I found myself in the line for the bar, even though I wasn’t too keen on having another cocktail. But it was something to do, rather than standing around, feeling like a wallflower.

“Another sidecar for you, my lady?” Albert asked.

“Georgie?” said a surprised voice behind me. I spun around to see Darcy standing there.

Chapter 20

LATE NOVEMBER 6

Darcy was looking ridiculously handsome, dressed in a white tuxedo, his unruly dark curls tamed for once, and his face lit up. “There you are. I’ve been hunting all over for you. Someone said you’d gone to Germany with your mother.”

He took my hand and attempted to drag me out of the line.

“I’m waiting for my cocktail, thank you,” I said, stone-faced. I was too conscious that Princess Marina and the Prince of Wales were in the next room and I couldn’t afford to have a scene. My hand was shaking as Albert handed me the glass. I started to walk away.

“Well, that’s not what I’d call a warm greeting,” Darcy said. “How about, ‘Darcy, my love, I’ve been pining for you’?”

I moved with him out of the flow of traffic.

“Maybe I’d say that if I were your only love,” I said.

“What do you mean?”

“Tell me one thing, Darcy.” I turned to face him. “Have you slept with Bobo Carrington?”

“Bobo? Well, yes, but . . .”

“No buts,” I said. “That confirms everything I’ve been told, I’m afraid. I wish I were wearing the silver pixie instead of these stupid sapphires, then I could have thrown it in your face.”

I was horribly close to tears. I pushed past him through the crowd until I found Marina, now dancing with our host.

“Gussie, I’m not feeling at all well,” I said. “One of my headaches, I’m afraid. I’ll take a cab back, if you could make sure Princess Marina is escorted to her motorcar. Please forgive me, Marina, but I have to go home now.”

“Georgiana, I can come with you—” She reached out to touch my arm. That simple act of kindness was too much. I felt a fat tear squeeze itself out of my eye and run down my cheek.

“No, you stay. Have fun, but I simply must go.”

Then I fled.

“Georgie, wait.” Darcy tried to force his way through the crowd to me. Luckily a lift had just arrived. I leaped in and pressed the button. The doors closed and I descended to the street. A taxi was just disgorging more passengers.

“Kensington Palace, please,” I said to the driver as I climbed in. “As quickly as possible.”

It wasn’t until I was back in my own room that I allowed myself to cry.

I didn’t even care when Queenie arrived. I let her undress me and bring me a basin and face flannel.