They greeted her formally and she sat down and Mrs Purcell, her retiring woman, hovered to adjust the kerchief about her neck. Charlotte’s sharp eyes were on Mrs Purcell, always watchful that none of the women should take too much upon themselves.

William was lounging by the window; young Caroline sat hunched over the table; Anne looked sullen; Amelia was already dressed for riding. The little girls were in their nursery presided over by Lady Deloraine. Oh dear, she hoped the King was not paying too much attention in that quarter. She believed that lady might become a little difficult ... not on her own account, of course; she was far too stupid. But she had heard that the Prince and Mr Dodington visited her apartments frequently. That might mean trouble. Still, that was for the future. The immediate problem was the dismissal of her son’s mistress.

The sight of Amelia made her uneasy. How far, she wondered, had her daughter’s flirtation with Grafton gone. Amelia was so arrogant, almost as arrogant as Anne, although in a less sour manner. Anne was a great trial to her. Poor girl, she should be married. She needed to be married. But whom could she marry? Only a prince would suit Anne and where was that prince?

Some kings and queens had longed for children; she and George, it seemed, had too many.

Not that she did not care for them as a mother. If only they had not been royal, how easy it would have been to have made suitable matches for them. She was sure Amelia would have willingly married Grafton.

She felt impelled to speak to her daughter and that delay might be dangerous.

‘I noticed,’ she said, ‘that you spent last evening at the side of the Duke of Grafton and scarcely spoke to anyone else.’

‘His conversation was more interesting than that of others, Madam.’

Arrogant, almost insolent. If I had had the care of them when they were young it would have been different. Resentment flared within her against the late King who had taken her children from her and refused to let them meet their parents without his permission. Therein lay the root of all the trouble. If Frederick had been allowed to live with them instead of being kept away in Hanover all those years, might there not have been a better understanding between him and his parents? Most assuredly. The troubles of the family lay within its own circle. An alarming thought.

‘I think you should be careful not to give a wrong impression with that young man,’ said the Queen.

‘Scarcely young,’ mocked Anne. ‘He’s old enough to be your father, Amelia.’

‘He is certainly more attractive than my own.’

‘Amelia!’ The Queen was horrified. If such remarks should reach the ears of the King they would never be forgotten, nor forgiven.

‘Oh, Mamma, we don’t have to flatter him when he’s not here, surely.’

Caroline glanced at the women. ‘The King does not need flattery,’ she said. ‘One only has to speak the truth.’

That made them titter. They saw their father too clearly, and they were too rebellious to pretend otherwise. One had to remember that with the exception of William—and he was precocious—and Louisa and Mary in the nursery they were no longer children.

The Queen, anxious to change the subject from this dangerous criticism of their father, turned on Amelia. ‘Your conduct with that man is causing comment. I find it disgraceful.’

‘Nothing to what it was at Windsor,’ commented William, making a face at his sister.

‘Be silent, you spoilt little beast.’

‘Mamma, did you hear what she called me?’

Anne said: ‘I endorse it. The Duke of Cumberland is a spoilt little beast.’

The Princess Caroline looked anxiously at her mother. Dear child! thought the Queen. She hates this family bickering as much as I do, and it is chiefly because she fears the effect on me.

William lunged towards his sister as though he would strike her. Caroline called him sharply to order and he thrust out his lip sullenly.

‘Now you do look beautiful,’ commented Amelia. ‘The handsome Duke of Cumberland! ‘

‘I will not have this,’ said the Queen. ‘Purcell, bring breakfast. I am hungry today.’

‘What would Your Majesty like?’

‘Chocolate, of course, and some fruit with sour cream.’ Purcell retired to bring the food and the Queen turned once more to Amelia.

‘I shall speak to Grafton,’ she said. ‘He shall come to my first drawing room.’

She was already rehearsing what she would say to that arrogant man who tried to remind her every time he met her that he was a direct descendant of King Charles II and she was merely married to a member of an odd sprig of the royal tree. Insufferable man. And now he was trying to—or possibly had—seduced Amelia.

Amelia was looking smug, certain of the manner in which her lover would discomfit her mother. It was intolerable that the Queen should submit to such humiliation. Nor would she from any but her own rebellious brood.

‘Mamma,’ said William, ‘when Amelia and Grafton were hunting in Windsor Forest they left the hunt and went into a private house in the forest. They stayed there for some hours. Everyone wondered where they were and thought it so odd that they had both disappeared ... and without attendants.’

‘How dare you say such things, William,’ said his mother.

‘You have always told us that we should speak the truth, Mamma.’

‘This is ... gossip.’

‘It is also the truth, Mamma.’

‘Amelia, I am sure you will wish to deny this.’

‘No,’ said Amelia pertly. ‘I don’t, Mamma, because you have taught me also to speak the truth.’

‘This is ... outrageous.’

‘Oh ... what are we to do?’ cried Amelia petulantly. ‘Are we to remain virgins all our lives because no one finds husbands for us.’

‘I do not think it will be possible to find a husband for you Amelia if you behave in this way.’

‘And what of Anne? She is interested in no one because there is no one at Court whom she considers worthy of her. But does she fare any better? She is husbandless too.’

‘This is a most unsuitable conversation,’ said the Queen, ‘and I forbid you to continue with it. I shall speak to Grafton and ask him for an explanation of this Windsor incident.’

‘Pray do, Mamma, if you consider it wise. But he will not care, you know; and if others hear of it they will exaggerate it and I believe you will not be pleased with the outcome.’

‘I have not asked your opinion, Amelia. And now, no more of this most distasteful subject. Ah, here comes Purcell.’

Food was always comforting and the Queen greatly enjoyed a cup of chocolate. So did the rest of the family.

The Queen sent for more chocolate and when she was drinking this the King came in to take the Queen for a walk. The Queen, hearing his voice outside, looked at her watch. As she might have imagined he had come exactly at the expected time but she had been so disturbed by the conversation that she had not noticed that they had delayed too long over breakfast.

The King looked with distaste on his family. The breakfast should have been over. He was never in a very good mood in the morning and this was the most trying time of the day for the Queen.

He took out his watch and regarded it. The Queen saw Amelia and Anne exchange glances. They must be careful, she thought. He must never know that they laughed at him.

‘Late!’ he said. ‘You people have no idea of time.’

He spoke in German. He had long given up speaking English to children who spoke it better than he did.

‘We have been talking,’ said the Queen with a quick smile. ‘It made us forget the time.’

‘Time should never be forgotten. Only fools forget time.’

He looked at her as though she fitted into that category and her spirits sank. This was going to be a difficult morning, and before her lay not only the task of placating the King but of dismissing her son’s mistress.