I hope you have a really good reason for not showing up last weekend. I waited for nearly an hour before the good Captain—God bless him—spotted me and invited me over for a cuppa at the Cathedral,” Lady Flora’s firm tone meant she was upset with her friend’s no-show.

Sir PM knew he would have a lot of answering but he had a good reason to change her mood. “Sincere apologies, my lady. I had erred by not informing you but that Percy [the messenger pigeon, for the uninformed] is partly to be blamed. He took ill—sunstroke, I presume—and couldn’t deliver the timely message. I would have made it for our walk but the distance from Vikhroli back home wasn’t accounted for.” Lady Flora did an eye roll. “Where did you say…Veekhroolie? Is that far?”