Chapter Twenty-Five
"Good morning everyone!" Ana called bringing the room to silence. Over in Portcullis House in a conference room, Ana was finally getting with all the Parliamentary Party to address some of the emails she'd had while Parliament had been on recess, it was time to her job as the leader. "I received a lot of emails from you while we were on recess and I'm sorry I couldn't reply to them all so I called this meeting first to say hello as your new Leader and secondly to address those emails because they were about the same thing. So, many of you want me to call a vote of no confidence in the Government. I'm not prepared to do that right now and I'll explain to you why. If I did, we would lose the Conservatives have a majority government, none of them are going to vote with us so we would lose. To lose a vote of no confidence this close to a general election would not be great for us. It would cause so much negative publicity and we don't need that right now, not while we've got them giving us so many positive reports. We have got only a few weeks before a GE so it's not like we're coming back today with a couple of years to go. Elena Lincoln is damaging herself and her party on a daily basis, what we need to do is make sure that damage becomes irreparable to swing voters in our direction. Can we do that?" Ana was in charge that was for sure. Cheers rippled around the room as the PLP agreed with her decision, she had little other option in her view and this was something she was entitled to make the decision on for herself, without consulting anyone else.
"Ok, right now I'm going to Buckingham Palace to be sworn into the Privy Council. I will see you all soon." Ana said, glad that had taken a lot less time than she'd anticipated as she had been expecting some negativity and possibly some questioning her decision, but no one seemed to want to do that, happy to follow her decision. She smiled feeling that little boost of confidence that she so badly needed.
Ana met Christian in the car and the drove the short way to Buckingham Palace where her Majesty the Queen was expecting her. It would be a brief meeting, she wouldn't get to talk to the Queen only to take the oath but that was ok, Ana didn't mind because she wouldn't have known what to say or talk about anyway. This was something that should have happened to Ana when she was appointed Education Secretary but Elena Lincoln decided there was no point for all cabinet members to be appointed to the Privy Council and Ana had been one of those who hadn't been called. She'd been disappointed at the time because once appointed a person was appointed for life. Though she was quite excited now that she hadn't been appointed back then. To be going in there as a Labour Party Member, Leader of the Opposition meant so much more to Ana than it would have had she been appointed when she was a Conservative Cabinet Minister.
There were outriders and everything on this journey, traffic being stopped for Ana's car to make its way to the Palace without being stopped. Ana and Christian found it quite amusing as it was as though she'd just become Prime Minister without the armoured vehicle and added police protection vehicles. They went in through the main front gate and as they went under the archway Ana squeezed Christian's hand, she was a ball of nervous and excited energy now, this was such a big deal to her now, it was almost like it sealed her position as the Leader of the Opposition even though it was just a formality.
When the car came to a stop, the door was opened by one of the Palace staff and Ana stepped out. Christian would not be coming in with her on this occasion, Privy Council Appointments were made in complete privacy and so Christian would wait in the car with Luke Sawyer and Taylor while Ana was taken inside.
"You won't need to do anything other than curtsy when I introduce you and kneel when told to, take your oath, then give Her Majesty your right-hand palm up, she will give you her hand and you are to kiss it, lightly then she will tell you to stand. She will congratulate you, you can thank her at this point then she will leave. Once she has gone you will be escorted out." The balding man leading Ana inside explained. Ana nodded, she was quite happy to go with the flow but was grateful for an explanation as to how things were going to go.
They came to a stop outside a guarded room and the balding man gave the door a knock before entering. Ana followed him in.
"Leader of the Opposition, Ana Steele, Your Majesty." He introduced her and Ana remembered to curtsy hoping she didn't look to awkward. "Please kneel." He told her, signalling the little footstool in front of the Queen who was sitting quite comfortably on a throne. Ana quickly did as she was told, hoping that she didn't look as nervous as she felt. "Take the bible in your right hand." Ana took the bible that was offered to her in her hand, she had already confirmed she wanted to take the oath and not affirm her allegiance.
"Ana Steele, You do swear, by Almighty God to be a true and faithful Servant unto the Queen's Majesty, as one of Her Majesty's Privy Council. You will not know or understand of any manner of thing to be attempted, done, or spoken against Her Majesty's Person, Honour, Crown, or Dignity Royal, but you will let and withstand the same to the uttermost of your Power, and either cause it to be revealed to Her Majesty Herself, or to such of Her Privy Council as shall advertise Her Majesty of the same. You will, in all things to be moved, treated, and debated in Council, faithfully and truly declare your Mind and Opinion, according to your Heart and Conscience; and will keep secret all Matters committed and revealed unto you, or that shall be treated of secretly in Council. And if any of the said Treaties or Counsels shall touch any of the Counsellors, you will not reveal it unto him, but will keep the same until such time as, by the Consent of Her Majesty, or of the Council, Publication shall be made thereof. You will to your uttermost bear Faith and Allegiance unto the Queen's Majesty; and will assist and defend all Jurisdictions, Pre-eminences, and Authorities, granted to Her Majesty, and annexed to the Crown by Acts of Parliament, or otherwise, against all Foreign Princes, Persons, Prelates, States, or Potentates. And generally in all things you will do as a faithful and true Servant ought to do to Her Majesty. So help you God."
"I do." Ana replied before handing the bible over. She raised her right hand, palm up to accept the Queen's hand. Taking it softly, she brushed her lips quickly against the back of her hand before releasing it.
"Congratulations Miss Steele." The Queen said rising to her feet, this gave Ana the permission she needed to rise too.
"Thank you Ma'am." Ana replied softly, her voice shaking just a little with the nervousness she was feeling being face to face with the monarch. At this point the Queen left, leaving Ana to watch her go quietly knowing it was finally over. Once the door closed behind the Queen Ana released a breath she hadn't been aware of holding. The bald-headed man reappeared beside her and held his hand out to signal the way. Ana smiled and followed him, ready to see Christian again and get on with her day.
"How did it go?" Christian asked as soon as she was back in the car.
"As stuffy and as formal as you'd expect." Ana replied wrinkling her nose, Christian chuckled. "Maybe I should become a republican."
"Oh you could never be, your Mother would disown you for a start." Christian teased, Ana's mother loved the Queen and the thought of Ana announcing that she was becoming a republican would make her head spin.
"That's true." Ana nodded. "Well I hope that's the last time I ever have to meet like that with her, I didn't know what to do with myself, it's so awkward." Ana giggled, she'd felt like a school girl in front of the head teacher again. "I mean it was literally walk in, curtsy, take the oath and leave. It was weird."
"Well just imagine if you become Prime Minister, you'll have to meet with her weekly!" Christian teased. Ana just laughed, she didn't want think about that just yet, though she knew she would have to start thinking about being Prime Minister soon, with a huge General Election campaign coming up her job would be to sell herself as the Prime Minister of the country.
"You'd make a great Prime Minister." Christian said quietly, knowing Ana wasn't looking forward to that idea.
"You think so?" She asked, her voice soft and uncertain.
"I do." Christian smiled. "Not like you could do a worse job than the bitch troll is it?"
"Bitch troll." Ana snorted, it was very rare to hear Christian say anything negative about Elena Lincoln, though they had become a lot more frequent since Islington.
Ana's phone ringing ended their conversation, it was Kate ringing so Ana couldn't easily ignore it.
"Hi Kate." Ana said on answering.
"Good morning Ana, just to let you know that this evening Charlie Owen will be coming by to your place, he's going to be your new speech writer." Kate explained, getting straight to the point as always.
"Ok." Ana replied, there was nothing else to say on the matter, she knew her team would start to grow after being elected.
"I'll text you the details. Bye." Like that, she was gone Ana rolled her eyes as she placed her phone back in her pocket.
"What did she want?" Christian asked.
"New speech writer coming by the house this evening." Ana explained. "Oh the joys." She laughed nervously. It was weird how her life was changing, adjusting to the contest had been hard enough but she'd not believed for a moment that she would win the election and so hadn't anticipated how things would be after winning. Her life felt as though she was on a rollercoaster and unable to get off.
"It will be fine, sure they'll be a great person." Christian said gently, he felt it necessary to reassure Ana right now because she was clearly incredibly uncertain of everything going on even though she had so many people around her to guide her and support her. "And after he's gone, a hot bath and an early night I think."
"That would be lovely." Ana smiled leaning into Christian's side as they pulled up outside Portcullis House. For now though, she had to work, she had a crazy week ahead of her and she needed to be at her very best.
"I'm going to spend the afternoon looking for an apartment for us." Christian said as they climbed out of the car.
"Ok." Ana nodded.
"Are you sure there's nothing specific you want in an apartment?"
"Well, maybe something that's on a direct tube line here would be ideal." Ana chuckled if she could avoid having to change trains she was sure that would make Taylor and Luke happier.
"No problem, I'll see what I can find." Christian leant in and brushed his lips against Ana's but it wasn't enough for her, she held him close and kissed him a little harder and longer than he'd planned but he accepted it, loving that Ana didn't care that she was standing outside Portcullis House in full view of colleagues and the media. She wanted to kiss her man so she was doing so.
"Let's keep it PG." Christian chuckled pulling away, knowing if Ana didn't stop they would both be extremely frustrated.
"I love you." Ana said softly as Christian held her close.
"I love you more." He replied before giving her a quick peck. "Now go to work, I'll see you at home later."
"You're not waiting for me?" Ana asked, knowing he was talking about going home on the train.
"Nope, I have some work to do for Elliot. Give me a text when you're on your way and then I'll get a bath ready for you."
"Ok." Ana beamed before kissing Christian again, she didn't want to let him go but then he pulled away and walked off leaving Ana to be led inside by Taylor and Luke.