Q. Our son is at school in England with the son of a billionaire. They have become friends and we would like to invite the child for the week-end. However, our own manor house, while of historic and architectural significance, does not offer the opulence to which our prospective guest might be accustomed. How can we address our pangs of social anxiety? In the country where we live, we have certain social and literary cachet but no serious money.
—Name and address withheld
A. Your problem needs to be put in context. You are a high-profile political figure; the billionaire boy will be aware of this. Even if he has difficulty with the concept of a Gandhi/Mandela-type alphadom, he will still be able to respond to the personal safety advantages of the comparatively modest lifestyle you embrace. Your son could put it this way: ‘In our country we have to be terribly careful not to appear to be living it up, so you’ll be fine, security-wise, because Daddy keeps everything really low-key.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in