The Prince supported his choice with witticisms that made Lady Roysdon laugh, until finally he had his way and only the music he preferred was decided upon.
“You are looking very beautiful, dearest g*****a,” Mrs. Fitzherbert said as they moved back into the drawing room.
“I was just going to say the same to you, Maria,” Lady Roysdon answered.
This was not strictly true, but, although Mrs. Fitzherbert had never been beautiful, since she had returned to the Prince they had been so happy together that, despite her age, she looked more attractive than she had ever done before.
The Prince’s friends were in fact delighted that the years of estrangement were over. Under Mrs. Fitzherbert’s influence he drank less and seemed far more settled in every way.
There still remained, of course, the w
