Marion was stout in her reply. ‘Perhaps Mr Simpson is busy.’ She stood and headed for the door, adding, ‘One o’clock luncheon in the nursery, please. Do have a footman bring it up.’

Crawfie was very aware of the household gossip surrounding the King and Mrs Simpson. Her schoolgirl crush on him had never really waned, and she was still deeply embarrassed to think about her fainting fit in the hall at 145 Piccadilly. He had been very kind about it, but what must he have thought of her privately?

Of course, she reminded herself, he probably thought nothing of her at all.

He hardly visited his brother and sister-in-law at 145 Piccadilly nowadays, and she did her best to disappear when she knew he was coming. She knew the girls missed their uncle very much. But, she told herself, his absence was due to his great responsibilities and not because he was louche.

Whispers and rumours were often reported by Bobo, who had a couple of housemaid friends in the palace. Alah and Crawfie listened with distaste.

In the past week, Mrs Simpson’s name had appeared in the Court Circular, as attending a West End theatre play with the King.

The thought of the King having a love affair with a married woman was beyond Crawfie’s comprehension. Only the worst kind of men did that, surely? And the King was so handsome and amusing – why should he seek the unattainable when so many beautiful young, single women, were there for his choosing?

No, it was ridiculous. Really, people had more time than sense to be gossiping about such things.

On Friday afternoon, as was their custom, the Duke, Duchess, and Princesses left London and headed to Windsor, to spend the weekend at Royal Lodge. Crawfie, Bobo and Alah travelled together in a car full of all the essentials that could be required by the girls.

By Saturday morning, the Royal Lodge was humming with nervous excitement. The King and his guest, Mrs Simpson, were to arrive at 7.00 p.m. They were staying at Windsor Castle, of course, but were coming to the Royal Lodge for dinner that evening, and for Sunday lunch the following day.

Crawfie kept herself very much away from anything that was not part of her duties. She was still keeping her distance from Ainslie, irritated by his words the other day.

Over breakfast with the girls, she suggested an outing into Windsor Great Park. ‘It’s going to be a beautiful day. Who would like to cycle up to the Copper Horse and have a picnic?’

‘Me!’ and ‘Me!’ came the replies.

Crawfie sent Bobo down to the kitchen to order the picnic, so that she could avoid Ainslie. Then she made sure that the two detectives allotted to the Princesses would be free to accompany them.

Towards lunchtime, with sunhats on and bicycles ready, the party of five set off for the short ride into the park.

The Princesses always enjoyed seeing other children playing, and today there were many – some running, others skipping or playing catch and all with beaming smiles.