‘Your papa wishes to do what?’ The shock she’d been dealt was so great that if she hadn’t already been seated, Queen Victoria would have had to be lifted from the floor. Without waiting for an answer from Vicky, she continued without pausing for breath, ‘Your papa cannot possibly marry such a person! For what possible reason can he wish to do so?’ Beneath acres of black silk, her massive bosom heaved. ‘Never – never – could I defend such a choice! If your papa was to carry out his intention, he would lose the respect of everyone, both in Germany and in England. To choose a lady who is divorced, who is of another religion, is beyond all reason. You must go and tell him so, and tell him that it is never to be mentioned again. Not ever, is that understood? Not ever!’

Sergei’s mouth twitched when Ella told him of the scene that had taken place.

‘Poor dear Granny Queen was beside herself at the prospect of Papa marrying Alexandrine,’ she said as they snatched a few minutes’ privacy together in the palace’s palm-filled conservatory. ‘It is a great shame she is so firmly set against them marrying, as we all like Alexandrine enormously and all of us would be very happy to have her as our stepmama. Vicky says Papa was quite ashen when she told him what Granny Queen had said.’ She bit her lip. ‘You don’t think she might have a similar reaction when our engagement is announced, do you? I couldn’t bear it if she was just as opposed to our getting married.’

Sergei tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. ‘She isn’t going to be pleased about it, but it is something she will accept – even if only grudgingly – especially as, unlike Madame de Kolémine, you are not divorced, a commoner, Polish or, as yet, Russian Orthodox.’

‘No, indeed.’ Ella’s response was grave, because although it had been agreed between them that for the moment she would keep to her own Lutheran Protestantism, it was understood that once she was in Russia she would take instruction in the Orthodox Church and would convert, as German princesses in the past who had married Romanovs had done.

It was a prospect that didn’t disturb her. There was nothing about marrying Sergei that disturbed her. She was aware that when people knew of her decision they would be mystified by it, for Sergei was not a popular member of their vast extended family. His attitude to everyone but her was stern and arrogant. He was seven years older than she was and, until now, had been so oddly reluctant to marry that there were rumours about his sexuality. She, on the other hand, was considered the most beautiful and nice-natured princess in Europe.