She looked perplexed at this. “Is a lady better than a princess?” she asked her governess.

“One hopes a princess will grow up to be a lady someday,” the governess replied solemnly.

“Oh,” Margaret said and fell silent.

“We’ve been to visit our ponies,” Elizabeth said. “We take them treats.” Suddenly her face lit up. “I know. We can go riding together. When I’m with the groom he won’t let go of my bridle and we have to walk slowly, but now that you’re here I can go out with you and we can gallop.”

“I don’t mind,” I said. “If your parents agree.”

“I’m sure they’ll agree. You’re our cousin. So when can we go?”

“Not today,” I said. “I have to pay a visit to your royal grandmamma.”

“Everyone’s gone out shooting,” Elizabeth said, “but I don’t think Grandmamma went with them. She doesn’t like all that noise. I feel sorry for the dogs, don’t you? I bet they don’t like the sound of the shooting. Dogs have very sensitive hearing, you know.”

“I’m sure they get used to it,” I said.

“You have to come and see our new corgi puppy. He’s beautiful.” The princess’s eyes were shining.

“I will, I promise.”

“And now we must go and wash our hands before lunch,” the governess said, nodding to me. “And we mustn’t hold up Lady Georgiana any longer.”

The girls looked back wistfully as I parted from them. I watched their progress, wondering if they could be in any kind of danger and whether anyone was watching over them. Whom could I tell? Where would I find Sir Jeremy’s man?

I found the castle bathed in sleepy silence. The chiming of a clock in a distant room was the only sound as I stood on the tartan-carpeted floor and wondered where to go next. Then I thought I heard the murmur of voices coming from a hallway to my left and I headed in that direction, past the watchful gaze of black marble sculptures—Balmoral being more ornate in its decoration than Castle Rannoch. The voices were coming from an open doorway to my left and I knocked before going in. Her Majesty was seated at a table in a big bay window, apparently writing letters. Several older women sat in a group around the empty fireplace, chatting. Their conversation broke off as I came in.

“Georgiana!” The queen sounded surprised. “I had no idea you had arrived. We weren’t expecting you until next week.” She sounded a trifle vexed. She was a person who did not like to be taken off guard.