Annabel is part of the Ladies' investigation of an extremely sensitive matter: the attempted blackmail of a member of the royal family. Meanwhile, she's trying to help a lovelorn pigeon and discover why Lord Quinceton is suddenly shunning her and devoting himself instead to her fellow Lady Patroness, Frances Dalrymple. When the Ladies begin to suspect that one of their number might be leading a double life, Annabel wonders if all these circumstances might not be related...