“Major, I’d like to take Princess Marina to Harrods this morning, if a car will be available for us.”

“Good idea. Of course. I’ll have the motor waiting whenever you’re ready.”

As the major left she exclaimed, “He is really quite charming, is he not? But he is clearly unhappy with his present role of housekeeper. He’d rather be back with his regiment, he says. They are due to sail to the Far East soon and he wants to be with them.”

“Yes, it must be hard to adapt to this kind of civilian life after a military career,” I replied.

We had some coffee and then we went to Harrods. Marina enjoyed herself thoroughly, especially, I think, because Irmtraut was so shocked at her choice of underwear.

“You will live in a cold English house,” she said. “Those knickers will not keep you warm.”

We returned late for luncheon and the princess decided to take a rest before the party. I took my cue to go to meet Sir Jeremy at the Copper Kettle. It was a nondescript tearoom of the type favored by ladies up to town for a day’s shopping. With neat little tables between large potted palms. Sir Jeremy had chosen a table in a far corner and rose to meet me as I entered.

“Good of you to come in this beastly weather, Lady Georgiana,” he said. “I’ve ordered tea and scones. I trust that will fit the bill.”

“Super, thank you.”

The tea arrived and I poured.

“You have something to tell me, I gather,” he said as the waitress moved off.

“Two things that might be important.” And I related the curious incident of Prince George’s motorcar, that he had claimed to be in an accident when there was no sign of damage to his motor, and then later said he was held up with his decorator. Then I added the fact that Countess Irmtraut had been out when she claimed she hadn’t. And with a knife in her pocket.

He looked grave. “Now that could be interesting,” he said. “If Bobo Carrington had come to confront Princess Marina, you say this woman would do anything to protect the princess.”

“Absolutely.”

“I’m afraid we’ll have to question her, although God knows how we’ll do that without spilling the beans about the murder.”

“I questioned the palace staff by telling them that a friend had come to the door after I had gone out and couldn’t make anyone hear her knocking. I asked if anyone had seen her or heard a motorcar.”

“That was clever of you. And had they?”

“No, but that was when one of the maids told me that Countess Irmtraut had been outside.”