I WOULD HAVE loved to pay a call on Mrs. Preston, to wheedle information out of her, and maybe even find a way to persuade her to lend me the key to Bobo’s flat, but I knew that I should return to Kensington Palace in case Marina was ready to attack Harrods. I hopped on a bus that crept at a snail’s pace along Knightsbridge, then into Kensington and finally stopped at the entrance to Kensington Gardens. I almost sprinted up the Broad Walk and into the palace, where I found Irmtraut staring out of the window with a petulant expression on her face.

“No, Her Highness has not returned,” she said. “Prince George is not wise to keep her out in this fog. It will be bad for her lungs and is most disagreeable.”

“Yes, I’m afraid it’s a classic pea-souper,” I said.

She frowned. “But no. Pea soup is green. This fog is dirty brown.”

“I think it just implies that it’s very thick,” I said.

“Ah. Another English joke maybe?”

“Not much of a joke. It’s horrible out there.”

“You went for a walk in such weather?” she asked. “You English have great fortitude.”

“No, actually I went to visit a friend I thought was coming to the party with us tonight. But she was not at home.”

Irmtraut sniffed. “This party. There will be drinking and loud noise?”

“Oh yes. A lot of both, I’m afraid.”

“Then I shall stay here. I do not like such things. But I trust you will watch over Princess Marina.”

“Oh yes, don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on her all evening,” I said.

“No, you must keep more than one eye. You must keep both eyes,” she said.

Luckily at that moment I heard voices and Princess Marina returned, accompanied by the major. They were both laughing, in animated conversation, and I thought how attractive they both looked, in contrast to the glum, surly Irmtraut.

“At last you return,” Irmtraut said. “This fog, it is not good for the chest.”

“Oh, nonsense, Traudi,” Marina said. “I was in a car or in the house most of the time and the major arrived to give me a lift back here. You should see my house. It will be absolutely splendid. George has quite good taste and we even agree on wallpaper!”

“You’ve also been out in this foul weather, Lady Georgiana?” the major asked.

“Yes, I went to visit a friend and annoyingly she wasn’t there. So a trip for nothing.”

“I see.” His eyes held mine for a second and I wondered if he thought I’d been out investigating. Then he turned and gave a polite nod to Marina. “I must get back to my duties, Your Royal Highness. If you will excuse me.”

“Of course. Thank you for the ride.”