“Flu epidemic,” Lady Peebles said shortly. “Almost as bad as the big one of 1918. I remember clearly because I was a young girl” (she pronounced it “gell”) “at the time, and due to be presented at court that year, but my parents put it off until the next season because they didn’t want to risk bringing the family up from the country. I was most disappointed. I couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about with a simple influenza. Of course we now know that influenza isn’t always that simple.”

“I heard a rumor that he didn’t die at all,” Lady Marchmont said in a low voice. “The story went around that he was being kept a prisoner in an insane asylum.”

“What utter rot,” Lady Peebles said hotly. “My father attended the funeral himself. And don’t ever let Her Majesty hear you repeating that kind of street gossip.”

She stopped talking as we heard the sound of dogs barking up ahead.

“Ah, there they are.” The queen turned back to us with a nod of satisfaction. She quickened her pace. For an older woman she could certainly stride out wonderfully. “I expect they’ve seen us,” she added because someone was coming toward us. He was running very fast and the way he almost barreled into us made it clear that he hadn’t seen us until then nor was he expecting to meet anyone on the path.

“Oh, Your Majesty,” he gasped, his face red with exertion and embarrassment, “I had no idea. I wasn’t expecting . . .”

“It’s all right, Jack,” she said. “Why such a hurry?”

“They’ve sent me down to fetch a doctor and the police,” he said, the words still coming out between gasps. “There’s been a horrible accident. Someone’s been shot.”

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Balmoral estate
August 20

Lady Peebles took charge.

“We must take Her Majesty back to the castle immediately,” she said.

“I’m not likely to faint at the sight of a little blood, Blanche,” Her Majesty said, “but what happened? Who is it?”

“I couldn’t tell you that, Your Majesty. One of the young gentlemen.”

“Is he badly hurt?”

“Looks nasty from what I saw, Your Majesty.”

“Should we not transport him back to the house in the motorcar?” Her Majesty suggested. “It’s close by.”

“I don’t think he can be moved, ma’am,” the servant said. “They’d have taken him to the shooting brakes, wouldn’t they? But they told me to go for the doctor, and the police.”

“Then you must ride back in the motorcar with us,” the queen said. “I suppose we’d only be in the way if we stayed and we don’t want to find that our motor is blocking the way for an ambulance, do we?” She nodded to her ladies. Lady Peebles went to take her arm, then thought better of it.