Next to me, Nick closed his eyes. “I wish we’d gotten here fifteen minutes later,” he said.

The door to her quarters burst open and the Queen herself stuck her head out into the hallway. “Stop lurking, Nicholas, and come in.”

“I really can’t see that this is any of their business,” Richard said, from his spot on the silk sofa. Both his arms and legs were crossed.

“I’m not going to leave them skulking about the hallway,” Eleanor snapped as she sat back down in her armchair. “Besides, luncheon is about to arrive. I thought perhaps sushi?” she said, peering at me. “Some very soft Brie?”

“Sounds great,” I chirped. There was no way Eleanor had ordered sushi. She once told me that the idea of placing raw fish in her mouth was as appealing as being forced to catch it herself.

“I should be off, then,” Richard said.

“No,” Eleanor said, turning back to him. “We’re not through discussing this.”

“There is nothing to discuss,” Richard said. “The last time I checked, it’s completely acceptable to have dinner with whomever I like.”

Eleanor picked up her own copy of the Evening Standard and peered at the photo they’d run of Jane. She was attractive in an earthy way, and was apparently an accomplished equestrian. She’d also been nicknamed Pain Jane for the amount that men and women alike were drawn to her despite their other attachments.

“She’s always been trouble,” Eleanor said. “Didn’t her previous husband work for Putin?”

Richard rolled his eyes. “No, Mother,” he said. “Pucci.”

Eleanor shrugged as if this were mostly the same thing.

Richard stood up. “I cannot believe you’re angry about my having dinner with an old friend,” he said. “This is controlling even for you.”

“She’s an addict. She can’t help but shop,” Eleanor snapped. “It’s one thing to socialize with her at an event, but this cozy public dinner, then taking her home with you? Ending up in the paper? It’s unbecoming.”

Nick flinched with his whole body. I found myself pretending to be entranced by a figurine of a shepherdess on the side table to my right.

“Unbecoming?” Richard echoed. “I’ve never done anything unbecoming in public in my life. I never even tried to remarry because you said it was inappropriate with the boys so young. Then you said it was inappropriate after we told the truth about Emma. Then you told me it was inappropriate after the wedding, when Christiane was supporting me during the trauma this one caused.” He pointed at me.

“The Greek monarchy disgraced itself,” Eleanor sniffed. “You can’t be part of that.”