Page 5 of Her Royal Houseguest

‘You need to let the servants in there. I can’t imagine what my plants would look like if they didn’t help me clean the workspace.’

Anna shook her head. She was too embarrassed to let anyone see her mess.

‘I’ll get to it,’ she promised, just as she did most mornings. And then she didn’t.

Time to change the topic.

‘Did you hear? There’s a delegation of Siamese at Carlton House today.’

‘Of what?’

‘It’s a country and they just showed up in the harbour yesterday. Papa received an urgent summons from Prinny to show up in his most formal dress.’

Phoebe frowned. ‘Where is Siamese?’

‘It’s called Siam. Father didn’t know either. We looked it up together.’

‘And?’

Phoebe waved at the map that was rolled up in the corner. She was supposed to have put it away but had forgotten since Mama’s migraine had called her away.

‘It’s this tiny country south of China. Way, way south. Do you want to see?’

She leaped up to unroll the map. It was an expensive thing, worth more than her dowry, according to her father. She tried to be careful, she really did. But she was excited to show her friend what she’d learned this morning. She was moving quickly and the thing was so big.

‘Anna! Watch out—’

The warning came too late. The map edge caught the edge of a teacup and toppled it. Oh damn. She’d spilled on the map. As Anna jerked backwards in reaction, she’d forgotten about Phoebe’s massive carpet bag filled with teas and other potions that had been set down as she’d entered the room.

Anna stumbled.

Damn it!

‘Anna! Are you all right?’ Phoebe’s exclamation made Anna wince.

‘Shhh! You’ll bother Mama.’

‘Are you hurt?’

‘Did I hurt the map?’

She might be able to hide tea stains but the wrinkles were impossible to smooth. Her father was going to kill her.

Her friend took the map, rolling it up with ease.

She heard a heavy sigh. It wasn’t Phoebe, though it could have been. Everyone sighed at her disasters. In this case, it was her mother who stood at the doorway to the parlour, her hands on her hips and her eyes squinting from the sun.

‘Is that your father’s map?’ Mama whispered. ‘The one that he spent months acquiring? The map that he’s so proud to own?’

Phoebe quickly set the rolled-up thing aside. ‘Duchess, you really shouldn’t be out of bed.’

‘How can I rest when people are crying out about my daughter?’

‘I’m fine, Mama. Go on back to bed.’ She hadn’t even fallen down. This time.

‘You ripped the map,’ Mama said, her voice deadpan.

‘No, no. It’s fine.’ Anna glanced at Phoebe who nodded.