“I am glad to hear that, ma’am. In fact it was what I was hoping I might hear.”
“You are not telling me,” the Queen said somewhat sardonically, “that you are feeling disenchanted with the gay world that surrounds my son?”
The Duke hesitated for a moment before he replied,
“Not exactly, ma’am, that would be ungracious to those who have been very kind to me. I was just hoping something new would happen, when Your Majesty’s letter arrived.”
The Queen laughed.
“I knew without you telling me that you would be glad to get away. Although most people in your position, as you well know, would be furious at leaving England in the middle of the Season.”
“If that is what I have to do, ma’am, then I can only say that, if it is an unusual and unexpected mission, I will be only too delighted to hea
