The Prince and His Lady

In keeping with the practice of the 18th century, Edward Augustus, son of George III and the Duke of Kent, commissioned a friend to find him a mistress. From this unpromising and unromantic beginning grew his 27-year-long love affair with Julie de St Laurent.

Edward was sent to command the garrison at the British naval base of Halifax, and Julie went with him. Together they spent many happy years there and in Quebec City. The Duke inscribed his devotion on the landscape at his estate near Halifax, where walks were laid out to spell "Julie", and a heart-shaped pond was dug as a testament to their love. When the only heir to England's throne died, however, the Duke's duty to make a royal marriage and produce more heirs was clear. He and Julie parted, though he continued to concern himself about her well-being and financial stability.

As it turned out, Edward was successful and the future Queen Victoria was born from his royal marriage. Edward died not long afterwards, leaving behind him several fine public buildings in Halifax as monuments of his time in that city.

The Prince and His Lady is both a moving love story and a fascinating portrait of the social life of Canada's early history.

Replaces the Goodread edition, ISBN 0-88780-139-0