“He eats nothing. He sleeps much of the day. He attempts to exercise yet returns within minutes. Our family has, of course, provided wise counsel and a list of rehabilitative activities, all of which he’s refused. This has continued for months. Yesterday I called him into my office and had him stand before me. I informed him, ‘You are a Crown Prince, not some whimpering, lovesick schoolboy. You formed an unfortunate emotional attachment, and you paid the price. But this has caused a neglect of your duties. I’m offering a choice: dispense with this endless unproductive mooning at once, or I shall dispatch you on a six-month goodwill tour of the arctic circle.”

“What did he say?”

“He said, and I’m quoting him directly . . .”

The queen paused, genuinely upset. We all leaned toward her.

“He said, ‘Don’t worry about me, Nana. I’m so sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused. And I quit.’”

The room grew even more gaspingly attentive.

“Oh my God,” said Abby.

“Whoa,” said Dane.

“What did he mean by ‘I quit’?” I asked.

“He intends to abdicate. He said that his behavior, during his time with you, was erratic, highly sexualized and out of control, and that such an unstable person has no business ever assuming the throne. He said that he was our nation’s worst possible option and that it was absolutely necessary to spare our beloved country such a dismal fate. So he intends to abdicate in favour of his brother, Gerald.”

I had an incredible yearning for Edgar, and heartache for what he was going through. Abandoning his responsibilities was a last resort for Edgar; he must be in the darkest and most hopeless place.

I had a second, meaner thought: Gerald and Maureen were getting what they wanted. They hadn’t plotted this, but they were ambitious, and I could picture them consoling Edgar, maybe over tea and scones at their estate, while sadly conceding that abdication was the only way out.

“Mr. Ogden?”

“I . . . Your Majesty, I’m so sorry, and I know this doesn’t matter, but I feel terrible, and I wish I’d never met Edgar, so he wouldn’t have to be so despondent.”

“Many people, perhaps an entire nation, ardently wish that you’d never met Edgar. But I’m not among them. I believe that you and Edgar shared a great depth of affection. And for your brief time together, I’d never witnessed him so happy. He was transformed. And I can’t dismiss or deny that. And that’s why I’ve come here and imposed on your family’s goodwill.”

“It’s no trouble at all,” my mom assured her.

“And I have so many questions about the Tudors,” said my dad.

“I love your hat,” said Abby.

“Sit,” said Miriam. “Eat something. You’ll feel better.”