Page 127 of May I Have the Pleasure
“I may have been distracted a bit these past weeks.”
“Well, it is a little late to be checking the plan now, but we have an hour to wait, so ask away.”
“Why a divorce from the prince instead of annulment, as you did with the new Lord Mawbry.”
“Two reasons, really. I do not want something the king can easily undo. Can you imagine trying to convince the King of Sweden that his son was forced into marriage against his will, or he or I committed fraud? It would be preposterous, and he might well contest it. A divorce though—well, the king will not even let it be broadly known that there was one, especially when the prince and I had to make use of a rather convoluted mishmash of laws from three countries to make it work… more or less. It would be terribly embarrassing. Wars have been fought over less. Nobody will ever know except the six solicitors I have had working on it, and the archbishop, all of whom are honourable and …”
“And?”
“…well compensated!”
“Sensible enough. So, the king will have to promote the real match vigorously or suffer acute embarrassment.”
“Exactly. He will not like it, but he will play his part. I think he will even grudgingly admire us. I doubt he will seek to harm any of us in any way. It would reflect badly on him, and in the end, Sofia will charm the old goat into submission anyway. Give her a month in the palace at most.”
“I believe so. One more question. You said we must wait an hour. Why that delay when you timed everything else practically to the minute.”
“Who says I did not?”
“So why the delay?”
“I am taking no chances. We need absolute and irrefutable grounds for divorce.”
“What grounds are you proposing?”
“Infidelity.”
“Infidelity?”
“Yes!”
“I hope you are not suggesting Prince Gustav?”
“Not on your life.”
“PUT ME DOWN, FITZWILLIAM! Put me down!Well, on second thought, carry on, my love.”
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“Sign here, if you will, Your Royal Highness.”
“And here… ah… Princess?”
~~~
“There, it is done.”
“I cannot thank you enough Elizabeth. And may I be the very first to say I owe you my life and all my future happiness.”
“Prince Gustav?”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Why are you still here talking to your former wife when Sofia is a dozen yards away?”
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Gibraltar—United Kingdom—26 November 1818—11:07PM
