Sasha recovered more quickly than the placid Eirene. ‘Lily,’ she said, calling her firmly by her first name, ‘you’re very convincing. I’m only surprised you got past Foxton! And I would know about being convincing. When I escaped from Russia my disguises were every bit as effective. I became quite the expert. You’re to come to me if you need any advice on dissimulation. I’ve travelled a thousand miles being a peasant, a baker’s daughter, a babushka, a cavalryman … I’ve sliced off my hair and kicked off my heels. But the best part of it all was — no corsets! Oh, the joy of leaving them off! I haven’t put one on again since!’ She wriggled her slim shoulders under the silk wrapper and sighed with satisfaction.
‘And now Mademoiselle Chanel offers us all the same freedom,’ Lily agreed. She didn’t believe a word of this manicured and soignée little butterfly’s fairy story but she liked her insouciance.
‘But let me warn you.’ Sasha’s roguish glint faded and her expression became more stern. A finger was raised and she wagged it at Lily. ‘As one actress to another. The moment you find the role you are playing more comforting, more alluring, or just more stimulating than the one you were born to — you are lost. Cast adrift for ever on a sea of dissatisfaction.’
‘No need to worry about me,’ Lily replied as lightly as she could. ‘Dancing with a prince was good fun but I shouldn’t much care to have to do it every day. Be on my best behaviour every moment? Apologise every time I stepped on the royal toe? No. I’d rather put on corsets again.’
‘You choose to mistake my meaning.’ Sasha’s bright eyes were full of knowledge and Lily tried not to look away. ‘Good. I conclude that you are aware of the true danger.’
Only too well aware, Lily decided the moment had come to pull this interview back into line. She caught the eye of the princess and remembered her instructions. ‘But I’ve come, as you say, with news of the prince — that is to say of two princes.’ The company became still and attentive. ‘The Prince of Wales was in no way harmed, though very distressed, of course, by the events. He’s gone into the country to stay with friends for a week or so and has sent his condolences to the widow of Prince Gustavus, who, as you perhaps-’
‘Poor Zinia. I have told my friends what happened. You may assume they know as much as I and speak freely in front of them,’ the princess intervened.
‘It is confirmed that Gustavus died of heart failure.’ Lily delivered the lie with all the security of Sandilands’ coaching behind her. ‘The onset was very sudden. Although an eminent doctor was on hand to render immediate assistance, there was nothing that could be done to save him.’
‘Ah. No surprises there. Zinia will have told you, no doubt, my dear, that this is a family weakness.’ The princess spoke without emotion. Her words were greeted by understanding nods all round. ‘One is sad but not surprised. I was acquainted with the boy’s father many years ago. In looks, the son was the image of his father, and, it transpires, he had many of his deficiencies of character. A lying, murdering womanizer,’ she said pleasantly. ‘The kind the world is better off without. Just as well that the line has a built-in physical flaw … they manage to destroy themselves before someone is obliged to do it for them. Ah, here comes our morning coffee. You are able to stay and drink coffee with us?’
A maid entered with a loaded tray, and took in Lily’s presence with dismay. Sasha got up and bustled about helping her to find a space on the table. ‘Shall I bring another cup, Miss Sasha? I hadn’t realized you’d got company.’