“That’s because you’re so nonthreatening, honey,” Mrs. Simpson said, giving me one of those condescending smiles she was so good at. “How are you, Georgiana? I haven’t seen you since we were on the same boat going to America. Did your mama get her divorce? I gather that was the reason for her trip.”

“She did, thank you,” I said. “And I hope you managed to conclude your . . . spot of business properly.” Since the rumor was that she also wanted to set divorce proceedings in motion, she understood what I was hinting at.

“Quite satisfactorily, thank you,” she replied, her face a mask of composure. “In fact I think I can say that everything is proceeding smoothly.” She looked around, then went on, an edge now to her voice. “Except for the fact that I don’t have a drink in my hand. David—find me a gin and tonic.”

There was the slightest of gasps from the rest of the party. Only his family addressed him as David, within the confines of their palaces, and even a close friend like Mrs. Simpson should have addressed him as “sir” in public. And certainly not ordered him to fetch her a drink.

“Allow me,” Princess Zamanska said hurriedly. “Pierre—a gin and tonic for Mrs. Simpson. And you, sir?”

“I’ll have the same. Thanks awfully,” he said. “So what have you been up to, Zou Zou? Any motor racing recently?”

“The weather has been too beastly, hasn’t it?” she said. “But I do have a new toy. I have just bought an aeroplane. A dinky little two-seater. I thought flying was the next obvious thing to do.”

“Good show!” The prince nodded enthusiastically. “We can go up together sometime. I enjoy flying planes myself, although Wallis hates going up with me, don’t you, old thing?”

“Terrified he’s going to kill us both,” Mrs. Simpson replied.

“Then you and I shall see if we can loop the loop together,” the princess said.

“You’re both crazy, do you know that?” Mrs. Simpson said, raising her eyes in despair. “Actually we were just over in Germany. That country is doing so splendidly now, isn’t it, David? Herr Hitler has really got them back on their feet. So proud and prosperous and well organized. I was saying to David I wouldn’t even mind living there. A little house up in the mountains like Hitler’s. So charming.”

“You would not find it so charming if you had to live there for long,” Princess Zamanska said. “Wild horses would not drag me to Germany again, and as a Polish woman I fear for my country.”

The gong sounded and we went in to dinner. The Marquis de Chambourie was assigned to escort me. He tucked my arm through his a little too firmly for my taste.