Carina did not answer, but moved swiftly out of the small enclosed garden into another and up the steps that led to the terrace, which surrounded that part of The Castle.

Dipa, who had worked himself into a rage of frustration at being taken away from the fishes, the garden and everything he wanted to do, started to chatter angrily in his own tongue. Carina did not understand a word of what he said, but the meaning of it was very clear. He was annoyed, and his anger was making him hot and noisy.

She gave him a little shake.

“Quiet, Dipa, behave yourself! We have to go in now. If you are a good boy I will take you in the gardens this afternoon.”

The storm passed as quickly as it had happened. Dipa was smiling and now his arms were around her neck and his cheek against hers.

“Nice kind Missie,” he said.

“Miss Warner – say ‘Miss Warner’,” Carina corrected, feeling that it was ridiculous for him to call her ‘Missie’ in front of other people.

“Missie – ” he repeated and then stopped.

“Warner, say ‘Warner’,” Carina prompted.

He shook his head.

She realised that the word was too difficult for him and after a second she suggested,

“Carina – can you say Carina?”

When he refused to say either, but repeated ‘Missie’, she said,

“Oh, dear! You are a problem, aren’t you? They will think I am a very bad Governess if you talk in this sort of way.”

But Dipa only laughed at her, pointing out the things he could say as they walked into the house and up the stairs.

“Picture – carpet – chair – ”

He reeled them all off in a loud voice that made the footmen turn to look at them, but to Carina’s relief there was no one else about to hear them.

She took him up to the nursery and played with him until it was a few minutes to twelve. Then, rather apprehensively, she went down to the first floor to find Matthews waiting outside the Dowager’s room.

“I wanted to ask if Lady Lynche – wished to see the Prince,” she said.

“I shouldn’t think so,” Matthews replied. “Her Ladyship’s in a bad temper this morning, something has upset her. I expect it’s his Lordship again. When she works herself up, we all have to look out.”

“Perhaps it would be better not to bother her,” Carina suggested tentatively.

“Oh no, while you are here I may as well go and ask her,” Matthews answered, “but don’t be surprised if she says ‘no’.”

She knocked on the door of the bedroom and entered and almost at once came back, a smile on her face.

“She wants to see you both,” she said, “and she seems to be in a better mood, so it’s not as bad as you might expect.”

With this cheering introduction she ushered Carina and Dipa into the room.