Naughty In Nice (A Royal Spyness Mystery)

but I’m happier where I am.”
    I looked at him and squeezed his hand. “Oh, Granddad, why do things have to be so difficult? If only I had some money I could do more for you.”
    “Don’t you worry about it, ducks. I’ve got me a nice snug little house and a garden and Hettie to take care of me. I’m happy as a sandboy.”
    “I’m going to write to Mummy,” I said. “She should be doing more for you.”
    “I wouldn’t take her money,” Granddad said with a brisk shake of the head. “Not German money. Not from him. Wouldn’t touch it.”
    “She does have money of her own, I’m sure.”
    “I told you, I’m quite happy here. So you go off to the south of France and don’t give it another thought. How did you manage to wangle that, by the way? Last time I saw you, you said you were stuck for the winter with that brother of yours and his nasty wife.”
    “Yes, well, they’ve gone to stay with Fig’s sister on the Riviera, and I’m to follow them in a few days.”
    “Oh, they’ve turned generous suddenly, have they?”
    I shook my head. “Not on your Nellie, as you would say. Actually, they don’t know I’m coming. I went to see the queen today . . .” I broke off as Mrs. Huggins returned, carrying a tea tray.
    “Hear that, Hettie?” Granddad looked up at her. “She went to see the queen. She hobnobs with the queen just like you and me pop down the Queen’s Head Pub.”
    “Fancy,” Mrs. Huggins said. “Here’s your tea, then, your ladyship. Let it stew first.”
    “Thank you,” I said. “You’re very good to my grandfather.”
    “Ah, well, he’s a lovely gentleman. He may not be a toff in your eyes, but he behaves as good as any toff.”
    Granddad chuckled as she left.
    “She’s trying to get me to the altar, that’s what,” he muttered to me. “But I sort of like things the way they are—her in her house and me in mine. Now, what were you saying about the queen?”
    “She’s asked me to do a small task for her on the Riviera, so I’m going out to join the family.”
    “So young Queenie will be going abroad again, then.” Mrs. Huggins reappeared.
    I opened my mouth but before I could reply she went on, “Won’t that make them proud of her? You should see her mum these days. She don’t half give herself airs. Goes around talking about ‘my daughter what’s employed by royalty.’ And lucky she got that job when she did because things ain’t gone well with that family. What with her dad out of work now and her married sister’s moved back to the house with her three little ones, they’re in a right state there. I think it’s only the thought of Queenie earning her way as a lady’s maid that keeps them all going.”
    “I’m not exactly sure I can take her with me,” I said slowly. “If I didn’t, then maybe she could stay with you until I came back?”
    Mrs. Huggins looked shocked. “Not take her with you? Why? Ain’t she turning out satisfactory after all?”
    “Oh, no, nothing like that,” I lied with a bright smile.
    Mrs. Huggins pursed her lips. “It wouldn’t be proper for a lady like you to go traveling without a maid, would it?”
    “No, I suppose it wouldn’t,” I had to agree.
    “Well, then,” Mrs. Huggins said as if this settled everything. “Come on, drink up that tea before it gets cold.”

     
    The Queenie question was settled for me when the tickets were delivered to my door the next day. Travel arrangements for Lady Georgiana Rannoch and maid was written on the envelope. I tried not to think of the havoc she might wreak at a French villa.
    The next days were chaotic as I sent off the servants and closed up the house. But then the miracle happened and I became one of those people I had so admired, following a porter to my seat on the boat train, bound for the Continent. I wished I had some way of contacting Darcy to let him know I was going abroad. As it was he might arrive at Rannoch House to find it closed up and me nowhere to be found. Really he was the most annoying man—never in one place for more than two seconds and of no fixed address. Why couldn’t he have a club, like Binky, so at least I could leave messages for him? Then I realized he probably liked it that way. He didn’t want to be tied down. I should accept that and try not to include him in my plans for the future. But it wasn’t that easy to put him out of my mind.
    I thought about him as the train steamed through grimy London backstreets. Darcy was an