Diana putdown her last sheet of paper. “There. All done. What do youthink?”
Miriam had tears in her eyes and was holding Geoffrey’shand.
“That was so lovely,” shesaid.
“Bit daft, if you ask me,” Geoffrey said. “Angels? Nah. I do not thinkso.”
Miriam swatted his hand. “You are a terrible person, Geoffrey Sinclair. Go make your horrid bread and leave us alone. You do not deserve to be in genteelcompany.”
“I know when I am not wanted,” he said in ahuff.
Geoffrey stood to go back to the kitchen, but Diana spoke up, “Wait. I need to speak with you both about the fete onSaturday.”
Geoffrey sat back downagain.
“The carriage is to pick us up at 10 o’clock so I will need you to be ready and at our house by then. Can you dothat?”
Geoffrey leaned back on the sofa, crossed his legs and arms and said, “Ofcourse.”
“And I need to let you know that our family is expected to remain in the Queen’s party most of the afternoon so I will not be available to participate in the games. But youmay.”
“How gracious of you to allow us, lowly minions, to participate,” Geoffreysneered.
“Geoffrey, behave yourself. This event is not about you. It is a great honor for Diana’s father, and he and his family deserve to receive the Queen’s full attention without you acting up and ruining everything. And stop pouting. You disgrace yourself,” Miriaminsisted.
Geoffrey let his head fall with an exaggerated tumble. “So sorry.” He looked up. “Diana, your story was wonderful. We will be on time. And I shall be ever such a good littleboy.”
Diana stood and pulled his ear. “You had better be, young man, or I will send ogres to tear you into a millionpieces.”
Miriam looked at Diana and shrugged. “What can I do? He is what heis.”
* * *
The dayof the investiture Father was very nervous. He couldn’t manage to put on his cufflinks, so he went to Diana’s room to have her assisthim.
“Father, remember, you fully deserve this honor, and Her Majesty is delighted to have you attend the ceremony, so please do not benervous.”
“I will try. But I wish you or Mother could be by my side when I stand before theQueen.”
“We shall be close by, Father,” she said as she patted his shoulder and then his face. “And when it is all over you can relax and enjoy having tea with theQueen.”
Mother came into the room as she pulled up her elbow lengthgloves.
“There you are. I was looking all over for you. Are you both ready? The carriage will be here in ten minutes, and the twins are already here. Geoffrey said he was terrified to be late because of ogres or some such. I could make neither heads nor tails of what he was saying. Just gibberish. Come let usgo.”
She took each of them by the arm and forced them out of Diana’sroom.
“Mother, I need my coat,” Fathersaid.
“Then go and get it. Gracious. Am I expected to doeverything?”
Diana could tell her mother was nervous, and she went to her as they descended thestairs.
“Everything is going to be just fine. And let me tell you, I have never seen you look more beautiful,” she saidsmiling.
That seemed to calm her mothersome.
“Thank you, dear, so do you. In fact, that dress is stunning. Her Majesty may bestow an honor on you once she sees how lovely youare.”
