“I take that as the highest of compliments,” Agatha said, “given that you are one as well.”
Princess Augusta nodded regally. “Women must navigate this world differently than men. I believe you understand that.”
“I do, Your Highness.” And it was the reason her heart felt like a rock every night when she tried to sleep.
“I hope we shall meet again soon,” Princess Augusta said.
Agatha nodded, curtsied, and let herself out. It was all she could do not to collapse against the wall and heave a giant breath.
“Lady Danbury!”
She looked up. It was the Queen’s brother, Duke Adolphus. He was striding toward her with some purpose. He was a handsome man. Not surprising, given that his sister the Queen was quite beautiful.
“Oh, good afternoon,” she said with a curtsy. “I was having tea with Princess Augusta.”
“How nice. Are you friends?”
“Of a sort,” Agatha hedged.
“It is lovely to see you,” he said. He spoke English perfectly, and his accent was charming.
“And you,” Agatha said.
“May I walk with you?” he inquired.
“Of course.”
He smiled genially. “With the impending new arrival, it seems I may be in England longer than expected.”
“How lovely for you. I mean, I assume it’s lovely. Perhaps you have duties you must return to.”
“I do, of course, but nothing that cannot wait. It is not every day a man gets to witness the birth of his nephew.” He leaned in with a bit of a grin. “Who happens to be a future king.”
“It might be a girl,” Agatha reminded him.
“True. And if that is the case, I wish King George the very best of luck. My own father passed when Charlotte was but eight. I had quite a hand in raising her.”
“Why do I get the impression you are trying to tell me she was a handful?”
“Far more than a handful,” he said with a laugh. “But her spirit does her credit. I believe she will be a great Queen.”
“I believe you are right.”
He smiled at her again. Agatha felt a little flip in her stomach. When had such a handsome man ever flirted with her before? She’d been promised to Herman when she was three, and her parents had kept her out of society until her wedding. There was no point in bringing her out if a match had already been secured.
“Do you think the Queen misses her home in Mecklenburg-Strelitz?” Agatha asked.
“I think she misses some of it,” Adolphus answered. “I hope she misses me.”
Agatha laughed.
“I would imagine she misses some of the freedom,” he added. “But with the loss of freedom comes great power. If I know my sister, I know she likes that power.”
Agatha laughed again. What fun this was. What a pleasant surprise after such a fraught afternoon with Princess Augusta.
“But she does feel alone at times,” Adolphus said. “I am glad she has you.”
“I am honored to be her friend.”
“It can be difficult for those in power to find true friendship,” he said. “I am sure she will find others in due time. But for now, she has you, and that is a good thing.”
“Thank you,” Agatha said. “Or should I say danke.”
He let out a delighted laugh. “Danke schön,” he said, “if you want to be truly grateful.” He leaned in with a twinkle in his eye. “It means ‘thank you very much.’ I should not want to advise you to say something without giving you the proper meaning.”
“Well, now I am truly grateful.”
He smiled.
She smiled.
They reached the front door to the palace, and he walked her to her waiting carriage. “Lady Danbury,” he said, “since I am to be in England a bit longer, I wonder if I might call upon you.”
Agatha nearly tripped over her own feet. “On me?”
“Yes. You are out of mourning? Or am I mistaken . . . ?”
“I am out of mourning,” she said. “Or nearly so. Half-mourning,” she explained, indicating her lavender dress.
“Ah. Then I hope you will not think me too bold.”
“No,” she said.
“Then I may call?”
“I would like that very much.”
He took her hand to help her up into the carriage. She faced front, as was her custom, but when they were a half-minute or so into their journey, she turned around.
Duke Adolphus was still watching her.
Danbury House
Lady Danbury’s Bedchamber
Later that night
Agatha sat at her vanity while Coral prepared her hair for bed. It was a much simpler task than the night before. She had no plans to go anywhere beyond her own sitting room the next day.
“Coral,” she said, “I believe I have solved my problem.”
Coral scooted around front so she could face her. “You asked Princess Augusta? She will secure the title?”
“No. She was intransigent as always.”
“Then . . . ?”
“I spoke to the Queen’s brother.”
“Prince Adolphus? What can he do?”
“He says he would like to court me. I said yes.”
“A prince!” Coral said.
“Technically, I think he might be a duke.”
“Either way!” Coral exclaimed.
Agatha chewed on her lower lip in thought. “I believe I shall marry him.”
“He is German,” Coral pointed out.
“He is a nice man. Certainly nicer than Lord Danbury ever was. He made me laugh. Several times.”
“Well, that is certainly something Lord Danbury never did.”
Agatha nodded. “He rules his own land, and not because of an experiment. His title is his own.”
Coral blinked rapidly, trying to take this all in. “You shall have to learn German.”
“I shall.” She grinned and patted Coral on the arm. “You shall learn it, too.”
“Me?” Coral said with some surprise.
“I could not survive without you. Surely you know that.”
“Do you think I’m clever enough to learn German?”
“Of course you are. I already learned a bit this afternoon. Danke schön.”
“What does that mean?”
“‘Thank you very much.’”
“I suppose that’s useful.”
“Almost as useful as ‘Where is the chamber pot?’”
They both had a laugh at that.
“Are they nice in Germany?” Coral asked.
“The Queen is nice. Her brother is very nice.”
“Germany,” Coral said. “Imagine that.”
Agatha nodded. “Imagine that.”
Charlotte
Kew Palace
The Observatory
2 July 1762
Several months had passed since Charlotte had come to Kew. George regained weight, and his bruises and welts healed until they were no longer visible. Charlotte decided that this was their true honeymoon. They were relatively alone, able to enjoy each other’s company.
Able to become friends as well as lovers.
He did not have another episode, but she learned how to notice the signs that indicated he was struggling. His hands might shake. He would close his eyes in an odd, tremulous manner, almost as if he were fighting against his own thoughts. Sometimes he would repeat a few words, usually about Venus, or the Transit of Venus, or the date 1769, which she now knew was when the Transit of Venus was next expected to occur.
“I had assumed it would be sooner,” she said to him one day in the observatory. “From the way you talked about it.”