you will have to back away without tripping over the train."
They tried it, and Ola tripped over four times before she found the trick of it.
To complete the elaborate ensemble she wore a long white veil, held in place by a coronet of diamonds which Lady Cadwick loaned her from the fabulous Cadwick collection. On top of this were fixed three ostrich feathers. In addition she had a large feathered fan, and long white gloves.
Ola had wanted to be presented at court. It had never occurred to her that it would be like this!
Lady Cadwick stood back and looked at her with pride. Then she dropped a deep curtsey.
"Your Royal Highness!" she said.
"Will I get away with it?"
"Oh yes, you will, I promise. You look magnificent and just as you ought. Now, you are all ready to be presented."
She was to be Ola's sponsor, for no lady could be presented at court without being introduced by another lady who had, herself, been presented. They travelled to the Palace in the Cadwick carriage, its ancient coat of arms emblazoned on the side.
It was a very fine day, and the carriage was open, so that everyone in the streets could see Princess Ola on her way to be received by the Queen.
Her last arrival at Buckingham Palace had been at the rear. Now she drove in splendour through the front gate and under the central arch into the courtyard beyond.
From the moment the carriage stopped everything was done with great ceremony. Powdered footmen stepped forward to open the door. Ola descended very carefully and stood while Lady Cadwick checked to see that everything was right.
Then they entered the Palace and began the long walk up crimson carpeted staircases, along broad corridors, until they came to the room that she had first seen in the Duke's company only a few days ago, when he had told her all about presentations.
She had reached the sitting room where, he had said, the debutantes waited for their turn. Lady Cadwick ushered her in.
The next moment she had a shock.
The Duke was there, watching the door with painful anxiety.
At first Ola thought that he looked right through her.
Then he became tense.
"I did not recognise you," he said, speaking awkwardly. "You look very splendid – Your Royal Highness."
How she would once have loved the astounded look in his eyes as he saw her glory. What joy there would have been in his admiration as he saw her more beautiful than ever before!
But not now.
A chasm yawned between them.
"Good afternoon, Duke," she said courteously. "As you can see, I'm playing my part. Do you have any advice for me? I realise that your special knowledge is valuable."
"Be hostile to me if you wish," he sighed. "But don't let it take your mind off your job. In a few moments the Oltenitzan ambassador will be here. He knows everything and wants to help us, for the sake of his country. He will assist you all he can."
She inclined her head, moving with excessive care lest she dislodge the ostrich feathers which waved wildly with every movement.
She thought the Duke himself was looking splendid in court dress of white knee breeches and ceremonial sword. Ola was sure no man had ever looked so handsome.
He left the room and returned after a moment with a thin, middle-aged man with a worried expression, whom he introduced as the Oltenitzan ambassador. He gave Ola a deep, respectful bow.
"Your Royal Highness," he said, loud enough for all to hear. Then, lowering his voice, he murmured, "I am deeply grateful for everything you are doing to help our poor country."
"I am very happy to help you in any way I can," she said politely.
"Then if you would be so kind as to wear this."
He opened a small box on which lay a diamond studded decoration.
"It is the Grand Order of Oltenitza, First Class. All our Princesses have it, and I hope you will accept it with our gratitude."
She smiled her pleasure, Lady Cadwick pinned it into her shoulder, and everything was complete. There was a bustle of movement. It was time for
They tried it, and Ola tripped over four times before she found the trick of it.
To complete the elaborate ensemble she wore a long white veil, held in place by a coronet of diamonds which Lady Cadwick loaned her from the fabulous Cadwick collection. On top of this were fixed three ostrich feathers. In addition she had a large feathered fan, and long white gloves.
Ola had wanted to be presented at court. It had never occurred to her that it would be like this!
Lady Cadwick stood back and looked at her with pride. Then she dropped a deep curtsey.
"Your Royal Highness!" she said.
"Will I get away with it?"
"Oh yes, you will, I promise. You look magnificent and just as you ought. Now, you are all ready to be presented."
She was to be Ola's sponsor, for no lady could be presented at court without being introduced by another lady who had, herself, been presented. They travelled to the Palace in the Cadwick carriage, its ancient coat of arms emblazoned on the side.
It was a very fine day, and the carriage was open, so that everyone in the streets could see Princess Ola on her way to be received by the Queen.
Her last arrival at Buckingham Palace had been at the rear. Now she drove in splendour through the front gate and under the central arch into the courtyard beyond.
From the moment the carriage stopped everything was done with great ceremony. Powdered footmen stepped forward to open the door. Ola descended very carefully and stood while Lady Cadwick checked to see that everything was right.
Then they entered the Palace and began the long walk up crimson carpeted staircases, along broad corridors, until they came to the room that she had first seen in the Duke's company only a few days ago, when he had told her all about presentations.
She had reached the sitting room where, he had said, the debutantes waited for their turn. Lady Cadwick ushered her in.
The next moment she had a shock.
The Duke was there, watching the door with painful anxiety.
At first Ola thought that he looked right through her.
Then he became tense.
"I did not recognise you," he said, speaking awkwardly. "You look very splendid – Your Royal Highness."
How she would once have loved the astounded look in his eyes as he saw her glory. What joy there would have been in his admiration as he saw her more beautiful than ever before!
But not now.
A chasm yawned between them.
"Good afternoon, Duke," she said courteously. "As you can see, I'm playing my part. Do you have any advice for me? I realise that your special knowledge is valuable."
"Be hostile to me if you wish," he sighed. "But don't let it take your mind off your job. In a few moments the Oltenitzan ambassador will be here. He knows everything and wants to help us, for the sake of his country. He will assist you all he can."
She inclined her head, moving with excessive care lest she dislodge the ostrich feathers which waved wildly with every movement.
She thought the Duke himself was looking splendid in court dress of white knee breeches and ceremonial sword. Ola was sure no man had ever looked so handsome.
He left the room and returned after a moment with a thin, middle-aged man with a worried expression, whom he introduced as the Oltenitzan ambassador. He gave Ola a deep, respectful bow.
"Your Royal Highness," he said, loud enough for all to hear. Then, lowering his voice, he murmured, "I am deeply grateful for everything you are doing to help our poor country."
"I am very happy to help you in any way I can," she said politely.
"Then if you would be so kind as to wear this."
He opened a small box on which lay a diamond studded decoration.
"It is the Grand Order of Oltenitza, First Class. All our Princesses have it, and I hope you will accept it with our gratitude."
She smiled her pleasure, Lady Cadwick pinned it into her shoulder, and everything was complete. There was a bustle of movement. It was time for
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