Malice at the Palace (The Royal Spyness Series Book 9)

 

 

My heart beat a little faster. When the queen invited me to the palace for a chat, it wasn’t ever a purely social occasion. She had little assignments for me, never easy, some barely legal, ranging from spying on her wayward son and his American lady friend to stealing back a missing antique.

 

“But first let’s have some tea, shall we?” she said and poured a cup for me. I took it, noticing that it was not a grand royal tea table today, but just a simple tea with a plate of shortbread and some slices of Dundee cake similar to the one Mrs. Huggins had baked. I stifled a grin at the thought that Mrs. Huggins’s cake might be better.

 

I accepted a piece of shortbread when offered and took a bite, but I was so tense about what the queen might be about to say that it felt like chalk in my mouth and I couldn’t swallow it. Then luckily for me the door opened and the Prince of Wales came in.

 

“Ah, there you are, Mother,” he said as he breezed into the room. “How was lunch in the factory canteen? Did you have cottage pie or rissoles as I predicted?”

 

“It was quite a passable roast beef, although the Yorkshire pudding left something to be desired,” she said. “I’m having tea with Georgiana.”

 

He looked across and noticed me in the other armchair. “What-ho, Georgie. Long time since we’ve seen you.”

 

“Hello, sir,” I said. I should point out that protocol demanded I address him as “sir” even though he was my cousin.

 

“She’s been in America,” the queen said.

 

“Actually I traveled on the Berengaria with a friend of yours, sir,” I said. Of course I was referring to Mrs. Simpson. We had been tablemates at the captain’s table.

 

The prince cleared his throat and his mother said quickly, “I am hoping we can count on Georgiana to help us, David.” She leaned closer to me. “Tell me, have you been to Kensington Palace?”

 

“I’ve walked past it when I’ve crossed the park, that’s all, ma’am,” I said.

 

“You may not know that it’s divided into several apartments,” the queen went on. “Queen Victoria’s two remaining daughters live there—your dear grandmother’s sisters. As well as two other royal ladies, your father’s cousins.”

 

Oh Lord. My heart sank. She had suggested once before that I might be a lady-in-waiting to an elderly female relative. I pictured holding the knitting wool and reading to her on long dark evenings. Still, at least it was in London.

 

“Mother, you can’t send Georgie to the Aunt Heap,” David said. “She’d die of boredom.” He glanced across at me and gave me one of his charming smiles. The thought flashed through my mind how very nice he was, and I wondered why he would ever be attracted to a sharp and brittle woman like Mrs. Simpson.

 

“The Aunt Heap?” I met his eyes and saw the twinkle in them.

 

“You are always so flippant, David. It is about time you took life seriously and knuckled down to your responsibilities,” the queen said. “Your brother Bertie has done his duty and produced two lovely little girls. Now your brother George is doing his duty and getting married to a charming princess. I told you there were still plenty to choose from.”

 

“Don’t let’s start that again, Mother,” David said. “I’m delighted my brother is doing his duty and I agree Marina is quite charming. Quite a looker, actually.”

 

“Well? I’m sure we can come up with ‘quite a looker’ for you, if you’d only give us a chance. You have a delightful young second cousin here, for a start.”

 

I blushed. David looked across at me and laughed. “That really would be cradle snatching and this family needs no more inbreeding, Mother.” He paused. “Besides, she’s taller than me. That would never do for a future king, would it?” He started to move away. “I must be off and leave you to your scheming. I’m going down to the Fort for a few days. Not sure when I’ll be back, so don’t count on me for dinner on Sunday.”

 

“David, you are so infuriating sometimes. The dinner is to welcome Marina when she arrives. You should be there.”

 

“I have things I have to take care of and might not be able to make it up to town in time. I’m sorry, but I can’t leave people in the lurch. Besides, Marina might be so dazzled by me that she forgets about my brother.” David chuckled. “I’m sure I won’t be missed.” He blew me a kiss and made a hasty exit. The queen looked at me and shook her head. “That boy is worrying his father to death,” she said. “And what sort of king will he make?”

 

“I’m sure he’ll do the job well when the time comes, ma’am,” I said. “He’s very kindhearted and he does care about the ordinary people.”