‘Do you want them to?’ Lizzie asked with a chuckle.

‘No, of course not. But I worry that it isn’t possible. You’ve been rather armoured since Toby.’

‘Good thing too.’

‘No, my dear. A woman should stay open to love, no matter how much it hurts.’

‘But I am. You should have seen me at the embassy ball. Flirting. And more.’

‘That’s different, and you know it. Throwing out lures, as we used to say, because you’re hoping to catch a prize.’

‘Yes, and I caught him too. Oh, Bess, he’s eating out of my hand. I’m that close to those archives.’

‘Yes, dear, but you’re hiding-as always. Work is such a convenient excuse, isn’t it?’

Bess’s eyes saw too much, Lizzie thought. Abruptly she changed the subject.

‘What I came to tell you is that I’m off to Voltavia tomorrow.’

Bess’s old eyes sparkled. ‘How lucky you are!’ she exclaimed softly. ‘It’s such a wonderful country.’

‘Of course, you went there with Auntie, didn’t you?’

‘That’s right. If only you could have seen her. She was at the height of her beauty, and she made a kind of triumphal procession around the main cities, and then she performed for the court. She was guest of honour at a ball, and danced with the King.’

‘Did you see him, Bess?’

‘Oh, yes. I was there too, in a little ante-room, so that I could look after her when she needed to take the weight off her feet. What’s King Daniel like? I’ve seen his pictures, but they make him look rather cold.’

‘He does, just at first. But there’s something about him that isn’t cold at all. I’m sure of it.’

Bess nodded, smiling. ‘Ah, yes. Something deep inside, and he won’t let you reach it until he’s ready. Just like his grandfather.’

‘Did the Dame tell you that?’ Lizzie asked with a chuckle.

For answer Bess laid a finger over her lips, with a look of mischief.

‘Have a wonderful trip, Lizzie, dear. And come and see me when you get back.’