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Chapters (54)
  1. Cover
  2. The Summer Queen
  3. Dedication Page
  4. Family Tree of King George III
  5. Family Tree of Queen Victoria
  6. PART ONE
  7. Chapter One
  8. Chapter Two
  9. Chapter Three
  10. Chapter Four
  11. Chapter Five
  12. Chapter Six
  13. Chapter Seven
  14. Chapter Eight
  15. Chapter Nine
  16. Chapter Ten
  17. Chapter Eleven
  18. Chapter Twelve
  19. Chapter Thirteen
  20. PART TWO
  21. Chapter Fourteen
  22. Chapter Fifteen
  23. Chapter Sixteen
  24. Chapter Seventeen
  25. Chapter Eighteen
  26. Chapter Nineteen
  27. Chapter Twenty
  28. Chapter Twenty-One
  29. Chapter Twenty-Two
  30. Chapter Twenty-Three
  31. Chapter Twenty-Four
  32. PART THREE
  33. Chapter Twenty-Five
  34. Chapter Twenty-Six
  35. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  36. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  37. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  38. Chapter Thirty
  39. Chapter Thirty-One
  40. Chapter Thirty-Two
  41. PART FOUR
  42. Chapter Thirty-Three
  43. Chapter Thirty-Four
  44. Chapter Thirty-Five
  45. Chapter Thirty-Six
  46. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  47. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  48. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  49. Chapter Forty
  50. Chapter Forty-One
  51. Acknowledgements
  52. Select Bibliography
  53. The Summer Queen
  54. By Margaret Pemberton

Georgie extinguished the lamp.

Several minutes went by and, in the deep darkness, she began to wonder if he had gone to sleep. Finally he said hoarsely, ‘I’m going to have to lift the hem of your nightdress, May.’

Her mother had told her that when the moment came, it would help if she focused her mind on something else. She began mentally listing all the things that needed doing to York Cottage, if it was ever to be a comfortable home for the two of them. Georgie, whose only previous sexual experience had been with a prostitute in West Wickham to whom Eddy had kindly introduced him, proceeded to do what he always did. He did his best.

Within weeks May was pregnant.

‘Let’s hope it will be a boy,’ Georgie said, cracking open a bottle of champagne. ‘If it is, he will be Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David. Edward after Papa. Albert because Granny Queen will insist on it. Christian after Motherdear’s papa. George after myself. And Andrew Patrick David after the three patron saints of Scotland, Ireland and Wales.’

May tightened her lips. Her own father’s name was conspicuously absent and she knew why. Francis was quite simply not an English-enough-sounding name. There and then she decided that, if the baby was a boy, she would at least ensure that within the family he would be known by the name she liked best of the seven. He would be David.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

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APRIL 1894, COBURG

Alicky was at the Ehrenburg Palace in readiness for her brother Ernie’s marriage to Ducky Edinburgh, although whether she was still Ducky Edinburgh, now that her father had succeeded a paternal uncle as the ruler of Coburg, she didn’t know and didn’t care.

And although I have always liked Ducky, I think our relationship might become difficult, once she moves into the Ducal Palace and takes over all the responsibilities I’ve taken care of for so long.

Alicky was in the middle of a letter to May:

The trouble with Ducky is that as well as being lively – something I truthfully don’t mind – she is also, like her mama, assertive and bossy, and those are traits I do mind, and I know that living under the same roof as her is not going to be easy. As you are in a similar position with your mama-in-law, I know you will understand. How Georgie can bear living in such close proximity to Sandringham House – for a five-minute walk away on the Sandringham estate is no distance at all – I can’t imagine, and to have Aunt Alix calling in on the two of you without any warning, and even at breakfast time, would tax anyone’s patience.