The Weight of the Crown

"The Weight of the Crown" by Fred M. White is a novel likely written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around a young woman named Jessie Harcourt, who finds herself ensnared in a web of royal intrigue after an unexpected dismissal from her job leads her to a mysterious invitation that promises adventure and considerable money. Confronted with both challenges to her pride and dangerous liaisons, Jessie steps into a role that intertwines her fate with that of royalty, paving the way for dramatic developments. At the start of the novel, we meet Jessie, who is fiercely defending herself against accusations of misconduct involving Prince Boris, the son of a Russian princess. Dismissed from a millinery shop, she receives an enigmatic letter requesting her assistance, allegedly tied to a woman in distress, and promises financial reward. Her curiosity piqued and desperation mounting, Jessie decides to attend the meeting, leading her to a high-stakes scenario that involves switching identities with the Duchess Vera Galloway just as she becomes enmeshed in the lives of royals and the political machinations surrounding the throne of Asturia, revealing interwoven narratives of danger, deception, and the potential for romance. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Fred Merrick White (1859–1935) wrote a number of novels and short stories under the name "Fred M. White" including the six "Doom of London" science-fiction stories, in which various catastrophes beset London. These include The Four Days' Night (1903), in which London is beset by a massive killer smog; The Dust of Death (1903), in which diphtheria infects the city, spreading from refuse tips and sewers; and The Four White Days (1903), in which a sudden and deep winter paralyses the city under snow and ice. These six stories all first appeared in Pearson's Magazine, and were illustrated by Warwick Goble. He was also a pioneer of the spy story, and in 2003, his series The Romance of the Secret Service Fund was edited by Douglas G. Greene and published by Battered Silicon Dispatch Box.