‘I do,’ Marion agreed. ‘We had one when I was little. A Scottie called Rory.’

‘You’ve never told us that,’ Lilibet said indignantly. ‘What colour was he?’

‘Black. He was very naughty – always in trouble.’

Lilibet turned back to Dookie. ‘Are you going to be a naughty boy, too? Like Rory?’

Dookie growled and snapped at Lilibet’s little fingers, but she wasn’t afraid. ‘Stop that,’ she commanded, and the puppy hid his face in the Duchess’s lap.

‘That’s right, darling, you tell him who is boss.’ The Duchess laughed. ‘Now, girls, go and play with him on the lawn, but be careful not to wear him out. Remember he’s only a baby. Crawfie will keep an eye on you.’

Marion hid a sigh of frustration, knowing her afternoon timetable with the Princesses would now be abandoned. This was not the first time it had happened.

‘It’s lovely to see them happy, ma’am.’

The Duchess smiled. ‘Happiness is all I ever want for them.’

Marion watched the girls for a moment, as they ran out onto the lawns, the little puppy following them. Then she turned to the Duchess. ‘Ma’am, while they are playing for a minute, do you have time for me to ask you something?’

‘Yes, of course. Fire away.’

‘Well, I have been here now for almost five months and …’

‘Is it as long as that? Goodness. And are you happy here?’

‘Oh yes, very happy, but if—’

The Duchess spoke over her. ‘My husband and I have noticed how well the girls are doing. Lilibet is reading so well, spelling out her letters to hear the words. A child’s brain is quite a marvellous thing, is it not?’

‘That is true, and—’

‘And our dear little Margaret Rose – I know how headstrong she can be, but you have a very good understanding of her. They are both so fond of you.’ The Duchess turned her eyes to the garden. ‘Look at them playing with that puppy.’

Marion took a deep breath, determined to ask her question. ‘Yes, ma’am. And I am loath to leave them, but as you may recall, I have a place waiting for me to study Child Psychology in Glasgow, starting next month.’

The Duchess’s smile shrank and her face fell. ‘You can’t leave us now. That would not be good for the girls.’

‘Ma’am, I love working with the girls, and you and the Duke, but they have everything a child could need, and I wish to help the children from poor families, those who are hungry and have no access to an education, no hope of bettering themselves. But I could give them that chance, if I can go to university and study.’

The Duchess fussed with the lace at her cuff. ‘I don’t know what to tell you. I had no idea you would want to leave. I assumed things would continue as they are.’

Marion blinked. She had told them about her university place from the first, but it didn’t seem to have sunk in. ‘For how long?’ she asked.