Page 44 of A Foreign Crown
Aribella wasn’t certain what she should do. Would the Queen prefer she turn around and pretend she hadn’t heard? But the maid entered to announce Aribella before she could stop her.
“Send her in.” The Queen’s voice was matter-of-fact, normal. The calmness of her tone brought a semblance of peace to Aribella’s heart. Perhaps the King’s sorrow would calm as well.
But then the pallor of Her Majesty’s face raised Aribella’s alarm. She rushed forward and curtsied. “What is it?”
The King was not in the room, but the doorway between Their Majesties’ chambers remained open. Aribella tried to ignore the sounds of movement from the other side of the doorway.
“Our daughter Amelia.” The Queen lifted a handkerchief to her eyes. “The doctors don’t know what more to do for her.”
Aribella’s breath caught. “I’m so terribly sorry.”
The Queen nodded. “The King is distraught.” She leaned forward. “But you must help me. News of the King’s ill mind will spread quickly. We must squelch the gossip for as long as possible. You must tell the other ladies that he has taken to his room in grief but that you were here this very morning, and he is behaving as any grieving parent would.”
Aribella nodded.
“And my son.” She looked away, frowning. “There are many who would hurry him to the Crown as regent, but is he any more fit to rule than his father?”
Surely there wasn’t much Her Majesty assumed Aribella could do on that front. She waited.
“Hurry. Spread the word here, and then I’m sending you to St. James’s and on to Carlton House.”
“A-alone?” She tried to stop the shaking in her voice.
“No.” The Queen eyed her. “You will join Prince George at a luncheon and grand tour of Carlton House.”
Aribella nodded slowly.
“I would hope you can maintain a level of professional courtesy and warmth with Prince Layton without distracting from your duty and my hopes regarding my daughters?”
“Certainly,” Aribella said, although she had no notion how she would accomplish any of the Queen’s requests.
“I’ve called for the carriage. Please ask that your trunks be loaded.”
When Aribella gasped inadvertently in surprise, the Queen clucked. “Not to worry, I shall summon for you again. But now you are needed most desperately to be where I cannot.” She reached forward and gripped Aribella’s hands. “This will be a temporary bout. The King will recover. We cannot have people thinking otherwise. Please be loyal to us as I know your mother would be.”
“You have my word.”
The Queen paused for only a moment and then nodded. “Off with you. And I wish you every blessing.”
“Thank you.” Aribella curtsied and hurried from the room.
The other ladies usually gathered in the front sitting room for their morning repast to gossip together about any number of things and to avoid the Queen as much as possible. Aribella found their whole situation rather odd.
She entered the room, and conversation stopped. The other ladies eyed her with veiled suspicion, but she curtsied and smiled. “Might I join you?”
They gestured that she take some tea.
Once she’d poured and added some cream and sugar, she took a sip. “I’ve come from the Queen’s chambers.” She raised a handkerchief to her eyes.
The other women leaned forward, entirely too eager for a bit of proof of their already-formed opinions.
“So sad, the health of Princess Amelia.”
Lady Mallory leaned back in surprise. “Princess Amelia?”
“Yes, that lovely child. Her portrait is so beautiful. I’ve never seen such a beauty.”
“What has happened?” Lady Smithing sniffed.
