Balancing the small tin tray on one hand, Marion knocked on her mother’s bedroom door. ‘Mum? It’s me. Marion. Can I come in?’

‘What do you want?’ Her mother’s voice was dull.

‘I have cocoa for you. Dad made it. Would you please let me in?’

There was a brief silence, then a rustling and the sound of the key turning. Maggie’s face was drawn and pale, her eyes swollen. ‘Where is your dad?’

‘Downstairs.’

‘Good, because he’s not coming in here.’

Marion slid through the barely open door and closed it behind her. ‘Are you all right, Mum?’

Maggie slumped on to the bed. ‘What do you think? My daughter has broken my heart. My friends will laugh behind my back.’ She raised her weary eyes to Marion. ‘What were you thinking?’

Marion sighed. ‘To be honest, Mother, I don’t have an answer, other than I feel the Princesses need as much help in navigating the real world as poorer children do. I feel so responsible for their learning and their ability to see the world through a better lens than they would get otherwise. I can make them understand real life much more than someone from their own class could. You would understand if you met them.’

Her mother scoffed. ‘As if I should ever meet them.’

‘Well, you might.’ Marion shrugged her shoulders. ‘They are up at Balmoral with the King and Queen right now.’

‘And that’s the only reason you are here to visit, isn’t it?’ Maggie’s lips curled. ‘You wouldn’t have come to see us if they had wanted you to be on holiday with them.’

‘I chose to come here because I wanted to. I haven’t seen you for months and I miss you and Dad.’

Maggie’s face crumpled. ‘And we have missed you. Every day.’ She opened her arms. ‘Have you got a wee hug for your mother?’

‘Of course.’ The two women held their embrace until Maggie asked, ‘Did Robert really make the cocoa?’

‘Yes. He knows it helps when things upset you.’ Marion passed one of the warm cups to her. ‘I am so sorry to have done that.’

‘It was the shock.’ Maggie took a sip of her drink. ‘I will get over it.’

‘And you will see that it is for the best after all.’

Maggie manged a short laugh. ‘I won’t hold my breath.’

There was a light knock at the door and Robert stuck his head round. ‘How are you feeling now, my love?’

Maggie raised her cup. ‘All the better for this.’

‘Good. Am I allowed back in here tonight?’

‘Are you thinking of going anywhere else, you big lummock?’

He smiled, and sat down on the bed next to her. ‘So I don’t have to cancel all the visitors coming tomorrow, then? Only it would be a terrible waste of all the cleaning you’ve done this week.’

Marion raised her eyebrows in alarm. ‘What visitors?’

Maggie waved a hand dismissively. ‘Och, it’s nothing. Your father is pulling your leg.’