Page 61 of A Foreign Crown
Soon they were entertained by the sounds of a melodic country tune.
“I find I am missing my homeland.” The lines that deepened on the Queen’s face tore at Aribella’s heart. “Music comforts me. This is a German folk tune.” Queen Charlotte nodded her head to the slow rhythm. “I do so miss my childhood days.”
Aribella considered what this woman had lost when she’d become Queen of England—her homeland, her family. But what had she gained? A new country at her feet, fifteen children. Somehow, in all the crazed jostling among Society for position and the deceit of the royal court, Their Majesties had kept their children apart from such machinations. They’d sheltered them enough that they hadn’t fallen prey to the atmosphere, as far as Aribella could tell.
No small feat.
Could Aribella do the same? She would be fooling herself if she tried to pretend she hadn’t considered repercussions of spending time with Prince Layton, that she hadn’t entertained the idea of leaving her country to marry a royal from another, were he to ever seek her hand. Could she manage? Was the royal court in Oldenburg like that of England? She wasn’t sure she could abide such a life.
With the music, the mood in the room lifted and the lines on Her Majesty’s face smoothed. The ladies continued in their work, chattering now and then about the latest fashions, about their court dress—how they hated it at first but now felt it much more complimentary to their figures than the straight gowns most were wont to wear—and about pomades and beauty secrets. Perhaps they were pretending the darkness of their day did not exist. Happiness during tragic moments could feel traitorous, but such glimpses of life before sadness were needed at times.
Aribella remembered the early days after her mother’s passing. She had wondered then if happiness could exist again. Moments when she could pretend life was normal were cherished times. She sighed. They always ended, and the truth came crashing back around her, but not without a hint of refreshment with the small break from continuous despair.
Another servant arrived. “Your Majesty, the King is calling for you.”
The Queen’s face drained of color. With shaking hands, she laid her quill on the tabletop. The ladies stood as she did, and they all curtsied to the Queen before she left the room.
As soon as she had left, Lady Mallory tsked. “What a to-do we find ourselves in.”
“Banished, you realize.” Lady Jennings began boxing some of the gowns she’d divided. “We will be all but banished to Windsor as soon as Her Majesty is able to depart.”
“Don’t I know the truth of your words. We will be completely isolated, as she’s not likely to welcome visitors either.”
“You can’t help but feel for the woman though. I wonder what the King will have to say.” Lady Jennings stared out the door through which the Queen had left.
Aribella was somewhat appalled at their reactions. “I definitely feel for her. I cannot see how one could not.”
“Of course you do.” Lady Smithing frowned. “As her favorite.”
“And if that were so? If I am her favorite? At least I understand my place at her side.”
Lady Mallory turned kind eyes to her. “You would do well to align yourself with those who will actually have influence. What you don’t understand is the history here. Have you not read of, or has your mother not told you about, the Queen’s previous ladies-in-waiting? We are only lucky enough that Madam Schwellenberg no longer resides here.”
“Oh, that woman was a terror. Even the King wished to cast her out.” Lady Oppenheim shuddered. “None of you were here yet, but I remember her tyranny. If anyone wanted an audience with the Queen, they had to get her permission. She was loyal, yes, but it only gifted her so much.”
“Better to be cast out than to gain the amorous attention of the King, as others have.” Lady Smithing smoothed her skirts as though to wash herself from her thoughts.
“What? Surely he is loyal.” Aribella wished to escape their words and the possible truth of them.
“Oh yes. But when he’s out of his mind, they say he has done unheard-of things.” Lady Smithing clucked. “He thought Madam Schwellenberg to be his ladylove for many months, though she never reciprocated.”
Lady Mallory looked on kindly enough. “Princess Augusta and the King himself stepped in to limit the woman’s power. What we’re saying is, loyalty or no, it doesn’t do well to go down with the ship. Other people are also in power here.”
“Speaking of such things, did you hear there was talk of the Queen acting as regent?” Lady Oppenheim added more to her stitches.
“What? How could that be?” Lady Aribella found that most intriguing and was not at all opposed to the idea.
“The idea was squelched immediately, but as surely as I’m standing here, there was talk the first time the King went mad.” Lady Oppenheim eyed her hemming.
Aribella found it refreshing that someone had even thought such a thing, for wouldn’t the Queen’s rule be far better than her son’s? Aribella kept at her correspondence. With diligence, she might be able to finish her stack before the Queen returned.
The same servant who had relayed the King’s message returned. “Lady Aribella, the Queen would like to see you.”
“And now no one envies you your spot as her favorite.” Lady Mallory shot her a look of sympathy, shaking her head.
Aribella said nothing but followed the servant, her heart sputtering in trepidation. What could be needed?
They moved through corridors and around corners, passing through sitting rooms and drawing rooms and a music room that housed no fewer than three harps. She would beg for time to return to such a room.
