During the next two years the Prince saw Wallis once or twice a week. They had the same friends, and they often met at parties.

　　'Mrs Simpson knew a lot about life,'Edward once said.'She loved books, food, people, and travel. She was very beautiful and her eyes were full of fire. She was friendly and easy to talk to and,after a while,I opened up my heart. We had no secrets. I told her everything. And that's how it all began.'

　　'His eyes were always sad,'Wallis said about Edward.'And sometimes he looked like a child—so young, so quiet, so weak. He had no real friends. Perhaps people were a little afraid of him. But he was a warm and kind man. When he talked to me, I felt my heart jump. I wanted to be alone with him, but I knew that wasn't possible. Did the Prince love me in those early days? No,I don't think so. But each time we met,we just felt closer and closer.

　　在后来的两年里,王子每星期都能见到沃利斯一两次。他们有共同的朋友,所以经常能在聚会上碰面。

　　"辛普森夫人生活阅历丰富,”爱德华有一次说,"她爱看书,喜欢食物,关爱他人,也喜欢旅行。她非常漂亮,眼里总是充满热情。她待人友善,同她谈话很轻松,没多久我就敞开了心扉。我们之间没有秘密。我对她无所不谈。一切就是这样开始的。”

　　"他的眼神总是那么忧伤,”沃利斯这样描述爱德华,"有时他看起来像个孩子——那么年轻,那么温文尔雅,那么脆弱。他没有真正的朋友。也许人们有点儿怕他。但他是一个热心而善良的人。当他对我说话时,我能感觉到自己的心在跳。我想和他单独在一起,但我知道那是不可能的。王子在与我初识的那些日子里爱我吗?不,我想他不爱。但每次我们相见,都感到彼此更接近了。”

　　In June 1933 Edward gave a birthday party for Wallis,and during the next few months he visited the Simpson's flat in London almost every day.

　　One evening, the Prince asked Wallis and Ernest to go skiing in Austria.'I'm sorry, Sir,'Mr Simpson replied.'I have to go to America on business. But perhaps Wallis and her aunt can come with you.'

　　'We went to Kitzbuhl as friends,'Wallis wrote later,'but when we came home, we were in love. And a few months later the Prince asked me to marry him. It was just like a dream!'

　　1933年6月,爱德华为沃利斯举办了一个生日聚会,在那以后的几个月中,他几乎天天都去辛普森夫妇在伦敦的公寓拜访。

　　一天晚上,王子邀请沃利斯和欧内斯特一起去奥地利滑雪。"对不起,殿下,”辛普森先生回答,"我得去美国出差。不过,也许沃利斯和她姨妈能和您一同去。”

　　"我们去基特普尔时是朋友,”沃利斯后来写道,"但返回时已经相爱了。几个月后王子便向我求婚,这真像是一场梦!”

　　6. The King is Dead!Long Live the King!

　　In January 1936 Edward went to Windsor for a few weeks. He was tired of town life and he wanted to work in his garden and ride his horses.

　　But then,one afternoon,there was a phone call from Queen Mary.'Edward,'she said,'you must come back immediately. Your father is very ill and I think he's going to die.'

　　When Edward arrived, he went straight to his father's room. He walked to the side of the bed and kissed his father's white face. The King opened his eyes and smiled. Then he took his son's hand and said：'Be a good King,Edward. And be good to your mother.'

　　'Yes,father, I will.'

　　The King closed his eyes and did not speak again. Just after midnight he died.

　　Then Queen Mary took Edward's hand and kissed it.'My child, you are now King,'she said softly.'God be with you.

　　His three brothers came to him, one by one, and they each kissed his hand.'The King is dead. Long live the King,'they said.

　　At one o'clock Edward left the room to telephone Wallis. "My father is dead,'he said.

　　'I'm so sorry, Sir.'

　　'I must stay here for a while,'Edward went on.'But I'll phone you at the weekend. Nothing will change between you and me. I love you more than ever,and you will be my Queen.'

　　'Let's not talk about that now,'Wallis replied.'You must go back to your family.'

　　'But you are my family, Wallis. You are everything to me. Goodnight. Sleep well.'

　　When Wallis put the phone down that night, she suddenly felt afraid.'Edward is now King,'she thought,'but what will happen to me?'

　　6 国王逝世!国王万岁!

　　1936年1月,爱德华去温莎小住几个星期。他厌倦了城市生活,只想侍弄侍弄自己的花园,骑骑马。

　　然而,一天下午,王后玛丽打来电话。"爱德华,”她说,"你必须马上赶回来。你父亲病得很厉害,我想他快不行了。”

　　爱德华一赶到,便径直去了父亲的房间。他走到床边,吻了吻父亲苍白的脸。国王睁开眼睛,微微一笑。他拉住儿子的手,说："做个出色的国王,爱德华。要好好待你的母亲。”

　　"是,父亲,我会的。”

　　国王闭上眼睛,再没说什么。午夜刚过,他就去世了。

　　玛丽王后握住爱德华的手,吻了吻。"我的孩子,现在你是国王了。”她温柔地说,"愿上帝与你同在。”

　　他的3个弟弟先后走过来,吻了他的手。"国王逝世了,国王万岁!”他们说。

　　1点钟,爱德华离开父亲的房间,去给沃利斯打电话。"我父亲去世了。”他说。

　　"我很难过,殿下。”

　　"我必须在这儿待一段时间,”爱德华接着说,"但周末我会给你打电话的。什么也不能改变你我之间的事。我比任何时候都更爱你,你将成为我的王后。”

　　"现在我们还是不要谈这些,”沃利斯回答,"你必须回到你的家庭里。”

　　"可你就是我的家庭啊,沃利斯。对我而言,你就是一切。晚安。睡个好觉。”

　　那天晚上,沃利斯放下电话时,突然觉得很害怕。"爱德华现在是国王了,”她想,"但我会怎样呢?”