It was already April, Lady Georgiana Rannoch -- Georgie -- was planning a summer wedding to Darcy O'Mara, but the latter must dash to another secret assignment for the British secret service, perhaps? Georgie is bored, and when her friend Belinda asks her to visit in Italy, Georgie jumps at the chance. There is also that pesky matter of asking Queen Mary to allow Georgie to renounce her claim to the Throne, Darcy being Catholic. But when she sits down to tea with Her Majesty, Georgie mentions that she will be staying near Stresa, the Queen asks her to attend a house party to eavesdrop on the Prince of Wales and if he is planning a secret wedding to "that American woman". The whole affair didn't look too complicated, until someone turns up dead.

ON HER MAJESTY'S FRIGHTFULLY SECRET SERVICE is a frightfully delectable book! Even though it is the eleventh book in the Royal Spyness series, it was a piece of cake to jump right in, although I will have to go back to see how Darcy and Georgie met; darlings, I must know because those two are such a wonderful couple! The story is set in 1935, and I found astonishing how historically accurate everything was. Ms. Bowen weaves historical facts and fiction effortlessly into a compelling story over a background of the mounting threat of fascism in Europe, and it flows so smoothly that the book is over before you know it. I loved that the author didn't stoop to revisionism, and that Belinda's out-of- wedlock pregnancy is dealt with realistically. Every character is scrupulously depicted, and yes dear readers, I did picture Darcy as that other Mr. Darcy! Ms. Bowen captures the essence of the German, Italian and British people, as well as the precarious political climate, as well as Mrs. Simpson.

The dialogues are stellar, the vocabulary perfect and faithful to the era. The German General's lack of understanding of English idioms elicited a few chuckles, and another secondary character, the Italian policeman Stratiacelli, was especially entertaining. As for the murder mystery, for those of us who grew up on Agatha Christie, it is a sheer delight; ON HER MAJESTY'S FRIGHTFULLY SECRET SERVICE reminds of Dame Agatha, but with a more humorous touch and a believable romance between two lovely characters. ON HER MAJESTY'S FRIGHTFULLY SECRET SERVICE was exactly the book I needed!