As evening descended, the families with children departed, and the fashionable people arrived to enjoy the myriad entertainments of stage plays, or to dance on the famous oval platform, lit artfully by gas chandeliers.
At ten o’clock the royal party dined elegantly in one of the infamous private supper rooms, then watched the brilliant firework display that ended at midnight. On the drive back to Marlborough House, James sought Anne’s hand in the darkness of the carriage.
“Thank you for such a wonderful day,” she murmured. “You put a lot of thought into it. The princess enjoyed every moment.”
“It was my pleasure, sweetheart.” He squeezed her hand and whispered in her ear, “You are my pleasure.”
• • •
Princess Alexandra waited at Buckingham Palace for her monthly audience with Queen Victoria, but this time she had been determined to spare Anne from an encounter with her critical sister Emily, and had asked Frances to accompany her instead.
Her Majesty again wore black, accompanied by her usual dour expression, and Alix was glad that Anne had suggested she wear a dress in a drab shade of mushroom. She went through the motions of curtsying and sitting in the straight-backed chair and realized it was a ritual she had come to dread.
“My dear Alexandra, far be it from me to be critical; it is not in my nature. But when you entertain at Marlborough House, you must never forget that you represent the royal family. I would advise you to go over your guest list and eliminate any female whose name has been associated with scandal. It has come to my attention that a young woman by the name of Florence Rawdon attended one of your dinner parties. Are you not aware that she brought disgrace upon herself by eloping with the Marquis of Hastings?”
“Your Majesty, Lord Hastings was invited by my husband. They are friends who were at Oxford together, I believe.”
“I have no objection to Hastings being entertained at Marlborough House. But females are held to a much higher standard, and I think it would be unwise in future to include his wife.”
Alix was taken aback that the queen had one set of rules for men, and another for women, but decided to keep a wise silence in the face of such utter prejudice.
“Which brings us to another unfortunate incident. When I was told you attended Cremorne Pleasure Gardens, I could scarce believe my ears. As Queen of England, I have always held myself above the common masses, and I expect the same high standard from the Princess of Wales. I advise you to choose your pleasures wisely from now on.”
When Alix returned to Marlborough House, she found Anne waiting with a decanter of sherry and an abundance of sympathy. “Was it very bad?”
“I’m afraid that someone is carrying tales to her about everything we do.”
Anne immediately suspected her sister Emily, since she was the queen’s confidant.
Princess Alexandra remarked, “I believe that the Irish refer to Victoria as the Auld Bitch of a Quayne, and now I understand why.”
• • •
The following day, the prince and half a dozen of his sporting friends planned to attend Sandown races in nearby Surrey. When Alexandra confessed to her husband that she would rather visit Hampton Court Palace, which was close to Sandown, Teddy asked James if he would forgo the races and escort the princess and her ladies.
Alix was enchanted with the gardens, and spent far more time outside by the river than she did inside the historic chambers of the palace.
James spirited Anne away from the others and they found a latticed bench beside a fountain in the knot garden, planted with herbs from the sixteenth century.
“It’s rather gallant of you to give up Sandown races and act as escort to the princess.”
“Not really gallant. I’d far rather spend the day with you than the Prince of Wales.”
“I suspect that Alix is of like mind.”
“Teddy has all of the vices of a prince and none of the virtues, I’m afraid.” He bent and picked a sprig of rosemary and tucked it behind her ear.
“Rosemary is for remembrance. . . . I remember every detail of every encounter we’ve ever had, Anne.”
Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “I wager you a kiss that you don’t remember the first time we met.”
His dark brows drew together. “It wasn’t at the Newmarket races?”
She shook her head. “It was at Windsor Castle, under the arcade of the Horseshoe Cloister. I was about twelve.”
His mind flew back in time and he suddenly remembered the red-gold curls, and the lovely green eyes flooded with tears.
“I’d been crying, and you said—”
James put his fingers to her lips to stop her words. His mouth curved. “You are as beautiful as a wild Irish rose.”
“You remembered!”
“You owe me a kiss.”
When his lips touched hers, she felt as if her heart would melt.
• • •
“The prince and his friends have been talking about the Newmarket races for weeks. The topic dominates every dinner conversation.” Princess Alexandra was vastly relieved that her husband had chosen to travel with his male companions, leaving her free to share her carriage with her ladies-in-waiting.
“The sport of kings has become an obsession with the English nobility. The important races dominate the entire Season,” Anne remarked.
“I can understand why gentlemen enjoy the races. Their horses compete against each other and the men indulge in high-stakes betting, but why does it appeal to ladies?”
“It’s the fashionable thing to do, I suppose,” Frances declared. “It provides an opportunity to parade about in gorgeous clothes and congregate with wealthy, eligible men. Husband hunters will find far more men at the races than on the dance floor.”
“Well, I can understand the allure of the Royal Ascot—the racetrack adjoins Windsor’s Great Park—but Newmarket requires an entire day of travel.”
Anne noticed that the princess had gone very pale. “Are you feeling ill, Alix?”
“I’m afraid the swaying coach makes me nauseous,” she confessed.
“We are close to Hertford, where the horses will be changed. We’ll go into the coaching inn. Perhaps a drink will settle your stomach.”
When the carriage stopped, the three ladies went inside, and Anne asked for a private room. She ordered tea with lemon, but after a few sips, Princess Alexandra declared, “I’m going to be sick!”
Anne grabbed the china bowl from the washstand and held it before the princess, who clutched her stomach and began to retch. When it was over, Anne brought fresh water and a towel and cleansed Alix’s face.
“It must have been what you had for breakfast,” Frances suggested.
Alix shook her head. “I haven’t been able to face breakfast for a week. I . . . I think I may be having a baby.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful news,” Anne declared.
“Yes, it makes me very happy, but I don’t want anyone to know just yet. Will you help me keep my secret?” the princess pleaded.
“Of course we will,” Anne promised. “But I know your husband will be extremely proud, whenever you decide to tell him.”
“I don’t mind Edward knowing. I don’t want Queen Victoria to find out. You know what she’s like. . . . She will take over our lives.”
“I understand completely. The tricky part will be keeping it from the other guests at Apethorpe Hall. But we’ll manage,” Anne promised. “It will be a conspiracy of three.”
“I fully understand why you don’t want to spend the summer attending one race after another,” Frances commiserated.
“Perhaps if you tell the prince, he won’t expect you to accompany him.”
“That would be wonderful,” Alix said wistfully. “I daydream about spending my summer in a beautiful garden by the river, like the one at Hampton Court.”
br />
• • •
“Where on earth have you been?” the Prince of Wales demanded when the carriage arrived at Apethorpe Hall. “Lady Westmorland ordered dinner for seven o’clock. We’ve been awaiting you for more than an hour!”
Anne stepped forward and gave Teddy a ravishing smile. “It was completely my fault, Your Highness. I was indisposed and Princess Alexandra insisted we stop until I was fully recovered. My sister Adelaide is such an accommodating hostess that late guests don’t bother her in the least.”
Adelaide curtsied to the princess. “Welcome to Apethorpe Hall, Your Highness. This is such an honor for the earl and me.”
Princess Alexandra took her hand. “The honor is mine, my lady.”
Anne kissed her sister’s cheek. “Adelaide, why don’t you take the Prince of Wales and your other guests in to dinner? I’m sure the princess would like to freshen up and change her gown. There is no need to inconvenience the gentlemen longer. We can join you for a late supper.”
“Excellent suggestion,” Teddy agreed.
• • •
“Alix, I recommend a relaxing bath, while Frances and I unpack for you. I’ll pick out something pretty for you to wear that shows off your flawless complexion.”
“Thank you, ladies. You are unfailingly kind to me.”
Two hours later, the princess and her ladies joined the other guests. Alix was gowned in shell pink, her delicate cheeks rouged artfully to disguise her pallor.
Among the other guests was Lord Hartington, heir to the powerful Duke of Devonshire. Though he was a steward of the Jockey Club and owned a stable of racehorses, he relied upon Henry Fane’s expert advice. Both men had horses running tomorrow and the conversation—centering on such edifying subjects as racing colors, jockeys, odds, and the amount of the purses—was interrupted by the arrival of the princess.
When the gentlemen stood to greet the ladies, the princess waved her hand, “Oh, please, carry on as you were. I find the subject of horse racing endlessly fascinating.” Anne had advised her that all she had to do was relax in a comfortable chair, and pretend to listen with a rapt look on her face.
At eleven, when a footman announced the buffet supper, Hartington offered his arm to Lady Frances, who accepted gracefully, since the Duchess of Manchester was conspicuous by her absence.
James escorted Anne to the supper room. “I very much doubt if it was you who was indisposed. I suspect it was the princess.”
“How did you guess?”
He smiled down at her. “That’s the sort of thing I do for the prince.”
“Yes,” she murmured. “I’ve learned all sorts of tricks from you.”
“These people are obsessed with racing. None more than Teddy. It’s the risk of the high stakes—they can’t resist. It becomes addictive.”
“Poor Alix is dreading being dragged from one race to another all summer.”
“What about you, Anne?”
“I’m not looking forward to it either. I enjoyed Newmarket last year, because I’d never attended a race before, and of course I enjoyed our encounter.”
“Will you let me buy you champagne again?”
She smiled into his dark eyes. “The anticipation leaves me breathless.”
“There you are, Anne.” Henry Fane took her arm. “My duties as host compel me to keep a brotherly eye on you.”
“Ah yes, and Lord Hamilton must do the same with his sister Frances. Your bosom friend Hartington is a lecher of the first water.”
• • •
“Alix, for heaven’s sake, you’re not even dressed yet! I’ve been up for hours. When I returned from breakfast, I expected you to be ready.” Teddy glanced at her breakfast tray and saw that it was untouched. “I don’t want to be late for the races!”
“Surely the races don’t start at this ungodly hour, Edward.”
“That’s not the point. There’s so much going on long before the races start. I like to view all the horses entered, talk to the jockeys, consider the odds, and simply enjoy talking with my friends. All the other men are ready and raring to go. The very atmosphere at the Newmarket races is charged with excitement, and I don’t want to miss a moment of it.”
“I understand, Edward. I know you’ve been looking forward to it. Please don’t wait for me. Go and enjoy yourself with your friends. I’ll be along as soon as I’m ready.”
“You don’t seem to understand. We are invited guests of the Earl and Countess of Westmorland. We should arrive with our hosts, who will enjoy great prestige presenting the Prince and Princess of Wales to the crowds.”
Edward answered a knock on the door. “Lady Anne, Her Highness needs help. She has no sense of urgency. See what you can do to speed things up.” He turned back to his wife. “I’ll wait a short time, but there is a limit to my patience, Alix.”
He descended to the first floor and on his way to the stables encountered James. “Alexandra has no more enthusiasm for attending this race than flying to the moon.”
“I believe racing appeals to males more than females, sire.”
“But we don’t have any interests in common. She makes me feel like I’m dragging her to these events against her will. Sykes has invited us to his country house in Yorkshire for the Doncaster races; then there’s the Derby and the Royal Ascot. Fane has offered to sponsor me as a member of the Jockey Club, but Alix shows no enthusiasm for the sport whatever.” He looked at his watch and impatiently tapped a riding crop against his boots. “To be totally truthful, James, I’d enjoy myself far more if she wasn’t included.”
“Then there’s your answer. Attend the races without her. Why drag her along when she doesn’t enjoy the sport?”
“Leave her behind at Marlborough House? It would reflect very badly on me. Nobody stays in London in the summer.”
“The Duke of Devonshire owns a summer villa at Chiswick on the Thames. It’s a palatial place with Italianate gardens. Females take great delight in these things. Since Hartington handles Devonshire’s business affairs, why don’t we sound him out about leasing it for the princess and her ladies for the summer?”
“By Jove, that sounds just the ticket. It would leave me free to travel about and enjoy my friends’ hospitality, and allow me to appear generous and caring to my bride at the same time. Would you have a word with Hartington about it, James?”
“Leave it to me, Teddy. I’ll arrange things so that everyone is happy.”
In due time, Princess Alexandra emerged from Apethorpe Hall on the arm of her hostess, the Countess of Westmorland. The Prince of Wales had been pacing back and forth, while Fane stood patiently beside the open barouche.
Anne waited until Alix settled back against the velvet squabs, then handed her a stylish parasol. She was relieved that the princess’s morning sickness had passed off and felt fairly confident that Alix would be free of nausea for the rest of the day.
Carriages had been arranged to transport the guests to and from the Newmarket racecourse. Anne waited for Frances, and when she arrived with her brother James, Anne’s heart began to flutter.
As they waited for one of the carriages, Frances said firmly, “I will attend the princess today. It will give you and James a chance to spend a few hours together.”
“That’s very generous of you, Frances. I suspect that James suggested it.”
He smiled down at Anne. “Of course I did. I’ll meet you at the grandstand. I have some business to arrange with Hartington, so I’ll share his carriage.”
• • •
When Anne and Frances arrived, they were amazed at the throng that had gathered. The weekend in May that officially opened the racing season always drew a crowd at Newmarket, but the attendance of the Prince and Princess of Wales was an added attraction that swelled the attendance to double its usual number.
Anne soon spotted where Alix an
d Adelaide were sitting and she and Frances joined them in the grandstand. Anne wanted to see for herself that the princess looked well before she left. “I see your escorts have already deserted you,” she said lightly.
The princess laughed. “They couldn’t get away fast enough.”
Adelaide waved her hand. “Fane never sits. He’s taken His Highness to see Eau de Vie, the horse he has entered in the two-thousand-guinea stakes.”
“I’ll go and place a bet on Henry’s horse myself, if I can fight through the crowd.”
Adelaide raised her eyebrows. “That’s rather daring, Anne.”
“Downright brazen. Do wish me luck.” She winked at Frances and hurried off.
• • •
Anne had no trouble spotting James in the milling crowd in front of the grandstand. He was so tall, he stood head and shoulders over most.
“There you are, my beauty. We owe Henry and Adelaide a debt of gratitude—they’ve taken our charges off our hands for a few hours. What would you like to do first?”
“I’d like to disappear in the crowd and observe all the ridiculous outfits people invariably wear when they attend the races.”
Surreptitiously, he indicated a fellow in bright yellow pantaloons and a black-and-white houndstooth jacket.
Anne burst into laughter, while James tried to keep a straight face. Soon he could hide his amusement no longer as they rubbed shoulders with people who ran the gamut from the bland to the grand. “Donegal, the county I represent in Ireland, is famous for its tweed production, but the hodgepodge of mix-matched tweeds here today make the elite look like country bumpkins.”
James bought hot roasted chestnuts and took great delight in peeling them and feeding them to her. The pair laughed their way from one end of the racecourse to the other, and ended up close to the betting windows. James pointed to a board with names posted for the first race. “Who do you fancy?”
“I like the sound of Black Irish—it reminds me of you.”
“In that case I’ll take Firebrand, for obvious reasons.” He placed the bets, picked up a racing form, and handed Anne her ticket. “Let’s make our way down to the rail—it’s almost post time.”