The morning passed in the blink of an eye. Lord Tavistock showed off his expert skills at clay-pigeon shooting, barely letting anyone else take a turn, much to the disappointment of Sep and Lucas. After having listened to the man blather on about it the night before, the two boys had been keen to give it a go, but soon they had great fun careering around in one of Her Majesty’s buggies instead.

The head horseman and several stablehands brought down a variety of traps and drays and organised rides along the river. Millie and Alice-Miranda had hoped they might go riding later in the day but in the meantime Millie, Jacinta and Caprice were learning the art of fly fishing. Millie hooked a very impressive trout, which jumped all over the river before leaping right off the hook. Soon after that, Caprice boasted that she’d caught an even bigger fish. With her rod bending and curving under the strain of the catch, she was determined to reel in the monster. Sadly for her it turned out to be just a snag in the river.

Alice-Miranda spent much of the time cuddling Marcus and Imogen, who she decided were the world’s best sleepers. And, to everyone’s surprise, Sloane was proving to be a very helpful babysitter.

‘Darling, Daddy and I need to get going,’ Cecelia called as the girls climbed down from the buggy they’d just ridden around the field.

Alice-Miranda raced towards her mother and gave her a hug. ‘Already? What about Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Lawrence and the babies?’

‘They’re off too, I’m afraid,’ Cecelia replied. ‘Lawrence has some red-carpet commitments back in Los Angeles, and Granny is going home with them to help Charlotte with the twins.’

Cecelia knelt down and brushed the hair from her daughter’s face.

‘You know you can come home with us if you’d like to,’ she said. ‘I’m sure Aunty Gee wouldn’t be upset if you changed your mind.’

Millie, Jacinta and Sloane’s faces fell at the suggestion they might not be staying. Caprice huffed loudly.

‘No, no, no, that won’t do at all,’ Queen Georgiana said, walking up with Valentina Highton-Smith. ‘I’ve already made arrangements and I’ve promised this for ages. The children will have a lovely time.’

‘It’s all right, Aunty Gee,’ Alice-Miranda said. ‘I still want to stay if you’ll have us.’

‘Well, thank heavens for that.’ The old woman grabbed Alice-Miranda around the shoulders and hugged her tight.

‘Is everything all right, Aunty Gee?’ Cecelia asked. The woman wasn’t renowned for her outward displays of affection, yet Alice-Miranda had been receiving hugs on a regular basis all weekend.

‘Yes, of course. I’m just thrilled to have the children staying. It will put a bit of life back into the old place.’ Queen Georgiana released Alice-Miranda and smiled at the group. ‘Anyway, Mrs Marmalade will help me.’

Marian Marmalade, having just joined the group, wondered what she’d been volunteered for this time. ‘What am I doing?’ she asked.

‘I said that you’d help me look after the children for the week,’ Aunty Gee said.

‘Wonderful,’ Mrs Marmalade muttered, horrified at the thought.

Millie, Jacinta and Sloane all clenched their fists and exchanged grins. ‘Yes!’ A collective hiss went up between them, while Caprice wore a smarmy grin.

Alice-Miranda smiled. ‘Don’t worry, Mummy. I’ll be home on Sunday and then I’ll have two more weeks to drive you quite mad. You’ll be glad I’m going back to school.’

‘Darling, I am never glad when you go back to school. Daddy and I miss you like crazy.’ Cecelia leaned down and kissed the top of her daughter’s head. ‘Now, I want you all to look after each other and do everything Aunty Gee asks.’

The girls nodded.

‘And, Caprice,’ Cecelia looked over Millie’s shoulder at the girl standing a few steps away, ‘I’ve asked Mr Langley to telephone your mother again tomorrow and see what she wants you to do, but I suspect she’s happy for you to stay. She says, though your grandfather is much better, she wants to organise for him to move into a retirement village so there’s someone to keep an eye on him.’

‘I’m so glad that Nonno is going to be all right.’ Caprice smiled, a tear forming in the corner of her eye. ‘And it sounds like Mummy has a lot to deal with, so if you don’t mind me staying, I’m sure it will make things much easier for her.’

Queen Georgiana nodded. ‘Of course, dear. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like.’

Millie, Jacinta and Sloane traded glances.

Caprice smiled. ‘Thank you, Aunty Gee.’

Millie looked at the girl and thought she might throw up.