Georgie is back and hanging the stockings with care when a murder
interrupts her Christmas cheer in this installment in the New York
Times best-selling Royal Spyness series from Rhys Bowen.
Georgie is excited for her first Christmas as a married woman in her
lovely new home. She suggests to her dashing husband, Darcy, that they
have a little house party, but when Darcy receives a letter from his
aunt Ermintrude, there is an abrupt change in plans. She has moved to a
house on the edge of the Sandringham estate, near the royal family, and
wants to invite Darcy and his new bride for Christmas. Aunt Ermintrude
hints that the queen would like Georgie nearby. Georgie had not known
that Aunt Ermintrude was a former lady-in-waiting and close confidante
of her royal highness. The letter is therefore almost a royal request,
so Georgie, Darcy, and their Christmas guests, Mummy, Grandad, Fig, and
Binky, all head to Sandringham.
Georgie soon learns that the notorious Mrs. Simpson, mistress to the
prince of Wales, will also be in attendance. It is now crystal clear to
Georgie that the queen expects her to do a bit of spying. There is
tension in the air from the get-go, and when Georgie pays a visit to the
queen, she learns that there is more to her request than just some
simple eavesdropping. There have been a couple of strange accidents at
the estate recently. Two gentlemen of the royal household have died in
mysterious circumstances, and another has been shot by mistake during a
hunt. Georgie begins to suspect that a member of the royal family is the
real target, but her investigation will put her new husband and love of
her life, Darcy, in the crosshairs of a killer.
