“All right. I’ll go up and change into something a little smarter then,” she said. She put down the newspaper and left the room. I was about to follow when I remembered Irmtraut. Oh crikey. She’d have to come too, wouldn’t she?

“Of course you are invited as well, Countess. A good luncheon to make up for the toad in the hole?”

“Thank you,” she said. “There is no point in my changing clothes, I do not own items of fashion.”

I left her sitting at the writing desk scribbling away furiously. I suspect she was telling her mother or sister how badly she was being treated in England. Before I went up to change I went to look for the major. I found him coming around the side of the building, striding out in true military fashion.

“Oh, Major,” I said, “I was coming to see you.”

“How are you bearing up?” he asked. “You’ve had a nasty shock, Lady Georgiana. Are you sure you shouldn’t stay in bed today to recover? Most girls would have swooned at the sight of a dead body.”

“I’m made of sterner stuff, Major,” I said. “I come from a long line of Rannoch chieftains who went on fighting as their limbs were hacked off.”

He laughed. “Good sense of humor too. I think the queen chose well. So what can I do for you now?”

I chewed on my lip. “It’s the delicate question of money. I’m supposed to take Princess Marina out and around and nobody mentioned how the financial side would be handled. I mean, am I supposed to—”

“Oh good Lord no. Simple enough,” he cut in. “You tell me where you’d like to go. I’ll telephone ahead and let them know who is coming and ask that the bill be sent to Kensington Palace. Just in case there is any difficulty I’ll give you a letter to show them. But I don’t anticipate any problems.”

“Oh, that sounds splendid.” I sighed. “So it would be all right to take the princess to lunch at the Savoy Grill, would it? A friend suggested that would be a suitable place to see and be seen.”

“Admirable choice. Of course.” He nodded approval. “Now off you go and show the princess the best of what London has to offer.”