“I told you, I’m quite happy here. So you go off to the south of France and don’t give it another thought. How did you manage to wangle that, by the way? Last time I saw you, you said you were stuck for the winter with that brother of yours and his nasty wife.”

“Yes, well, they’ve gone to stay with Fig’s sister on the Riviera, and I’m to follow them in a few days.”

“Oh, they’ve turned generous suddenly, have they?”

I shook my head. “Not on your Nellie, as you would say. Actually, they don’t know I’m coming. I went to see the queen today . . .” I broke off as Mrs. Huggins returned, carrying a tea tray.

“Hear that, Hettie?” Granddad looked up at her. “She went to see the queen. She hobnobs with the queen just like you and me pop down the Queen’s Head Pub.”

“Fancy,” Mrs. Huggins said. “Here’s your tea, then, your ladyship. Let it stew first.”

“Thank you,” I said. “You’re very good to my grandfather.”

“Ah, well, he’s a lovely gentleman. He may not be a toff in your eyes, but he behaves as good as any toff.”

Granddad chuckled as she left.

“She’s trying to get me to the altar, that’s what,” he muttered to me. “But I sort of like things the way they are—her in her house and me in mine. Now, what were you saying about the queen?”

“She’s asked me to do a small task for her on the Riviera, so I’m going out to join the family.”

“So young Queenie will be going abroad again, then.” Mrs. Huggins reappeared.

I opened my mouth but before I could reply she went on, “Won’t that make them proud of her? You should see her mum these days. She don’t half give herself airs. Goes around talking about ‘my daughter what’s employed by royalty.’ And lucky she got that job when she did because things ain’t gone well with that family. What with her dad out of work now and her married sister’s moved back to the house with her three little ones, they’re in a right state there. I think it’s only the thought of Queenie earning her way as a lady’s maid that keeps them all going.”

“I’m not exactly sure I can take her with me,” I said slowly. “If I didn’t, then maybe she could stay with you until I came back?”

Mrs. Huggins looked shocked. “Not take her with you? Why? Ain’t she turning out satisfactory after all?”

“Oh, no, nothing like that,” I lied with a bright smile.

Mrs. Huggins pursed her lips. “It wouldn’t be proper for a lady like you to go traveling without a maid, would it?”

“No, I suppose it wouldn’t,” I had to agree.