Marion smiled, said ‘Thank you,’ and closed the door on him. Really, people were so nosy.

She opened the letter in happy anticipation.

My dear Crawfie,

After some conversation with my private secretary, Sir Alan Lascelles, I do feel most definitely that you should not write or sign any articles about the children. People in positions of confidence with us must be utterly oyster. You have been so wonderfully discreet for all the years you have been with us, and you would lose all your friends. I do hope you put all the American temptations aside, very firmly, and say no, no, no to any offers of dollars for something as private and precious as our family.

I know you will do the right thing.

Elizabeth R

Marion’s heart almost leapt out of her chest. The Queen had discussed her situation with Tommy? She read the letter again and felt she could detect the parts written in Tommy’s voice and the parts the Queen had added.

What was she going to do?

The Goulds were arriving tomorrow.

She would have to stop them.

George was in the kitchen making tea for them both, probably adding whisky to his. She had to show him the letter. He had had a little breakfast and this was the golden hour between his hangover and the next bout of drinking.

He read it and scowled. ‘Insurance – that’s all. She’s covering her tracks. Don’t worry about it. She wants the articles written or she wouldn’t have asked you. Forget it.’

‘It frightens me. I don’t want to be in any trouble. Can we not just say no to the Goulds? It’s not too late, is it?’

‘Marion, it is too late. They will be here tomorrow, sitting in our wee drawing room, and you will give them all the stories that you have. You are not letting state secrets out. They can’t drag you off to the Tower. It’s 1949!’

She sat at the kitchen table, clasping her cup of tea. ‘I feel awful. What does she mean, I won’t have any friends?’

‘As if Bobo and Sir Snooty wouldn’t still be your pals! They will all still be there, just sorry they didn’t have the chance to make a few quid themselves.’

‘I hope that’s true.’

George sat down next to her and took her hand. ‘Darling, I have been meaning to say some things about that family, which I think you should hear.’

‘What things?’

He took a deep breath. ‘They have treated you appallingly from the start. They dictated your life. You and I could have been married years ago. We could have a wee family by now. Not only have they deprived you of your own children – they have deprived me of mine! And look at this house. It’s totally unsuitable – it’s a wreck. Even your mother told me it was.’

Marion stared at him. ‘Not this again, George. I love it here and am so grateful. Mother said she liked it too.’