‘Good afternoon, my dearest friends and family,’ Queen Georgiana beamed at the crowd gathered at the front of the summerhouse.

‘Notice how Mummy mentioned her friends before her family?’ Freddy hissed into his wife’s ear. ‘Some would think she doesn’t like us at all.’

Elsa shushed her husband. ‘Don’t be ridiculous, darling.’

Queen Georgiana glared at the woman before continuing. ‘I do hope that you’ve enjoyed yourselves this afternoon in our secret garden. It’s always been one of my favourite places here at Evesbury. In about forty minutes we will reassemble on the east lawn for some games and further refreshments. I am sorry about the rush, but I do like to pack as much fun into these weekends as possible. At my age you don’t know how much longer you’ll be enjoying them. Anyway, there are team lists available as you arrive – I believe Mrs Marmalade and Mr Balfour have them.’

Her Majesty’s lady-in-waiting gave a decisive nod.

‘And, Lord Tavistock, I’d recommend a change of attire – we wouldn’t want a repeat of last year’s unfortunate episode, would we?’ Her Majesty arched an eyebrow.

There was a titter of laughter as some of the guests  recalled how the man’s suit pants had torn right down the centre seam during a particularly rowdy game of croquet. Lord Tavistock held his hand up to shield his eyes, his cheeks aflame.

Queen Georgiana waved and stepped away from the microphone.

Seconds later, Valentina Highton-Smith took to the makeshift stage. ‘Oh, no you don’t, Gee,’ she said, wagging her finger. ‘You’re not getting away with things that easily.’

‘What’s Granny up to?’ Alice-Miranda wondered aloud. She and her friends were standing with her parents, aunt and uncle and Ambrosia Headlington-Bear.

‘Your guess is as good as mine,’ Hugh whispered.

Valentina cleared her throat. ‘I have known Georgiana since we were toddlers, which might surprise you to learn is quite some years ago now. I wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate her on twenty-five years as our monarch. While most think it is an easy job full of fun and frivolity, the truth is often far more complicated, and I couldn’t think of anyone better suited to the role than this woman with an iron will and a heart of pure gold.’

‘Valentina, dear, you do go on.’ Queen Georgiana gave an embarrassed grin and shook her head.

‘And I will continue to,’ Valentina said, smiling at her friend. ‘So, Gee, on this celebratory occasion, I’d like to personally thank you for serving our nation these past twenty-five years, and I wish you all the very best for the next twenty-five.’

A stream of waiters moved through the crowd dispensing champagne flutes and glasses of lemonade for the children.

Valentina raised her glass. ‘To the Queen.’

‘The Queen.’ Crystal glasses filled the sky.

Her Majesty grinned. ‘Thank you, Valentina, my oldest and dearest friend. Sadly, I don’t think we’ll be celebrating fifty years together, but it’s a lovely thought.’

At the mention of Valentina being her oldest and dearest friend, Mrs Marmalade’s lips twitched.

‘Another twenty-five years and I’ll never get my turn,’ Freddy muttered, garnering the glares of everyone standing within twenty feet.

‘Steady on, Freddy, she’s not dead yet,’ Lord Tavistock tutted. ‘And, quite frankly, I hope the old bird lives forever.’

Freddy slunk down, trying to make himself invisible.

Marjorie Plunkett and Lloyd Lancaster-Brown were standing behind Freddy and Elsa and had also heard every word. But Marjorie wasn’t thinking about that. There were a million other things racing through her mind. She wondered how soon she’d be able to speak with Her Majesty and she was rattled about why Lloyd had lied to her earlier, though he seemed to be doing his best to make up for it. Lloyd squeezed Marjorie’s hand and gave her a tender smile.

‘What are you looking at me like that for?’ Marjorie asked.

‘It’s a beautiful day, darling, and I’m engaged to an even more beautiful woman. Aren’t I allowed to look happy?’

‘Of course,’ Marjorie said as Lloyd leaned across and kissed her cheek.

Alice-Miranda looked at the pair, who were standing a little way to the group’s left. ‘They’re such a lovely couple,’ she said.

‘She’s gorgeous,’ Ambrosia commented.

‘Yes, who’d have thought Lloyd would ever end up with a woman like that?’ Hugh Kennington-Jones said.

‘Daddy, that’s not very nice,’ Alice-Miranda chided. ‘We met Lord Lancaster-Brown earlier and he seemed perfectly charming.’

‘No, darling, that’s not what I meant. Lloyd’s love life has always been a bit of a mystery. I just wonder how they met, that’s all,’ Hugh clarified.

‘You know he had the most beautiful sister,’ Cecelia said.

‘Really?’ Hugh frowned. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever met her.’

‘No,’ Cecelia said. ‘And you won’t.’

‘Why not, Mummy?’ Alice-Miranda asked.

‘There was some sort of terrible accident years ago, and not long afterwards she disappeared. No one’s seen her for almost two decades,’ Cecelia explained. ‘I think it broke Lloyd’s heart to lose her. She was a few years older than him and they’d been very close.’

‘That’s awful.’ Alice-Miranda looked over at Lloyd Lancaster-Brown. It was hard to imagine such a terrible thing as losing a sister.

‘Do you know anything about Marjorie?’ Ambrosia asked.

‘I bet she’s a movie star,’ Millie said.

Lawrence shook his head. ‘I don’t think so.’

‘She’s Aunty Gee’s milliner,’ Cecelia said. ‘Mummy reminded me earlier when we were ogling her outfit.’

‘Miller what?’ Millie asked.

‘Milliner,’ Alice-Miranda said. ‘She makes hats.’

‘Beautiful ones at that,’ Cecelia added. ‘Aunty Gee always has gorgeous headwear. I absolutely adore that blue one she’s wearing now.’

‘Maybe I could interview Marjorie,’ Ambrosia mused.

These days, Ambrosia was writing for Highton’s in-house magazine and various publications under the pseudonym Rosie Hunter, and was earning quite the reputation as a journalist. Jacinta couldn’t have been prouder of her mother, who had gone from serious socialite, whose only goal was to get herself in the social pages, to a woman with a career and little concern about being an ‘it girl’ anymore. Most people who knew her couldn’t believe the transformation.

‘We’d run the story, of course,’ Cecelia said. ‘But I don’t think she’s ever given an interview and I don’t even know where her salon is. Come to think of it, I remember Mummy once telling me that she works exclusively for Aunty Gee.’

‘Her Majesty must pay handsomely,’ Ambrosia said.

Hugh finished his last sip of champagne and placed the glass on a nearby waiter’s tray. ‘Time to get going. We don’t want to be late for Aunty Gee’s games – she takes them very seriously, you know.’

‘I wonder who’ll be on her team,’ Millie said.

‘She’ll stack it with all the best players because, although we don’t like to say it out loud, someone is very competitive.’ Hugh grinned cheekily.

‘What was that, Hugh?’ Queen Georgiana asked, appearing behind them.

Hugh grimaced. ‘I’m getting myself into lots of trouble today. I was just saying that I hope I’m on your team for the games this afternoon.’

Aunty Gee shook her head. ‘Not after last time, when you belted the croquet ball out of the park. I think I need some new blood.’ She pointed at Lawrence and Jacinta. ‘I can recognise talent when I see it.’

Lawrence gave her one of his megawatt smiles. ‘Thanks, Aunty Gee.’

Jacinta beamed.

‘And, besides, if he can’t play, at least he’s pretty to look at.’ Queen Georgiana winked.

Hugh’s jaw gaped open and the rest of the group’s did too. Mrs Marmalade gasped.

‘For heaven’s sake, Marian. He’s a good-looking man and I’m old enough to be his mother and then some. It’s just human nature to admire lovely things.’ Queen Georgiana rolled her eyes. ‘Chop chop, everyone! I’ll have points docked for tardiness.’