This is the eighteenth part of a fiction serial, in 822 words.
The suggestion that she should get married had made Octavia nervous. What kind of man would he be? Would he try to run her life? Would she find him desirable? And would he expect her to have babies?
It didn’t take the voice very long to reassure her.
‘He will be chosen for you, and will know how to act, what to say, and to keep in the background. There will be no need to change your surname to his, that is quite usual in politics. You will say it is to be a very quiet wedding, with only close friends and family. Of course there will be no close friends or family, just the two of you and some carefully-chosen witnesses. You will move house of course, sell your flat in Wimbledon and move to what appears to be a more suitable family home in a more central area. Don’t worry about the cost, that will be covered by an unexpected inheritance, from a distant relative you have never heard of who will sadly soon pass away. Leave everything to me’.
Over the next few months, as the country continued to be in a state of upheaval resulting in martial law and a curfew being declared, the government-friendly media began to leak romantic stories about the new man in Octavia’s life. Photos shot outside restaurants, a biographical piece about Patrick Hennesy, the thirty year old single man and elgible bachelor who had fallen for Octavia’s charms. Reporting that was more fiction than fact.
During the short parliamentary recess, the young couple were photographed together on a walking holiday in Scotland. Though the readers devouring the news in their daily papers were unaware that they had exchanged few words other than formal introductions, and had separate rooms in a hotel in The Highlands. As part of The Circle, Petra knew what was going on of course. She didn’t seem that happy about it in private, but her voice had told her to play along.
Or else she would be sorry.
When it happened late that summer, the wedding was genuine, and photos from the Registry Office in Kensington were released to the press. There was also talk of the happy couple moving into their new home in the expensive and fashionable district of Chelsea. That move had all been arranged. her flat sold for her, the Chelsea house bought and furnished by people Octavia hardly knew.
There was to be no honeymoon, and for now her and Patrick had separate rooms. In fact they had very little contact, as although Octavia didn’t find him to be unattractive, he showed no interest in trying to consummate the marriage, and was rarely at home when she returned to the house. She now had a housekeeper who also cooked meals for them, a Mrs Worthington who came in every day at times to suit their hours.
The voice told her she could be herself around the housekeeper, as she was ‘one of them’. Octavia wasn’t completely sure what that meant, but relieved not to have to pretend about things when Mrs Worthington was around. As for Patrick, the marriage was a complete sham, and he made no pretence of wanting to be a real couple with his new wife. Even his job at a leading merchant bank was only a sinecure, and nobody there had ever met him. Octavia didn’t know whether to be offended or relieved.
She chose relieved.
Not long before the Christmas break, the Home Secretary died suddenly, from injuries sustained in a fall down some concrete stairs. Petra re-shuffled her cabinet, and Octavia was given the important job so recently vacated. That put her in the front line of public order, prisons, state security, and lots of other things she knew next to nothing about. Lee came to see her and organised a hasty tutorial, assuring her that her staff would do most of the work.
For her part, Octavia would have to be seen visiting some prisons and detention centres, making hard-line speeches about controlling public order, and authorising the deportation of former immigrants who had previously achieved citizenship. Anyone who spoke out against the government would be detained or deported, no judicial hearings, no right of appeal.
With lots of help from the voice, Octavia soon discovered she was very good at sounding angry, and being strong-willed in the public eye. The new Home Secretary was soon rocketing in the polls and public approval ratings, greeted by cheering crowds of flag-waving supporters wherever she went. The party made sure to associate her closely to Petra, and they would often visit places together, or speak from the same stage at rallies and press conferences.
But Petra would always arrive and leave alone, and said little or nothing to Octavia away from the cameras and reporters. This seemed strange, and she wondered why it was happening.
Events would soon explain why.
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