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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

‘Be happy for us,’ Ludwig said swiftly as they all skidded to a shocked, disbelieving halt. ‘When I knew that on Vicky and Louis’s wedding day I would be announcing Ella and Sergei’s engagement, I thought how wonderful it would be to make a hat-trick of it, by marrying Alexandrine – and because of Alexandrine being a divorcee—’

‘And of her being totally non-royal,’ Ernie interjected.

‘And because of other inconvenient difficulties,’ his father continued, ‘I thought it best that we marry as quietly and unobtrusively as possible.’

‘Quietly and unobtrusively?’ There were times when Vicky feared for her father’s sanity. ‘Papa, nearly every crowned head in Europe is at present in the palace. I’m truly happy to have Alexandrine as a stepmama, and I know Ella, Irène, Alicky and Ernie are as well, but to do so now? And when Granny Queen is here?’ Words failed her.

‘I quite appreciate what your grandmother’s reaction is likely to be, which is why I shall not be making our marriage public today. Only when the time is right – perhaps in another few weeks – will I be making an announcement. Until then, my marriage to Alexandrine is to remain a secret.’

Alicky, who had slid her hand into Alexandrine’s, said, ‘I don’t think it’s a secret you will be able to keep, Papa.’

‘And why is that, sweetheart?’ Her father smiled at her indulgently.

‘Because Ernie isn’t with us any more, and the only possible reason that he isn’t is because he has already gone to spread the news.’

Chapter Seven

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MAY 1884, FLORENCE

The Villa I Cedri stood within sight of the River Arno, only a short walk from Florence’s medieval Porta San Niccolò gate. It was an ancient house, its flat roof prettily tiled, its pale-yellow walls covered in a riot of sweet-smelling bougainvillea. May was seated in its garden – a garden planted in the English manner with cedars and magnolias – with the letter that had arrived for her that morning lying still unopened on her lap.

Having now been in Italy for a little over eight months any letter keeping her in touch with family events was eagerly received. From the postmark, she knew the letter was from Alicky and had purposely delayed opening it until she could do so in privacy. With the garden to herself, that moment had now arrived and, in considerable anticipation, she opened it:

Dearest Kindred Spirit,