Maudie said, ‘Eddy and Hélène are discussing the situation with Papa now and, when they have finished doing so, they will be joining us. Eddy says you are so clear-sighted he thinks you may be able to suggest a way round their difficulties. Have I to ring for some tea and biscuits? Or, as it’s such a hot day, would you prefer iced lemonade?’

Suppressing with difficulty the longing for a small whisky, May said, ‘Lemonade would be lovely, Maudie.’

When she had rung for the footman and asked for iced lemonade, Maudie uncurled her legs, saying, ‘The only shred of good news is that Granny Queen is being very supportive of Georgie’s intention to ask for Missy’s hand in marriage, the minute Missy turns sixteen.’

May remembered how flirtatious Missy had been at Marie-Louise’s birthday party, and how Ducky had ridiculed the idea of Missy feeling about Georgie as he did about her.

‘I think,’ she said cautiously, ‘that Aunt Marie may have other plans in mind for Missy.’

‘Well, if she has, they won’t count for much. It’s Granny Queen who has the last word where royal marriages are concerned.’

As Maudie finished speaking, Eddy and Hélène walked into the room, arm-in-arm and pale-faced.

Maudie sprang to her feet. ‘I told May you would be joining us. I’ll ring for more lemonade.’

May stood up and Hélène slid her arm from Eddy’s and walked quickly across to her.

‘Dear May, it’s so very nice to see you.’ She took both of May’s hands in hers and squeezed them tightly. ‘Eddy thinks you may have some ideas as to what we must do, in order to persuade the Queen to allow us to marry.’ Her blue, black-lashed eyes glittered with tears that she was trying to hold back. ‘Eddy and I love each other so very much and we are willing to do anything – anything at all – in order that we can marry.’

May had never before felt herself to be in such an embarrassingly difficult situation. Because of her own secret feelings for Eddy, she wanted to do everything she could to further his happiness, and nothing was more certain than that marriage to Hélène would achieve that aim. It was obvious Hélène genuinely loved him and wouldn’t be marrying him out of a sense of duty, as would Mossy, or any other royal candidate the Queen might propose.