“Yes.”
Darcy’s eyebrows rose towards his hair. “Miss Bingley?”
Elizabeth cheeks were instantly set ablaze. “You are right. It cannot be concealed. Miss Bingley will surely gloat and freely expound upon my lampooning until well after Jane tires of hearing about it.”
Their privacy was disrupted by a maid, who notified them that they were both to attend Lady Louise as soon as possible. Elizabeth changed out of her court dress and, together, they found her grandmother.
Lady Louise wore a slight smile and sparkling eyes. Her back was straight as she regarded them.
“I have great news to impart. Queen Charlotte has accepted my request. We have been given an audience on the eleventh of August, at her summer residence, but it is only to be you and me, Elizabeth. The count has agreed to travel with us as he has been granted an audience with the prince and will receive his due fanfare as a foreign visitor of noble birth. That should set the tongues wagging in a different direction from before.”
“I hope so, Grandmother.”
The good news was shared amongst the rest of their family during dinner.
Lydia was naturally pleased. “Wonderful!” she exclaimed. “Since my presence is not needed, I would prefer to remain here.” She stole a glance at Lord Ritterhof, Count Reimarus’s son.
The two were much alike in disposition, preferring parties and balls to quiet pursuits.
“Not while Lord Ritterhof is in residence,” Lady Louise declared.
“I can move to my apartment in Rendsburg while you are away,” Lord Ritterhof suggested, making it clear that he would very much enjoy Lydia’s company.
“She cannot remain here alone,” Elizabeth protested. Lydia was improving, but she was not yet mature enough to be left unchaperoned.
“I suppose I could ask Gertrude, the Countess of Wedel-Jarlsberg,” Lady Louise mused aloud.
The countess was her younger sister and utterly trustworthy.
Chapter 28 Return to English Soil
Kew Palace, 11thAugust
Elizabeth kept in the background, reminding herself of the three simple rules: never speak before you are spoken to, never turn your back to the queen, and never touch her. The feathers bobbed on her head as she walked through the garden of Kew Palace. They had barely had time to prepare as they had only returned from Ritterhof the previous day.
Jane and Mr Bingley had been staying at Darcy House since they returned from their honeymoon, and her most beloved sister had much to relate, as did she. It was a blessing that neither Jane nor Mr Bingley had suffered any scorn during the few days they had been in London. The gentry had retreated to their country estates, which must have worked to their advantage.
Queen Charlotte was receiving them in her secluded rusticcottageorné, tucked away in the southwest end of the garden on the bank of the Thames. It was not what Elizabeth had expected when granted a royal audience.
They were escorted into an airy green room with painted vines winding up the walls and ceiling. The queen was sitting in front of a large window, allowing the sunlight to illuminate her guests. She had grey ringlets, clear eyes, and a pug resting in her lap. In attendance were two of her daughters rather than her ladies-in-waiting. The moment she espied Elizabeth’s grandmother was quite telling. She rose abruptly, the pug all but forgotten.
“Louise, is it really you?”
“It is, Your Majesty,” Lady Louise affirmed with a deep curtsey.
“Come here,” the queen ordered, gesturing to the sofa next to her. “I am delighted to see you again after all these years. What fun we had, and what mischief we made as two silly young girls. You must tell me all about what you have been doing these last fifty years.”
“Of course,” Lady Louise agreed.
Elizabeth watched the conversation, trying to imagine the two older ladies as seventeen-year-old girls. It was not difficult. Queen Charlotte was of a lively and equable temper; her grandmother was much the same. Their subject moved to family matters, and her grandmother related that she had been blessed with only the one child but that he had endowed her with five precious granddaughters.
“And this, I suppose, is one of your granddaughters.”
Elizabeth, with all eyes on her, curtsied as deeply as she dared.
“Mrs Darcy, it has come to my attention that you have been subjected to vile rumours and repugnant behaviour.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Elizabeth confirmed.
