“I was sorry to hear that your grandmother finally died. My mum wrote and told me,” Rose said. “Too bad she sold Trengilly or we could have been neighbors.”

“She’s left me a nice house in Bath,” Belinda said, “and a cottage called White Sails. Do you know it?”

“The old fishing shack?” Rosie chuckled. “I don’t suppose you’d want to hang on to that. Perched on the edge of the cliff, isn’t it? About to fall down at any moment. I’d be thinking of Jonquil all the time I was there.”

She seemed to be aware of me for the first time. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I know your friend.”

“Oh, forgive me. Where are my manners,” Belinda said. She still sounded flustered. “Rose Summers, this is my good friend Lady Georgiana. Used to be Rannoch, but is now Mrs. O’Mara.”

Rose extended a chubby hand on which were several rings. “Pleased to meet you,” she said. Then she paused, staring at me. “But I’ve seen your picture, haven’t I? It was in the Tattler this summer. Your wedding. The king and queen attended and the little princesses were bridesmaids, weren’t they?”

“They were,” I agreed. “I was scared stiff with all those royals present.”

“But you’re related to them, aren’t you?”

“Yes. The king is my father’s first cousin. That makes me once removed, I believe.”

“Fancy that.” Rose looked really impressed. “And you and Miss Belinda are friends, then?”

“We have been since we were at school together in Switzerland.”

“Isn’t that nice? You must come to Trewoma for tea while you’re here. I’d love to show you around. Are you staying nearby?”

“We’re not sure yet,” Belinda said. “We only arrived last night and obviously can’t stay at White Sails the way it is at the moment. No proper bathroom, for one thing. But there don’t seem to be any rooms for rent at this time of year. Is there still a ferry across to Padstow? I wonder if we’d find a hotel or boarding house over there.”

“Then you must come and stay with us,” Rose exclaimed. “Tony would love to meet you again after all this time and I’d welcome the company. It can feel rather gloomy stuck away in a big house like Trewoma.”

“Oh no,” Belinda said, rather too hastily, I thought. “We couldn’t possibly put you out.”

“It would be no trouble. We’ve a pack of servants with not enough to do and certainly enough bedrooms to host an army. Do come.” She put her hand on Belinda’s arm. “I absolutely insist. Let me go on home ahead of you and make sure that rooms are made up for you.”

“That really is awfully kind of you,” Belinda said.