Page 19 of A Foreign Crown
“I’d like to see the venerable ladies, if I might. Are these the ones you have chosen to attend with you?”
“They are. And you will notice Her Grace’s daughter, Lady Aribella of Sumter.”
The King turned, as the Queen directed, to Aribella. Aribella held her breath and then released it in relief. His eyes were kind, his face warm and almost wholesome. His auburn hair was pulled back from his face at the moment, natural, with no powders or wig. She decided immediately that she liked him.
He approached. “My wife tells me that your mother was indispensable. I have greatly valued her assistance and friendship.”
Aribella curtsied low. “Thank you for that honor. She viewed her time here as a great privilege.”
“And are you planning to be equally loyal, to be a good friend and aid to the Queen? To support her and our family to the best of your ability?” His eyes were friendly but his face stern. His love for Queen Charlotte was obvious.
“I am.”
The Queen joined her husband. “She is already such a strength. I have made her my right-hand lady-in-waiting, to be at my side as her mother was.”
He nodded. “I would hope so. I look forward to hearing only good reports of you.” He turned to the others. “And for the rest of you as well.” He walked along the line of them. “Of all the people the Queen has at her disposal, six maids of honor, six lower-ranking waiting women, not to mention a large and growing staff, all are invited to aid her in all she might require in our family.” He paused. “Which I hope each of you continues to do with the utmost loyalty. She has chosen you four, apart from all the others, to attend state functions with her. Do only that which honors the Queen. You are meant to be her truest supporters in conversation, in action, and in appearance.” He stepped back. “You are acceptable. Your hem, Lady Oppenheim, could extend another inch. And the feather on Lady Smithing’s turban appears out of place. Charlotte, will you see to it that your ladies represent you well?”
The Queen murmured something.
He lifted his hand in farewell. “I shall meet you all there.”
His quick clasp of hands with the Queen before turning to his daughters warmed Aribella’s heart. She was pleased for their love and the alliance in their relationship, but it puzzled her that he involved himself in seemingly innocuous things—the Queen’s things.
“And daughters.” His smile was full of love, but there was something of protective strictness there that Aribella wondered about. “You will stay by your mother.”
They each curtsied but gave no response.
The Queen led the way out of the room with Princesses Mary and Elizabeth in tow. Aribella joined the three women. The princesses were not dressed in such a garish fashion as the Queen’s ladies, though their dresses were obviously of the finest cloth; they had chosen instead more subtle colors and nothing that would draw attention.
The Queen made a perfunctory perusal of each lady and then nodded that they should make their way to the carriage. As they left the room, she murmured to Princess Mary, “Best not give His Lordship attention this evening. He’s becoming quite besotted.”
“But Mama, I shouldn’t mind if he were to ask for my hand.”
The Queen placed a hand at her heart. “I don’t think your father would be pleased. His Lordship is far too loose with his attentions. Who can say if his declarations are sincere? You’d be far better off with an alliance with another royal.”
“But Mother, no royals are likely to have us now, are they?”
“Hush.” The Queen said nothing more, and Princess Mary remained silent until the royal women and Aribella were all seated in the Queen’s carriage. The Queen’s other attendants followed behind in the second carriage.
Queen Charlotte patted Aribella’s hand and snickered.
Aribella turned to her in amused surprise.
“I’ve sent the others into a fluttering upheaval, haven’t I, asking you to be my first lady-in-waiting, inviting you to ride in our carriage?”
Her daughters laughed.
“I can’t wait to see their beeline to the King’s mother, the dowager Princess Augusta, when we arrive.” Her Majesty leaned back in her seat. “There’s no staying their tongues. I cannot tell you how grateful I am to have someone with me I can trust.”
Aribella’s heart filled with satisfaction. “I am honored my mother has earned such a distinction for our family in your court.”
“You have only added to her fine reputation and have been nothing but admirable yourself. I must thank you again.” When Queen Charlotte lifted the fabric in their carriage window to see the passing streets, the slight tremor in her hand endeared Aribella further to the woman. Who knew what she had endured? The stresses of her position, the illness of her husband—almost as soon as Aribella had arrived, word of the King’s fits had sounded in every room she entered. He was well for the moment, but it seemed the whole household sat in uneasy expectation for another bout to overtake His Majesty.
They arrived along the front drive of St. James’s, the other carriages making way for the Queen’s to pull forward. Aribella sucked in her breath in amazement. No fewer than thirty footmen in their red livery stood in welcome along the entrance; several hundred of the King’s military men in red stood in strict attention lining the front of the palace. At the opening of the Queen’s carriage, they saluted. Aribella knew she’d never seen anything so fine. Once they had descended from the carriage, the Queen indicated that Aribella should walk at her side, her daughters following closely behind.
The second carriage of ladies in service to the Queen emptied, and the other ladies joined their entourage, following behind Princess Mary and Princess Elizabeth. Aribella wondered why those two, of all the Queen’s six daughters, were the ones to attend.
Aribella preferred the look of St. James’s with its cheery brick and miniature turrets to the Queen’s house, which was equally lovely but more plain on the outside. As they entered through the arched, covered entry, she had to suppress a big grin, thinking of her arrival with Prince Layton. The spring in her step increased as she anticipated seeing him tonight. Surely, he would be attending.
