‘Let’s start with Malta.’

‘I shall send you a press release when we are ready,’ Tommy drawled.

Morrah continued to press him. ‘Can you confirm that Prince Philip is to be stationed at HMS Magpie? And that the Princess and he will live there for two years? You can’t deny those facts.’

‘An official briefing will appear in due course.’

‘Oh, come on old man. Give me a little something.’

‘Ha.’ Tommy almost laughed. ‘Absolutely not.’

‘Oh, and by the way, Lady Astor is bringing Mrs Gould to tea at BP next week. Guests of the Queen.’

Tommy laughed. ‘You can’t catch me out that easily, old man.’

‘Never said a truer word. I will book a table at the club on Thursday. By then you will want to talk to me, I assure you.’

Putting the phone down, Tommy frowned. How did Morrah know that Lady Astor and Mrs Gould were coming to BP to see the Queen?

He summoned P-T.

‘Yes, sir?’

‘Has Her Majesty any female visitors coming for tea next week?’

‘Let me check, sir.’

Moments later, she was back. ‘Wednesday, 3.30 p.m., tea with Lady Astor and a Mrs Gould.’

‘Thank you, P-T.’

‘Damn the woman,’ Tommy said to the empty room.

Buckingham Palace, December 1947

‘And how is Nottingham Cottage coming along, Crawfie? Have the builders finished now?’ Lilibet asked, pouring them both a cup of tea.

‘Yes, they have. It’s very comfortable, thank you.’ She didn’t mention that the plumbing still had a mind of its own. ‘George is bringing a Christmas tree home tonight. I am so looking forward to decorating it.’

‘Mummy and Granny love that bit too. They are off to Sandringham tomorrow to do ours. Philip and I will travel down next week.’ Lilibet smiled. ‘Are your family coming for Christmas?’

‘No. George and I wanted to spend our first one together. Mother and Dad will come in the spring, perhaps.’

George had been most adamant that Maggie and Robert stayed in Scotland, and Marion had reluctantly agreed.

‘Oh, that will be nice,’ Lilibet said. ‘Granny told me she has been over to visit.’

‘Oh yes. So kind of her. The workmen didn’t know what to do with themselves. Lots of bowing.’

Lilibet laughed. ‘Was she being stern Queen Mary?’

‘No, she was lovely to them – chatting about the war and their part in it. They were eating out of her hand by the time she left.’

‘I heard she sent over some of her furniture?’

‘Yes. Beautiful paintings, a cabinet, a bookcase and a George III chest of drawers.’

‘And do you like them? Or did you feel your hand was forced to accept them? Granny can be very insistent.’

‘Not at all. Everything looks perfect,’ Crawfie lied.

‘Philip and I will come and visit before we go to Sandringham.’

Crawfie sipped her tea. ‘George and I shall look forward to that.’

Dermot Morrah’s Club, December 1947

The clatter and chatter of the club’s dining room would have been comforting to Tommy – if only he had not been here to find out more about Morrah’s mission to target the Queen and Princesses as fodder for the American press.