‘That means sixty per cent don’t mind,’ she points out.

‘True, but why risk the bad feeling? One of the reasons your father has hesitated for so long is my association with the Greek monarchy. Well, I’ve given that up,’ Philip says determinedly. ‘I can live without being called Your Royal Highness if it means I can marry you.’

Chapter 35

She doesn’t need him to say that he loves her, Elizabeth tells herself. Love is just a word. It doesn’t need to be spoken out loud. They are not in a romantic novel, after all. They are two members of a royal family negotiating a marriage that will be beneficial to both of them. Go back a generation or two, and she would have had little say in the business at all.

Philip has said he missed her. He’s said he is happy to give up his title to marry her. Surely that is enough? And now that her father has finally given permission, they can be married soon and she will have everything she wants.

When her father told her to join Philip in his study, she almost ran along the corridor but at the last minute she hesitated, suddenly afraid he had changed and she wouldn’t recognise him. In South Africa she had sometimes closed her eyes only to panic when she couldn’t immediately bring his face to her mind. Then she would pick up his photograph and trace the hard lines of his face with her fingertip, drawing reassurance from that bold stare.

She has felt herself changing while she was away, but what if Philip, too, has changed?

So she was shaky and faintly sick when she opened the door to the study and saw Philip standing there. For a beat, two, they just looked at each other and for Elizabeth it was a heart-stopping moment of utter clarity, because there he was, and everything she ever felt for him came rushing back with complete certainty at the sight of him: he is the one.

Her father has clearly passed on the word and a small gathering has been organised when they go back inside.

‘Philip! Congratulations!’ Her mother kisses him on both cheeks and then turns to gather Elizabeth into a scented embrace, while Margaret hugs them both. ‘We must have champagne.’

Elizabeth’s heart is light as she hugs her sister back and smiles at her father. ‘Thank you, Papa,’ she says fervently.

‘Darling Lilibet,’ he says and kisses her. ‘I’m glad you’re happy,’ he adds, although he looks fretful rather than glad.

‘This is so exciting!’ Margaret claps her hands together. ‘When is the wedding?’

‘We haven’t got that far yet,’ Elizabeth says, laughing. ‘Papa needs to make the official announcement of the engagement first.’

‘I’m afraid that can’t happen yet,’ the King says, not meeting her eyes.

‘Oh, Papa!’ Elizabeth sees the smile drop from Philip’s face like a stone, sees the effort it takes him not to explode. ‘Papa, why can’t you announce it straight away?’ she says, dismayed to find her eyes pricking with tears of disappointment. ‘We’ve waited nine months already!’