Page 75 of The Gathering Storm

And now, we all have a new King. I wish him and you, his people, happiness and prosperity with all my heart. God bless you all! God save the King!

‘It was a pretty good speech,’ Emma said, turning off the wireless. She had found herself unexpectedly moved, close to tears. It was so momentous, so colossally sad and unnecessary, that things had come to this.

‘It was a very dishonest speech,’ Kit said. He had also been moved, not for the King personally but on behalf of the country, the people, and history itself. ‘“I was only thinking of what was best for everyone,”’ he quoted. ‘“There has never been any constitutional difference between me and the government.” I especially liked “I did not forget the country or the Empire.” How many times were they invoked to his deaf ears?’

‘But I suppose there were things he had to say,’ said Emma, ‘or they wouldn’t have let him speak at all.’

‘Well, it’s over now. For him, at any rate. For poor Bertie York, it’s just beginning.’

After the broadcast, the ex-King went back to the Royal Lodge to say his final farewells to his family, before his departure for Austria, where on Monckton’s strict instructions he was to wait out the period before the decree absolute. He did not linger long. He embraced his mother, kissed the Princess Royal and Princess Alice, shook hands with the men, bowed to his brother the King. All were making a tremendous effort to keep their upper lips stiff, and pretend that it was just the end of another day.

His black Buick was brought round, and he climbed in without looking back. Footmen closed the heavy door with a quiet click, and the Buick rolled away into the swirling fog, a very big motor-car carrying a very small man into the darkness.

As they went up to bed, Kit said, ‘I wonder if Eddie will be made equerry to the new king, or if there’ll be a purge.’

‘But Eddie and Sarah have always been friendly with the Yorks. They live next door to them, for goodness’ sake,’ Emma said.

Kit yawned. ‘True. But you and I might have seen our last royal invitation. We shouldn’t have spent all those weekends at the Fort.’

‘As if we had a choice!’ Emma exclaimed. She paused at the bedroom door. ‘I keep thinking of those little York girls. They’re princesses now. And quiet, good little Elizabeth will almost certainly be Queen one day.’

He recognised the tone of her voice. ‘I’m sad too, darling,’ he said tenderly. He examined her expression. ‘Would you like me to sleep with you tonight?’

‘Would you?’ she said gratefully.

He put a companionable arm round her, and they went in together.