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Bond kept his voice low 'Come in!'

The door opened and quickly closed to within an inch of the lock It was Ruby She put her fingers to her lips and gestured towards the bathrooued, followed her in and shut the door Then he turned on the light She was blushing She whispered iive me, Sir Hilary But I did so want to talk to you for a second'

'That's fine, Ruby But why the bathroom?'

'Oh, didn't you know? No, I suppose you wouldn't It's supposed to be a secret, but of course I can tell you You won't let on, will you?'

'No, of course not'

'Well, all the rooms have irls have got together in each other's rooossip, you know, and Miss Bunt has always known We think they've got soled 'We always undress in the bathroo watched the whole ti to do with the treatment'

'Yes, I expect so'

'The point is, Sir Hilary, I was tre at lunch today, about Miss Bunt perhaps being a duchess I mean, is that really possible?'

'Oh yes,' said Bond airily

'I was so disappointed at not being able to tell you my surname You see, you see' - her eyes ith excitement - 'it's Windsor!'

'Gosh,' said Bond, 'that's interesting!'

'I knew you'd say that You see, there's always been talk in my family that we're distantly connected with the Royal Fahtful, judicious 'I'd like to be able to do some work on that What were your parents' nae Albeit Windsor and Mary Potts Does that nificant' Bond felt a cur 'You see, there was the Prince Consort to Queen Victoria He was Albert'

'Oh golly!' Ruby's knuckles went up to heron Where do you coland? Where were you born?'

'In Lancashire Morecambe Bay, where the shrimps come from But a lot of poultry too You know'

'So that's why you love chicken so much'

'Oh, no' She seemed surprised by the reic to chickens I simply couldn't bear the, the ht me out in a sort of rash It ful, and of coursepoultry fanners in quite a big way andsupposed to help clean out the batteries - you know, those modern mass-produced chicken places And then one day I saw this advertisement in the paper, in the Poultry Far fro Latin name - could apply for a course of re of re for a cure in a Swiss institute doing research work on the thing All found and ten pounds a week pocket-o and act as rabbits in that place that's trying to find a cure for colds'

'I know,' said Bond encouragingly

'So I applied and my fare was paid down to London and I iggled 'Heaven only kno I passed it, as I failed my GCE twice But she said I was just what the Institute wanted and I cao It's not bad They're terribly strict But the Count has absolutely cured my trouble I simply love chickens now' Her eyes became suddenly rapt' I think they're just the most beautiful, wonderful birds in the world'

'Well, that's a jolly good show,' said Bond, totally ht away But how are we going to talk? You all seeanized How can I see you by yourself? The only place isblue eyes ith fright, excitement, maidenly appraisal

'Yes, it's the only way' Bond took a bold step towards her and kissed her full on the mouth He put his arms round her clumsily 'And you know I think you're terribly attractive'

'Oh, Sir Hilary!'

But she didn't recoil She just stood there like a great lovely doll, passive, slightly calculating, wanting to be a princess 'But hoould you get out of here? They're terribly strict A guard goes up and down the passage every so often Of course' - the eyes were calculating - 'it's true that I'm next door to you, in Nu out'

Bond took one of the inch strips of plastic out of his pocket and showed it to her 'I knew you were somewhere close toor two in the Ar this in the door crack in front of the lock and pushing It slips the latch Here, take this, I've got another But hide it away And promise not to tell anyone'

'Ooh! You are a one! But of course I promise But do you think there's any hope - about the Windsors, I mean?' Now she put her ar blue orbs gazed appealingly into his