I stood outside the door, my heart thumping, in an agony of indecision. Of course I was dying to go to the Riviera, but did I really want to go if the Riviera meant close proximity to Binky and Fig? One thing was certain—I didn’t want to be banished to Castle Rannoch to spend the winter alone in the wilds of Scotland. Something had to be done, and fast. I took a deep breath and entered the room.

They both looked up—Binky looking guilty, Fig hostile—as I came in.

“Oh, good. Tea’s ready,” I said, giving what I hoped was a bright, innocent smile. “I’m starving after standing in that cold wind all day.”

“You’re doing a sterling job, Georgie,” Binky said. “Absolutely first rate. Isn’t she, Fig?”

“She doesn’t have much else to do, does she?” Fig said coldly.

“But dash it all, Fig. Not everyone would stand in the freezing cold at that bally station all day. Anyway, we’re proud of you, old bean. What’s more, the queen is proud of you. She told me so the other day. She said you were setting a splendid example and had more dedication to duty than her eldest son—who I gather is off on a jaunt somewhere.”

“It’s good for Georgiana to keep busy,” Fig said, liberally slathering strawberry jam onto a slice of toast. “Remember what they used to tell us in the nursery—Satan finds work for idle hands to do?”

“I’d love a real job, if there were any to be had,” I said.

“You should see some of the men I serve soup to—they look more distinguished than we do. One today was wearing his war medals. I felt so sorry for him and so angry that I could do nothing to help him.”

“It’s hard times for everyone, Georgiana,” Fig said. “Look how we’ve had to cut down to the bare bone.” And she popped the last of the jam-laden slice into her mouth.

“Anyway, Georgie,” Binky said, “Fig’s just had a piece of good news. You remember her sister, Ducky, who married old Foggy Farquar? Well, they’ve taken a place on the Riviera this winter—”

“For Foggy’s health, you know,” Fig chimed in.

“—and they’ve invited us to stay,” Binky concluded.

“Actually, I suspect Mummy twisted their arms to make them invite us,” Fig said candidly. “Ducky isn’t the most hospitable of people usually.”

It obviously ran in the family.

“So the point is, Georgie, that we’ll be taking off for the south of France as soon as we can book tickets.” There was a long pause, then he added, “And of course we’d like you to come with us, wouldn’t we, Fig?”

“Golly, I’d love to,” I said quickly.