With the hotel and the boathouse established, and the labour agency and the shop doing well, Ayr was able to take a breather and think about her long-term plans. She still hadn’t given up on her political ambitions for Lek despite the latter’s apparent lack of enthusiasm. However, what looked like disinterest to the casual observer was in fact a lack of self-confidence. Lek just didn’t believe that someone from her class and with her level of education could get into politics. Ayr knew what her friend was thinking and thought more of her than that. She was certain that Lek would make a fine politician.
In fact, although Lek didn’t know it, Ayr had never stopped finding out more about the local political structure and doing all she could to promote her friend in a low-key manner in prepara
