But either Queen Jane had got over her ill humour or else she was very good indeed at hiding her real feelings. She could not have been more welcoming.
‘My dear, what a pleasure,’ she said, kissing Bella on the cheek. ‘Richard never tells us what he is doing, so it is a great relief to find that he has a private life.’
Richard stood like a rock and said nothing.
The Queen’s rooms were charming, with great bowls of flowers in every corner and some fine modern paintings. Not a hint of gold tasselling or steam engines, thought Bella. And the Queen didn’t mention her husband, though she did say that the evening’s music had been very modern and she was glad to be home.
‘We’ll eat at once. You must be very hungry. We’re in the small salon … quite informal.’
She led the way to a dining room where, as far as Bella could see, places had been set for at least four courses.
‘Now, tell me where you met my son.’
So Bella told her and the Queen laughed a good deal at the story of the collapsing ivy.
‘I’m glad Richard had the good sense to stay and rescue you. Do you find you have a lot in common?’
‘Bella is Finn Greenwood’s daughter, Mother. She’s very adventurous.’
The Queen looked worried. ‘Oh, dear. Do you sail, my dear?’
‘I’m afraid not.’
‘Then don’t let my son persuade you to try it. He has been wanting to go ocean racing since he was a child. And of course it’s out of the question.’
‘Is it? Why?’
The Queen bit her lip and did not answer.
It was left to Richard to say with heavy irony, ‘The safety of the heir to the throne must be assured at all times. Isn’t that right, Mother?’ To Bella it sounded as if he were quoting an official document.
The Queen clearly thought the same. ‘That’s not quite fair, Richard. Your father and I obviously don’t want you to put yourself in danger.’
He sighed and said tonelessly, ‘Of course.’
She turned to Bella and said, a bit too brightly, ‘What do you do, my dear?’
So Bella explained about her research into fish in the Indian Ocean and her new job in forestry research.
‘And what are you doing now? Spending time at home with your parents?’
Here we go, thought Bella. Dirty linen, one pile, on the table now, quick smart.
She said, ‘No, Ma’am. I’m living in London with a friend and doing a temporary job. My parents are divorced.’
‘Oh, dear,’ said the Queen. And to Bella’s surprise went on, ‘Was that very difficult for you? Broken homes can be so disorienting for the young.’
Bella said, ‘Actually, I never really felt I had my feet on the ground until my mother married my stepfather. He’s a solid citizen, which my father isn’t, and more importantly he is always there when my mother needs him. My father is just as likely to be up a mountain or in the middle of the desert somewhere.’
The Queen leaned forward. ‘How interesting. Didn’t you miss your father?’
‘If your father’s an explorer, you kind of get used to it.’
‘Yes, I suppose you do. I hadn’t thought of that. And are you an explorer too?’
‘I wanted to be,’ admitted Bella. ‘but I don’t think I have the temperament somehow.’
The Queen smiled at her suddenly. It was a real smile, full of fun and a sort of intimacy. Briefly, she looked very like Richard, Bella realised, startled. She found herself smiling back, without reservation.
‘I think you are a wise young woman. I look forward to getting to know you better.’
In spite of all the courses, the meal moved along briskly. Bella couldn’t face cheese or the delicious-looking chestnut and meringue pudding, and was starting to look hopefully at Richard for a signal that he was OK to go when the Queen rose to her feet.
‘Let us go and tidy ourselves, my dear.’
Richard stood up. ‘Oh for God’s sake, Mother.’
The Queen raised elegantly shaped eyebrows. ‘Language, dear.’
He waved that aside. ‘Hasn’t this charade gone on long enough?’
The Queen stiffened. ‘Charade?’ she said icily.
Very like Richard, thought Bella.
He gestured widely. ‘Quite informal? Three different wine glasses and four courses for a simple supper? What are you playing at … putting Bella in her place right from the start?’
‘Richard!’ The Queen sounded genuinely shocked.
He said to Bella, ‘Don’t be fooled by this “We are so pleased that Richard has a private life” guff. The last time I had a private life and made the mistake of introducing