‘I don’t see why you are looking so happy,’ Toria had said. ‘Everyone knows Eddy isn’t in love with you, or you with him, and I think he has been very self-sacrificing in asking you to marry him. Don’t think for a minute he has done so because he truly wants to marry you. He’s asked you to marry him because, for some unfathomable reason, Granny Queen has insisted on it – although how she can have forgotten all about you not being truly royal, I can’t even begin to imagine.’

Under normal circumstances, rudeness was something May never indulged in, but white-hot indignation got the better of her. ‘As you can’t begin to imagine it,’ she snapped back, ‘don’t bother attempting it! You’re making a very good job of trying to spoil my happiness, Toria, but you’re not succeeding one little bit.’

Toria’s eyes narrowed. ‘I truly believe you’ve schemed your way into this engagement, May Teck, and while other people may conveniently forget your Württemberg heritage, it’s something I will never do.’

‘And neither will I, Toria, for it’s something I have never been ashamed of. And as you have finally expressed your feelings about me so bluntly, if you choose to opt out of being one of my bridesmaids, I will quite understand.’

Toria sucked in her breath. For her not to be a bridesmaid, at a celebration as important as Eddy’s wedding, was unthinkable. She didn’t truly think May would be able to exclude her, but it wasn’t a risk she was prepared to run and she finally clamped her lips tight shut.

Coming from Toria, the spitefulness hadn’t been unexpected. What was unexpected was Maudie’s muted reaction to the news that May was about to become her sister-in-law.

‘Why you, May?’ she had said, genuinely bewildered. ‘I simply don’t understand it. Whose idea was it? Granny Queen’s? Papa’s?’

‘I like to think it was Eddy’s idea, although he had to get the Queen’s permission and his father’s permission before proposing to me.’

Maudie had looked more puzzled than ever. ‘But you, of all people, know how deeply in love Eddy is with Hélène. And because she and Eddy once asked you for advice, Hélène’s going to be doubly heartbroken that his duty-marriage is to be with you.’

‘I hope not. I hope Hélène will be relieved that he is marrying someone with whom he is already friends, and someone who understands and respects the feelings that she and Eddy still have for each other.’

To May’s intense disappointment, Maudie still hadn’t looked convinced.