“Utter brilliance, darling, if you please. You do have to admit it was quite a coup. And you yourself said it would have been a lark if I could come to the wedding with you. So when you rejected my kind offer to become your maid, I decided that the wedding sounded like too much fun to be left out. So I packed my bags, caught the next train here, then I rented the oldest, most decrepit car and driver at the station, in the full knowledge that it would be likely to break down. Of course it did, at exactly the right spot, so I was able to present myself at the castle door and register surprise and delight when I found that Her Royal Highness the Princess Maria Theresa was in residence. ‘But we were schoolmates,’ I exclaimed and of course was received with open arms.”

“You’re as bad as my mother,” I said.

“Not quite, but I’m working on it,” Belinda said with a grin. “There was only one small glitch to my perfect scheme and that was when I didn’t recognize Matty. My dear, can you believe the transformation? I suppose it is really she? Where did all those missing pounds go? And what about the moon face?”

“I know. I didn’t recognize her either,” I said. “She’s quite lovely, isn’t she? And her bridegroom isn’t bad either.”

“Neither is his brother.” Belinda gave me her cat-with-the-cream smile. “Very satisfactory in all departments. Too bad he’s a prince or I might snap him up for keeps. But he’ll have to end up marrying someone like you. I know—you could marry him, I could remain his mistress in a delightful ménage à trois.”

“Belinda!” I had to laugh. “I’d share a lot of things with you, but not my husband. Besides, Anton isn’t the man I have in mind, although I have to admit that among available princes he’s the best so far.”

“Wouldn’t suit you, darling. Too naughty. He told me some of his exploits last night and they made even me blush. Not an ounce of moral fiber in him. That’s why we’re perfect for each other.”

“So I gather you didn’t sleep in your own bed last night?”

“What a question to ask a lady! But darling, at beanfeasts like this who does sleep in their own bed? All you hear is curses and grunting as people bump into each other in the dark, tiptoeing between bedrooms. It’s too, too funny for words. But I suppose you slept soundly and didn’t hear a thing. I gather you’ve been given a room on the superior floor usually reserved for the family.”

“Right next door to Siegfried, as it happens,” I said, “but Belinda, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Someone came into my room last night.”