Her parents’ reaction to the news that Eddy was about to become their son-in-law was one of near-hysterical rapture. ‘There will be no more nonsense about May being second-class royalty now!’ her father declared, so red in the face with triumph that May was terrified he was going to have a heart attack. ‘And it isn’t only May who will be elevated from being a Serene Highness to a Royal Highness. As her father, surely I will be given the title of Royal Highness as well?’

Her mother’s concerns had been of a far different nature. ‘Where will the wedding take place, May? Will it be at St Paul’s? As Eddy is heir presumptive, it should be at St Paul’s. And who will be your bridesmaids? Royal protocol being what it is, I doubt we shall have much say in the matter, although Toria and Maudie certainly, and Looloo and dear Marie-Louise as maids of honour, but you must have at least ten bridesmaids, and care must be taken that no one feels snubbed at not being asked. And then, of course, there is the question of your wedding gown. And of where you will live. Has darling Eddy mentioned yet where you will be setting up home? Perhaps St James’s Palace?’

May wrote the next morning, on Luton Hoo headed notepaper:

And so, Alicky, I am engaged to Eddy, Can you believe it? I am certainly having trouble in doing so! An hour ago we had our official engagement photograph taken in Luton Hoo’s garden, and Eddy has now left for London and Windsor to break the news personally to his parents and to get the Queen’s official sanction for our marriage. Dolly has been telegrammed and is already on his way here. I wish you could have seen the reaction when I walked into the ballroom arm-in-arm with Eddy and with a ruby-and-diamond engagement ring on my finger!

Alicky was the only person within the family that May wrote to personally. She did, though, write to Thaddeus, telling him that he would soon be receiving a very unexpected wedding invitation. She wrote in a similar manner to Belinda Light, adding that she no longer needed to trouble her aunt about the availability of I Cedri and telling her how much their long-standing friendship meant to her.

The next day a public announcement was made. All the daily newspapers carried their engagement picture, and congratulatory telegrams began arriving at Luton Hoo in shoals. May’s happiness was dizzying, and not even Toria’s rudeness dimmed it.