headed for the bar. The wives looked at each other and shared a thought. It is going to be one of those evenings .
10:14 31 October [07:14 31 October GMT]
Presidential Suite, National Hotel, Mokhovaya St., Moscow, Russia .
Mary awoke, dehydrated, disorientated, and very hung over. Her husband was long gone. He is always up so early no matter how much he drinks. I wonder if soldiers have special training? She picked up the hotel phone next to her bed and dialled the extension for Elizabeth's room.
'Hello?'
'Hi Elizabeth, its Mary. Have you had breakfast yet?'
'I haven't even opened my eyes yet...and I won't until the bed stops swaying.'
'I think you'll find the bed is fine, it's the cocktails we had last night that are causing the motion.'
'Are you trying to make me feel better Mary? Is this some strange American way of trying to improve my state of mind that I have hither to been unaware. Because I have to tell you, it’s really not working.'
The British, Mary thought to herself; love to use five words when one or two will normally do.
'Look how about we meet downstairs for breakfast?'
'OK' replied Elizabeth, 'just give me fifteen and I'll be down.'
Mary laid there with the phone to her ear and no one on the other end of it. That was something else she was coming to learn quickly about Elizabeth. When she ended a conversation she simply stopped speaking, if you didn't catch the intonation in her voice it could be quite unsettling. She replaced the receiver
They had also discussed their Russian counterpart, General Ivanskiy's wife Anna. Neither of them had met her. They didn't really know what to expect. They both knew Russian women, but they were women who had left their own country behind to settle somewhere else. People are different in the country of their birth. All they had to go on was what their husbands had told them, they exchanged what little information they had and started to guess the rest to fill time. When they had finished they were describing Anna as some sort of half Russian Princess, half Olympic Shot-Put champion. They both giggled like schoolgirls at the image. The pressurised cabin and free champagne has certainly made an impact, a stewardess noted as she passed by.
Flight BA0874 rolled to a stop in its allocated spot. Elizabeth and Mary both disembarked with the other VIPs. Porters gathered their luggage and accompanied them through customs and into the arrivals lounge. They could both instantly tell that their husbands had found the bar whilst they had been waiting. Well , thought Elizabeth, that makes four of us unable to drive, good thing they ordered a limo .
As they entered the car, Charlie leaned in close to his wife and whispered in her ear. 'How was the flight dear?'
Elizabeth knew this to be code for “is everything OK and what do you think of Mary.” Elizabeth drew a small breath and whispered back. 'The flight was fine thanks darling, Mary and I chatted endlessly, she really is very nice.'
During the drive to the hotel, they occupied themselves with small talk. The wives gently probing their husbands for more information about the Russian General's wife Anna. The little more they gleaned was that their marriage was as much a political one as it was a personal one. Anna's family apparently being very well connected and the General, then a Colonel with his star in ascendency was as good a match for her, as she was for him.
At the hotel, they had their luggage sent straight to their rooms whilst they all headed for the bar. The wives looked at each other and shared a thought. It is going to be one of those evenings .
10:14 31 October [07:14 31 October GMT]
Presidential Suite, National Hotel, Mokhovaya St., Moscow, Russia .
Mary awoke, dehydrated, disorientated, and very hung over. Her husband was long gone. He is always up so early no matter how much he drinks. I wonder if soldiers have special training? She picked up the hotel phone next to her bed and dialled the extension for Elizabeth's room.
'Hello?'
'Hi Elizabeth, its Mary. Have you had breakfast yet?'
'I haven't even opened my eyes yet...and I won't until the bed stops swaying.'
'I think you'll find the bed is fine, it's the cocktails we had last night that are causing the motion.'
'Are you trying to make me feel better Mary? Is this some strange American way of trying to improve my state of mind that I have hither to been unaware. Because I have to tell you, it’s really not working.'
The British, Mary thought to herself; love to use five words when one or two will normally do.
'Look how about we meet downstairs for breakfast?'
'OK' replied Elizabeth, 'just give me fifteen and I'll be down.'
Mary laid there with the phone to her ear and no one on the other end of it. That was something else she was coming to learn quickly about Elizabeth. When she ended a conversation she simply stopped speaking, if you didn't catch the intonation in her voice it could be quite unsettling. She replaced the receiver
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