He took her hands in his. ‘The more I spoke to you, the more intrigued I became. You were so keen to put across this front of being ruthless and almost relentless in your pursuit of proving them wrong, but I saw threads of a different person inside. The way you bragged about editing the college newspaper, when it really made no difference to your position in the palace back office – although now I know that you’re a journalist, that little chat makes a lot more sense.’
‘I was the best editor Smith had seen for decades,’ she said haughtily.
‘Which brings me to your uncanny knack of showing off. I could see there was a lot more going on inside you than you were letting on. I was captivated.’
‘Because there’s a lot more going on inside you, too?’
His eyes glinted in the late-afternoon sunshine. ‘Because it takes one complicated person to understand another. That was when I realized that it might be you, Miranda – thatyoumight be the real one forme, not the woman I almost married, who did me an immense favour by leaving me.’ He smiled at her. ‘It was all making way for you.’
And as the sunlight glistened over the platform, she felt herself nestle into him, feeling younger, more vulnerable, yet more alive than she ever had.
CAROLINE
THE GOWN HUNG MAJESTICALLY FROM ELIZABETH,GLEAMINGwith embroidery and jewels, the garment of a true monarch. Caroline and Miss MacDonald scurried around, smoothing the drape of the fabric, making sure all was perfectly in place.
‘Remember, you have me here, and Lascelles, too.’ The Queen Mother, in a matching, though less elaborate, white gown, inspected her daughter from the side. ‘He’s the captain steering the ship, carrying us safely where we need to go.’
Only, to Caroline’s surprise, Elizabeth replied, ‘But the throne is mine and mine alone. Lascelles is my advisor, not my manager.Iam the one who will guide this monarchy through the next decades – for the rest of my life.’ She stood, calm yet firm. ‘This ismyduty.’
‘But, darling, we have a lot of experience,’ her mother appeased. ‘We can’t have you making mistakes.’
Elizabeth answered with steadiness. ‘Every good monarch has to find his or her own path. I’ve read the books, I know the constitution. I’m ready to undertake this role. I know that the only way to do this is to do what is moral and right, to take the long view, and to put my trust in God.’
Inside, Caroline gave a secret cheer. Well done to Elizabeth for standing up for herself. It was time for women to see that they, too, had to take responsibility for their own futures – and that included Caroline herself. Since she’d left Frank, her world had become lighter yet more directed, more focused on what she and Annabelwanted and needed. She didn’t need a man to tell her what to do. The power to do so had always been there inside her, and now she could set it free.
In coronation tradition, Queen Elizabeth made her way through the palace in her finery, the Great Hall packed with her staff, the first to see the new queen on this, her most important day.
Four trumpeters heralded her entrance, and there she was, like a goddess, as her gown and jewels glistened in the light of the heaving chandelier.
A great cheer rang out, all the staff, from maids to equerries, from porters to butlers, applauding their new sovereign, the sound intense and moving in the wide space.
The picture of serenity, Elizabeth walked to the wide main door, stopping every so often to greet various servants who curtseyed and bowed as she passed.
Caroline helped her outside and into the gleaming golden carriage, carefully folding the twenty-one-foot train to fit between her and Philip, and the six pale-grey horses drew the carriage gently away.
Almost as soon as they’d gone, Caroline and Miss MacDonald climbed inside the car that would take them through the backstreets to the abbey. They had to be ready and waiting for the queen’s arrival.
By the time they reached Westminster Abbey, the guests had taken their seats. The rows had been lengthened to fit six thousand people, including royals, aristocracy, foreign leaders and statesmen.
The two dressers took their positions beside the entrance, ready to help the queen with her clothing, watching as the final carriages arrived. The first bore the Queen Mother with Princess Margaret and four-year-old Prince Charles – Anne was deemed too young at just two. Then came the prime minister, Mr Churchill, in a pristine tailcoat and top hat, inspiring great applause, a testament to his leadership during the war.
The noise grew as the Gold State Coach drew to a halt.
Then, as the crowd held their breath, Queen Elizabeth stepped out, turning to wave with a beaming smile.
An almighty cheer reverberated through Westminster Square, theold parliament buildings coming to life, Big Ben standing tall beside the great river.
The queen beamed and waved before entering the vestibule to the cathedral, and Miss MacDonald and Caroline hurried forward to straighten the gown. This was their chance to make sure that everything was perfect. For one moment, Elizabeth’s eyes met Miss MacDonald’s, a flicker of trepidation in that brief connection between them, the young queen and the woman who had been her nursemaid, the one person she could fully trust.
Then the trumpeters inside the abbey began to herald the queen’s arrival, and Elizabeth shifted her gaze to the front.
Miss MacDonald had tears in her eyes as she turned to smile at Caroline. ‘Doesn’t she look a picture. I’m so very proud of her.’
And Caroline realized all that Miss MacDonald had given up for the royals – her own independent life back in her Scottish town, the family she might have had. It was an honour to work so closely with the queen, although Caroline couldn’t help but think about the sacrifice.
The choir sang out as the queen started the grand procession, the maids of honour sweeping forward to take hold of Elizabeth’s train, and the dressers slipped into the back of the abbey to watch.
Graceful yet measured, Queen Elizabeth made her way down the aisle, gazing ahead, steadfast and unswerving. Behind her and her maids of honour came Philip, resplendent in a deep purple robe, and an entourage of white-gowned peeresses and the Knights of the Garter.
