With that I made my way swiftly to my room. I had Queenie run me a bath and then she brought me a lovely tray of soup and an omelet. In spite of not wanting to eat, I managed to finish both and felt decidedly better. Tomorrow I’d be going to Darcy. And I was going to be firm and strong and not take no for an answer.

“Blimey, up and down these ruddy stairs,” Queenie complained when she had taken my tray down again.

“Yes, I realize you’ve had to work too hard recently,” I said. “So I’m giving you a break.”

“We’re going somewhere nice and warm?” She looked hopeful.

“I’m going somewhere horrible, but you don’t have to come,” I said. “You can go home to your family.”

“Not to them, miss. Lord love a duck.” She grimaced.

“Are you not fond of your family?”

“Well, yeah, in a way, I suppose. But they won’t want me there. Not after last time. They’ll be afraid I’ll blow up the stove again. And my old dad spends his life telling me how useless I am and I’d forget my own head if it wasn’t attached to my body.”

“I can see their point, Queenie,” I said. “You are hopeless, but your great-aunt, Mrs. Huggins, has said that you are welcome to come and stay with her until I get back. You can have a nice rest.”

She didn’t look particularly grateful. “But my place is with you, miss,” she said.

“I’m afraid I am going where there will be no room for a maid. And I don’t even know how long I’ll be away. Maybe only a few days, maybe longer. I’d be happier knowing you were safely with relatives.”

“All right. If you say so.” The fact that she didn’t say “Bob’s yer uncle” underscored her reluctance to go home. I suspected that Mrs. Huggins made her work harder than I did.

“If you could make sure I have sufficient clothes to last me for a week or so—my tartan skirt, my good cashmere sweater—and I’ll wear my tweed suit. And don’t forget my underwear and nightclothes.”

“No evening dresses?”

I shook my head. “I don’t think they will dress for dinner where I’ll be.”

“At least I won’t have to bother about finding any bleeding tissue paper,” she grunted as she went to start packing.