Laurie Graham - Gone With the Windsors

Fourth Estate

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Copyright © Laurie Graham 2005

Laurie Graham asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

Cover illustration © Rachel Ross

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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Source ISBN: 9780007146765

Ebook Edition © SEPTEMBER 2012 ISBN: 9780007369836

Version: 2017-03-30

From the reviews of Gone with the Windsors :

‘Graham succeeds in crystallising the lives of a social set whose raison d’être was the next poolside gin-fizz. Alongside le tout Baltimore, we await to see how far Wallis will jeopardise her hard-won security with Ernest for the title of “Queen of Nowhere”. It’s a testament to Graham’s pitch-perfect storytelling that we care’

Independent

‘Graham’s sunny control makes the abdication crisis sound as fresh and tangy as Wally’s favourite dinner party dessert, strawberry sherbet. Maybell Brumby is a wonderful, sassy creation: not exactly one of your heart-of-gold heroines, but, more entertainingly, one with a heart of gilt’

Sunday Times

‘With an enviable sleight of hand, Laurie Graham affectionately impales her hilariously oblivious heroine. I ate this book right up’

MARY GUTERSON, author of We Are All Fine Here

‘[An] absolute pleasure to read from start to finish … Wryly observed secondary characters are also a joy … By infusing her sharp satire and meticulous social observation with a certain sweetness, Laurie Graham proves herself a master of showing without ever needing to tell’

Time Out

‘Laugh-out-loud funny’

Daily Telegraph

‘Refreshing, honest and very funny … enjoyable without being thoughtless, smart without being superficial’

Scotsman

‘Maybell Brumby is a marvellous comic creation’

Scotland on Sunday

‘Laurie Graham is such a vivid, creative storyteller’

TLS

To Howard

Cover

Title Page LAURIE GRAHAM Gone With the Windsors

Copyright

Praise Praise Praise Dedication 10th March 1932, Sweet Air, Baltimore 1st January 1933 1st January 1934 1st January 1935 2nd January 1936, Wilton Place 1st January 1937 2nd January 1938 2nd January 1939 8th January 1940 8th January 1946, Sweet Air, Baltimore Keep Reading About the Author By the Same Author About the Publisher From the reviews of Gone with the Windsors : ‘Graham succeeds in crystallising the lives of a social set whose raison d’être was the next poolside gin-fizz. Alongside le tout Baltimore, we await to see how far Wallis will jeopardise her hard-won security with Ernest for the title of “Queen of Nowhere”. It’s a testament to Graham’s pitch-perfect storytelling that we care’ Independent ‘Graham’s sunny control makes the abdication crisis sound as fresh and tangy as Wally’s favourite dinner party dessert, strawberry sherbet. Maybell Brumby is a wonderful, sassy creation: not exactly one of your heart-of-gold heroines, but, more entertainingly, one with a heart of gilt’ Sunday Times ‘With an enviable sleight of hand, Laurie Graham affectionately impales her hilariously oblivious heroine. I ate this book right up’ MARY GUTERSON, author of We Are All Fine Here ‘[An] absolute pleasure to read from start to finish … Wryly observed secondary characters are also a joy … By infusing her sharp satire and meticulous social observation with a certain sweetness, Laurie Graham proves herself a master of showing without ever needing to tell’ Time Out ‘Laugh-out-loud funny’ Daily Telegraph ‘Refreshing, honest and very funny … enjoyable without being thoughtless, smart without being superficial’ Scotsman ‘Maybell Brumby is a marvellous comic creation’ Scotland on Sunday ‘Laurie Graham is such a vivid, creative storyteller’ TLS

Dedication Dedication Dedication 10th March 1932, Sweet Air, Baltimore 1st January 1933 1st January 1934 1st January 1935 2nd January 1936, Wilton Place 1st January 1937 2nd January 1938 2nd January 1939 8th January 1940 8th January 1946, Sweet Air, Baltimore Keep Reading About the Author By the Same Author About the Publisher To Howard

10th March 1932, Sweet Air, Baltimore 10th March 1932, Sweet Air, Baltimore Six months since Danforth Brumby surrendered to the first hint of kidney failure and left me a widow. It always was the risk in marrying an older man. Yesterday his headstone was raised, so now it’s time to look to the future. I still have my youth and my looks. Men are already flocking to my side and women are pursuing me as always for my advice and my vivacious presence at their dinner tables. Le tout Baltimore is impatient for my return to society, so tomorrow I shall drive into town, place my chinchilla in cold storage, and order a selection of spring outfits from Madame Lucille. A new chapter opens.

1st January 1933 1st January 1933 Gala night at the Savoy last night. Wore my aquamarine chiffon with the beaded shrug. Pips and Freddie came, also the Prosper Friths and Ida with an old Venezuelan flaneur. She said, “Oh Maybell, no date?” I said, “Oh Ida, no taste?” She was putting away Manhattans all night, so I guess she has tired of Mr. Acolyte and chamomile tea. I may not have had a date but I danced Prosper Frith off his feet, not to mention a foxtrot with Billy Belchester and two rumbas with Benny Thaw whose party was at the next table, minus Connie. Apparently, she and Lady Thelma are at Lily Drax-Pfaffenhof’s, so won’t Wally be thrilled. I bet she’ll have been cultivating Thelma Furness like crazy. Freddie stood us all champagne for midnight, which I’m sure he couldn’t really afford. I’d happily have paid for it.