Again, Lady Marchfield pretended she did not hear the duke. To Winsome, she said, “I do not suppose anybody has outlined what you are to do today. I will walk you in front of Her Majesty. When I stop, you take a few steps forward and curtsy as low as you can manage. Her Majesty may say a few words, or not. If she does, be nothing more than grateful and demure. Do not attempt cleverness, she does not like it. After you are dismissed, we will both walk out backwards. Do not show your back to the throne!”
Winsome was grateful for the information. She’d understood the general idea but nobody had mentioned walking backward to get outof the place.
“Come now, Misery,” the duke said. “Admit it, you’ve given up on the butler game.”
“Have I?” Lady Marchfield said mysteriously.
“Haven’t you?”
Lady Marchfield only looked out the carriage window by way of answer.
As St. James was not far, they passed through the gates sooner than Winsome would have wished. Happily, there was a long line of carriages ahead of them. Or unhappily. She really did not know. On the one hand, she wished to never arrive. On the other, she wished to hurry and be done with it.
“Come now,” the duke said to his sister. “Let us have it done between us. It was amusing for me but perhaps less so for you. I am willing to give it up.”
“Good to know,” Lady Marchfield said.
“Have we given it up?”
“Roland, I understand that you would be pleased to know what I think and what I might have done. I am simply not inclined to inform you.”
What she might have done. What had she done? Did it have anything to do with the idea that there had been someone in the house?
The duke looked discomfited, and her aunt looked pleased. That was probably not a good state of affairs.
The carriage lurched forward. They were nearly there. Winsome put the butler battle between her father and aunt aside. In moments, she was to attempt getting out of the carriage wearing a monstrous skirt. She had not got into it with any grace but she must somehow manage getting out without making a fool of herself.
