Royal Spyness #18
It’s Oct. 1936 and Lady Georgie is enjoying her quiet life at home in the country, being a wife and new mother. Of course that peace is soon shattered by the arrival of the dreaded Wallis Simpson; imperious Fig; guileless Binky; their kids Podge and Addy; an American film company; Georgie’s naïve mother; and a murder!
How did this chaos ensue? First, the new King Edward VIII needs a place where Mrs. Simpson can stay out of sight of the press while Parliament decides if he can marry her. He naturally imposes on his easy-going cousin, Lady Georgie.
Fig and Binky’s son Podge is nearing boarding school age, so they need a place to stay while searching for a suitable school, preferably one that’s near relatives he can impose on, uh, visit during the school holidays. They extend their stay far longer than the few days Fig suggests when informing Georgie of their visit. After all, Eysnleigh Manor in Sussex is much more hospitable than Rannoch Castle in Scotland during the winter!
Sir Hubert, Georgie’s godfather and master of Eysnleigh Manor, stops in Hollywood, CA on his way home from his usual adventures abroad and invites a film crew to shoot some outdoor scenes of a Henry VIII movie at the manor. Naturally, the arrangement evolves from outdoor-shooting only, to interior shooting, to actors and crew all over the house.
Of course, the presence of Mrs. Simpson is a trial, especially since she needs to avoid being seen by outsiders. Combined with the imperious presence of Fig, the two are a social/houseguest nightmare. Add American actors who are in awe of royals and Queenie, Georgie’s inept and star-struck maid, and chaos is sure to ensue – and it does, much to the amusement of the reader.
As a long-time fan of this series, I could hardly wait to see what Queenie would to do to Mrs. Simpson, Fig, or both, let alone the American film stars. Watching Georgie try to deal with the chaos while solving a kidnapping and a murder makes the book compelling.
In addition to the situational humor, I really enjoyed seeing how Bowen dealt with the long-awaited abdication of King Edward VIII. Since the series began with Lady Georgie spying on the then Prince of Wales and Mrs. Simpson at the behest of Queen Mary, I wonder how the “Royal Spyness” aspect of the series will continue now that the need to observe the progression of Edward and Mrs. Simpson’s relationship has presumably ended. Will Lady Georgie be expected to keep eye on the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in exile? They are, after all, Nazi sympathizers. The series shows no sign of ending soon so we only have to wait a year to find out! — Cathy Akers-Jordan