At the last second I saw that the lackey had stuck out his foot a little as he bowed. I managed to jump over it, with a little Highland fling type of move that made Her Majesty raise an eyebrow. But then she smiled and held out her hand to me. “Georgiana, my dear. Come and sit down. It’s bitterly cold out there, isn’t it? The king has been pacing up and down like a caged bear because his doctor won’t let him go out in this sort of weather with his delicate chest.”

“It is very bleak,” I agreed, “especially at Victoria Station. The wind whips right through.”

“You’ve done most admirably, my dear. Setting a splendid example. That was a lovely picture of you in the Daily Express. I hope it inspired other young women to follow in your footsteps.”

“I’m afraid my stint may be coming to an end,” I said.

“Of course. I understand your brother wants to shut up the London house and is concerned about you.”

“Yes, ma’am. I don’t know anybody else in London, and I don’t have the funds to stay at a club.”

“Frightful waste of money—clubs,” the queen said.

“However, my secretary and I put our thinking caps on this morning and we have come up with what seems like a perfect solution.”

“Really, ma’am?” I think my voice trembled a little.

“The king’s aunt Princess Louise, who is your great-aunt, is very much a recluse these days. She’s in her late eighties, of course, and has become rather frail. I’m sure it’s lonely for her, living alone in that great house. So I thought you could bring some youth and gaiety into her life.”

I gulped. All right. My worst nightmare was about to come true. The queen had made murmurings about sending me to be lady-in-waiting for an aged aunt before, and now it was actually going to happen. Binky and Fig would be sipping cool drinks and eating foie gras and I’d be walking a Pekinese and holding knitting wool. I opened my mouth but no words would come out.

“I gather you weren’t keen on going back to Scotland with your brother at this time of year. I don’t say I blame you. Terribly bleak and cut off in the winter.”

“Oh, no, ma’am,” I said, as her words sunk in. “My brother is not going home to Scotland. He and my sister-in-law are going to the Riviera.”

“The Riviera? I had no idea.”

“For my sister-in-law’s health. She’s feeling rather frail at the moment.”