a blessing, Your Majesty." It was the truth, for there was only one man to her taste.
"And if not," the queen said, sliding her arms into the sleeves of a light robe, "we will choose for you. His Majesty and I did not meet before our wedding, but the choice was carefully made by others, and is to our delight."
Diana swallowed alarm, but she drew on Bey's grueling practice and merely said, "You are very kind, Your Majesty."
The queen nodded approval, and walked into another room, lively with crimson hangings, paintings, and bowls of flowers. She sat with a weary sigh, resting swollen ankles on a velvet footstool.
Diana followed, trying to assess this arrogant purpose about her marriage, and decide how to deal with it. But then she was hit by the heavy scent of a large arrangement of sweet peas.
"You like flowers, Lady Arradale?" the queen asked.
"Very much, ma'am," said Diana, wondering if she was blushing. Last night. Only last night...
"Good, good. We have pleasant gardens here, and you are free to enjoy them. You will not find your duties difficult, I think. You will read to me sometimes, and let me practice my English with you. Do you play an instrument?"
"The harpsichord, ma'am, and the flute."
"There is a harpsichord in the next room. Play for us."
As the queen began to chatter to her attendants in German, Diana obeyed the command, even managing the tricky business of backing out of the royal presence without tripping over her skirts.
She seethed with resentment at being ordered to entertain, but she reminded herself that she must be the perfect, conventional lady. It wasn't as if this was a burden of her sex. If she'd been the Earl of Arradale ordered to amuse the queen, she would be bound by duty to oblige, as the Marquess of Rothgar obeyed the king's commands.
Where was he now?
When would she see him again?
She pushed such thoughts aside. She'd end up mad herself if she sank into that kind of thing.
Grateful to at least be out of sight, she sat to play a piece by memory. This was an excellent opportunity to assess the new twists in her situation.
The queen sounded a great deal more determined on marriage than she'd expected, and she was clearly spokeswoman for the king. Diana could end up fighting two challenges rather than one. A battle with the king and queen to avoid their choice, and a battle with Bey to convince him that marriage was a risk worth taking despite uncertainty.
Lud! She still couldn't believe she'd thrown that gauntlet down. She meant it, however. It was her whole life and his. She would not let it slip away. Life was uncertain. Not to accept that was to freeze like a stone statue.
She let her fingers wander by themselves through the simple piece, and wondered again when next they'd meet. After all, it was central to her purpose. She could hardly change his mind if he avoided her completely.
He'd promised to see her frequently, however, and she knew he would keep that promise, through duty if nothing else.
Again today, though?
Or would she have to wait until tomorrow?
When tomorrow?
She suppressed a rueful laugh. This was insanity, but it was the common insanity called love. She didn't mind if they fought or kissed, so long as they met.
Well, she did mind, but she'd take any meeting over none. Even simply being in the same room would be some solace.
She realized her fingers had stopped. She pulled out of her wistful thoughts and changed to a lively and demanding tune. She would somehow find a way to change Bey's mind. In the meantime, she must also charm the queen and avoid attempts to force her into marriage. She'd heard that the queen was very fond of music and an excellent performer herself. This might be one way to mellow her.
In a little while one of the German attendants came to inform her she could leave to change out of court dress. She found her room small but adequate, and at least it was private. Clara was just finishing putting things away, bubbling with excitement to be in a royal household and greatly impressed by the servants she had already met.
Diana was pleased someone was happy here. She stripped out of court dress, and changed into a more comfortable gown. When she checked her appearance in the mirror, she realized it was the pale yellow and cream which she'd worn to welcome the Dark Marquess to