“No, I insist, Georgie.” He thrust the notes into my hand. “Take it. It’s the least I can do.”

“Golly, Binky, are you sure you can afford it? Fig is always saying how hard up you are and I don’t want to deprive your family.”

“Between you, me and the gatepost, that money from Fig’s aunt is going to come in jolly useful. I’m buying a new stock of Angus cattle for the estate. I want to make it profitable.”

“Good for you, Binky. Good luck. I hope you have a lovely time in France.”

“That is a matter of question,” he said. “But I must say I enjoy spending time with Podge on the beach. He’s a splendid little chap, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he is. I’m very fond of him.” I looked around. “I should be going, then. Good-bye and thank you for having me.”

“Anytime. Always a pleasure.” He gave me an awkward hug. We did not go in for physical affection in our family. “And I’ll have Hamilton find you a spare door key so that you can come and claim your luggage.”

“You’ll do what?” a sharp voice behind me asked.

“Getting a front door key for Georgie so that she can collect her luggage when she returns.”

“You’re giving her a key to our front door? So that she can come and go as she pleases?”

“I don’t see why not.”

“That’s because you don’t think, Binky,” she said. And she tried to give him a knowing look—the type of look that parents give each other when they don’t want to say something in front of the children.

I had had enough of my sister-in-law. “Honestly, Fig. What on earth do you suspect? That I’ll hold orgies on the drawing room floor the moment your back is turned? Or do you really think I would sneak in and sell the silver spoons, or steal your precious coal? Maybe, God forbid, help myself to some tea from the caddy?”

“Really, Georgiana, you go too far. Speak to her, Binky. She is insulting your wife.”

She glared at him. Binky went rather red. “Dash it all, Fig. This is frightfully bad form, you know. It’s Georgie’s house as much as it is ours. I happened to inherit because I’m a chap, but this is the Rannoch family home and Georgie is welcome to come and go as she pleases. Furthermore it’s my home, and Georgie’s my sister, and it’s about time you try to get along with her. After all, I make a big effort to get along with your dismal crowd, don’t I?”

“My dismal crowd?” There was a sharpness to her voice that would have cut glass.