Murder Most Royal

For her part, no amount of makeup and sparkles could disguise the Queen’s pink nose and red eyes, and now her voice was becoming so hoarse she could hardly talk. However, a little Dubonnet Zaza cocktail with a twist of orange helped her see the world in a rosier light.

Charles made his way across the saloon towards her and she raised her glass to him. The cocktail was hitting the spot.

He looked at her slightly mournfully. ‘I wanted to let you know, I understand how bad you must be feeling.’

‘Don’t worry.

It’s just a cold. I’ll feel better tomorrow.’

‘No, I meant about the hand.’

‘I’ve been thinking about it all day.’

‘But I promise we won’t talk about it.’

‘Did you know,’ he added, after a minuscule pause, ‘that the police were searching Ned’s place in London? I saw it on the news while I was getting changed.’

‘Oh, are they?’ the Queen asked, adding firmly, ‘Isn’t Harry looking well?’

‘Is he? Yes, I suppose he is. They were wearing hazmat suits. You know, those white ones like beekeepers’ outfits.

’

‘The police. In Ned’s flat in Hampstead. Goodness knows why, given the hand turned up in Norfolk. I was wondering if it might be a kidnap attempt gone wrong. Do you remember that Getty boy’s ear? Horrendous business. Got lost in the post. You could hardly make it up.’

‘No, you couldn’t. Ah! Sophie!’ The Queen rather desperately hailed the Countess of Wessex, Edward’s wife, who was halfway across the room. ‘Are the children all right? Did they enjoy the day?’

‘Oh, absolutely.

’ Sophie joined them, wearing a slub silk evening gown that the Queen was pleased to note she had seen before; she didn’t approve of clothes horses and waste. ‘Did you hear the news about the missing man?’ Sophie asked. ‘He lived near here, didn’t he? I was just talking to Mrs Maddox about it and she said her daughter used to work at the Fen-Time Festival on his estate a few years ago. She met Stephen Fry there. D’you know, I think she had a bit of a thing for him?’

‘No, Edward St Cyr.

I don’t think I ever met him. Did you know him well?’

Mercifully, the gong went, which meant dinner. The royal couple led the other adults into the dining room. Its pistachio wall colour, known as Braemar green, had been chosen by the Queen Mother to remind her of a favourite Scottish castle. It gave the room a jolly, feminine air that summoned up Mummy’s spirit and sense of fun.