No one ever spoke to him about his future role of king. Even after his own and Georgie’s time on the Britannia had come to a merciful end, it was all sea, sea, sea. This time it had been three years of acute homesickness, keeping Georgie company aboard the Bacchante, where, once again, his waking hours had been planned from six in the morning until late at night. Only after he had joined the Hussars had he gained a sliver of freedom and choice; and, after a lifetime of not being able to make his own decisions, some of the choices he had then made had been ones that he had come to regret.

His equerry came up to him and, breaking in on his thoughts, said, ‘We’re about to dock, sir’, and then, ‘There looks to be quite a crowd waiting to greet you home, sir.’

There was. The British public could always be relied upon to turn out with welcoming cheers whenever he or Georgie, or indeed any member of the royal family, returned home after a trip overseas. There was also a red carpet waiting for him, and a mayoral address to be endured.

His arrival at Charing Cross was far different. His parents were on the platform waiting to greet him, and so were Toria, Maudie and Looloo, and Looloo’s new husband, Fife. At the sight of them, Eddy’s throat tightened. No matter what the outcome of his tête-à-tête with his grandmother, it was good to be home. All that was needed to make it perfect was to be told that Cousin Mossy had become engaged elsewhere.

Next morning and after enjoying breakfast out of doors, Queen Victoria fixed Eddy with a beady eye. ‘It has already been announced in the New York Times – and with the usual American vulgarity – that you are to marry Princess Margaret of Prussia before the summer is over.’ She drummed the tips of her short, stubby fingers on the top of the small ivory-inlaid table that was placed conveniently by the side of her chair. ‘Precipitate and unfortunate as the announcement has been, now that her name has been published in the American press, it means there must be no further delay in you proposing to Mossy and an official announcement being made.’

Eddy opened his mouth, but before he could speak, she raised a silencing hand. ‘Your absence for the last seven months has been reason enough for the delay, but now the delay must end. You are now twenty-six. Your papa was twenty-one when he married. Your beloved grandpapa was even younger when he made me the happiest and most fortunate woman in Christendom.’ She paused for a moment, her eyes overly bright, overcome with emotion, as she always was, whenever she spoke of her late beloved Albert.