She would go into the masque head held high and she would do what she’d always done as a child when she’d broken something and was loath to admit it. In those days, she’d run to her governess and pretend to just have discovered the broken item and lamented over who could have been so careless. It had usually worked.
Tonight, she would make a point to sympathize with Lord Wembly over those dastardly prints and denounce whoever these people were who occupied their time in such a ridiculous manner.
With any luck, the very last person anybody would suspect of being involved was herself.
*
As the queenwas going to arrive to the house, the preparations by the duke’s household staff had been extensive. Never had baseboards and corners and windowsills been scrubbed so thoroughly. The chandeliers had been lowered for a polish. If a speck of dust drifted into the house looking for one of its own kind, it would find none.
All of that, as it happened, was for naught. The queen did not even descend from her carriage, much less come into the house. Of course, that did not stop Thomas and Charlie and Cook and all the housemaids peering out of windows and trying to get a glance of Her Majesty. Winsome, Valor, and Mrs. Right could be seen lurking at the drawing room windows.
Once they were apprised that the queen would not come inside, the duke and Verity had hurried outside. Verity had thought the lady might ride in some sort of elaborate and gold-plated coach. However, while the carriage was large, it was very usual and did not even display the royal arms.
As they performed the exceedingly awkward exercise of attempting a bow and curtsy while inside a carriage, Queen Charlotte said, “Duke, I’ve not seen you in quite a few years, though I do recall receiving your letters each year, explaining why your daughters cannot come to make their curtsy.”
“Your Majesty, I’ve made a guess that shortening up the whole procedure by one girl must be pleasing, as I imagine the whole palaver is tiring and tedious.”
Queen Charlotte tapped her fan on his knee. “Even if it is, and I will not admit to it, it is not seemly that a duke does not send his daughters. Save your eccentricity for everybody else, if you please.”
The duke suppressed a laugh. “I understand, Your Majesty.”
Verity supposed that meant that Winsome would make her curtsy next year. She could not imagine the result when Winsome found out she was to wear that preposterous gown while the rest of them had avoided it—she’d be positively livid.
“Lady Verity, you look exceedingly charming.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for sending such a lovely dress.”
“I have decided to come as the Goddess Nemesis. She is known for many things, but restoring balance is what I think of.”
The queen was dressed in a gold satin gown with folds hinting at the Greek with a gold holster and dagger round her waist. Her tiara was a glorious platinum and diamonds studded with evenly matched pearls. The dagger’s hilt glittered in the passing light coming through the carriage windows.
“You, Lady Verity, go as a swan, and you might recall that the Goddess Nemesis was very kind to a swan.”
Of course, Verity did not recall. It was precisely the sort of thing that was buried in a book somewhere. But then, perhaps it was not necessary to recall, but simply agree. “I cannot begin to express my gratitude for your kindness, Your Majesty.”
“It is likely well that you cannot begin,” the queen said. “One does tire of people expressing gratitude every time one turns round.”
The duke snorted.
“We are looking quite well,” Queen Charlotte said, fussing with the folds of her gown. “I wish I could say the same for this rather pedestrian box on four wheels. Not even my coat of arms on the door.” The queen sighed. “My advisors tell me it would be dangerous to announce my presence while I travel, but really, am I to creep around Town like a criminal?”
Neither she nor her father answered that, as neither of them could hardly know what factors the queen’s advisors had taken into account.
“I suppose you might have encountered a certain print of a certain red-haired gentleman on a fainting couch?”
The duke smiled. “Among my many presumptions, Your Majesty, I did imagine your hand in that?”
“Ah, I gave myself away, did I not? Everybody knows I like to offer my vinaigrette when one of my subjects is becoming hysterical over nothing. Now,isLord Wembly still hysterical over what has occurred? Lady Verity?”
“We are not certain, Your Majesty,” Verity said. “He did come to the house twice, but as I was to sequester myself and see nobody, he was not admitted.”
“Well, we will see what he does tonight. My presence will serve the purpose of throwing my considerable influence on the side of Lady Verity Nicolet. That will close the talkers’ mouths, if I am not mistaken. I have found a pall falls over drawing room gossip when I make clear I do not like it. Lady Pembroke is already primed to circulate the room, mentioning that I quite depend upon hearing Lady Verity’s views on a whole host of topics.”
Verity was not very successful in suppressing a small gasp over that idea.
The queen laughed over it. “Never fear, Lady Verity. If you are asked anything about precisely what I consult you on, you are to say that your conversations with the queen are of a private nature.”
The carriage slowed to a stop in the line of carriages in front of Lady Darlington’s house.
