The carriage was packed tightly with five people, and the party was mostly silent on the trip to Balfour —all a little nervous as this was their first time to be in the presence of the Queen and her Consort .
But soon the carriage pulled up at the Balfour Hall entrance. The fete was not to start until noon, and the guests were to have an audience with Her Majesty before the royal party went down to the field where the fete was being held .
Robert, Amelia, and a representative of the Queen were at the entrance to greet them .
Robert stepped forward as the party descended from the carriage .
“Good morning and welcome to Balfour . You are all most welcome .”
And while the footmen helped most of the party out of the carriage, when it was Diana’s turn, Robert stepped forward and offered Diana his hand .
“Thank you, Milord,” Diana said. “And it is such a pleasure to be here and to see you again .”
Diana noticed that Amelia was frowning at Robert’s offer of his hand .
Robert turned to the group and said, “Now if you will just follow us inside you will be taken to be presented to Her Majesty. Please do not feel nervous, as she is most gracious and is anxiously waiting to meet you all .”
He nodded to the twins, who nodded back and then he led the company inside with Mother and Father on either side of him. Diana and the twins followed .
The grand ballroom had been set up for the Monarch’s reception and she was seated on a throne on a dais at the far end of the room as the party entered .
The ballroom was particularly grand. It was decorated in the late baroque style with decorative gilded plaster moldings, gilt mirrors, and pastoral scenes painted on the walls and ceiling .
There were a number of courtiers and other guests standing nearby chatting quietly, as a string quartet played softly in the background. But when Robert and Amelia entered with their guests, the conversation died down and all attention was focused on George and his wife as they walked across, what seemed to be an endless distance toward the dais .
Even Diana was nervous. She had only seen the Queen once before when she attended a formal function at the university. But that was a number of years ago when Diana was still a child and she did not have a vivid recollection of that event .
As George and his family approached, the Queen raised her hand and smiled, saying, “Welcome Professor and Misses Browning and guests. It is such a great pleasure for us to meet you in person on this auspicious day. Please accept my sincerest congratulations on your nomination to the order .”
“Thank you, ma’am,” Father managed to say sufficiently loudly to be heard, much to Diana’s surprise. “It is a great honor and privilege to be recognized for my humble scholastic contributions .”
The group bowed in unison, and Diana could see Miriam pinching Geoffrey’s arm when he did not seem to bow as deeply as she thought he should. But his bow deepened instantly .
“We look forward to the investiture later this afternoon and look forward to conversing with you more casually at tea after the ceremony,” the Queen added .
Robert signaled discreetly that the interview had ended and the party took several steps backward and bowed again as the Queen stood up and left the dais .
After they left, Robert smiled and said to the group, “Now then, let us retire to the library where we have champagne and caviar awaiting. It is to be quite casual as Their Majesties will not be joining us.” He turned to George and clasped him by the arm. “Very well done, Professor. And if you will now follow me we can relax before the fete and the investiture .”
“Thank you, Milord. It is a great pleasure to be here. And thank you for your hospitality,” George added, as he took his wife’s hand and squeezed it .
Robert and Amelia led the way to the library where Sithens and a footman were waiting to serve the champagne .
Miriam and Geoffrey appeared to be awestruck as they gazed at the magnificence of the Earl’s library .
Geoffrey turned to Diana and whispered, “Have you ever been here before? It is very grand. Why ever does he know you ?”
“Yes, Geoffrey, I have been here and he knows me because we are fellow writers and I am helping him with one of his projects .”
“Oh…”
“Have something to drink and just enjoy yourselves,” Diana said, giving him a shove toward the caviar and champagne .
“And try not to make a complete fool of yourself,” Miriam cautioned him as she led him away .
Robert was conversing with her father and mother so Diana sipped her champagne and she went to the table to take several toasts with caviar. Amelia came up beside her, and turning slightly toward her asked, “You are going to be a good little girl today, are you not ?”
“I beg your pardon,” Diana said indignantly. “Does your brother know you speak to me like this ?”
Amelia smiled sweetly. “Just a reminder. You are an engaged lady .”
“I do not need reminding of that .”
“And where is your fiancé this morning? I would have expected him to be at your side .”
“He is finishing his dissertation so he can graduate next week. It is a very trying time for him and he decided he could not take the time away .”
“Hmm. Industrious young chap .”
Diana looked over and saw Robert looking at them. He nodded slightly and smiled .
“If you will excuse me, I need to be with my parents now,” Diana said, as she walked away from Amelia without saying another word .
As she approached her parents, Robert held out his hand in welcome. “What a great deal of formality, is there not?” he said .
“Indeed.” She patted her father’s arm and he smiled at her .
“Did you receive the galley proofs?” Robert asked. “I received mine yesterday .”
“As did I,” Diana responded. “And I do look forward to reading it .”
“It will take me a few days to restore some semblance of order once Her Majesty leaves, but then I should like us to meet to discuss the book and the publicity schedule. If that is agreeable ?”
Robert smiled at her and Diana did not feel the coldness he had exhibited at the end of their last meeting .
“Of course. I am at your disposal .”
Chapter 21
T he fete was set up in a section of Balfour Park that was adjacent to a local village. The fete was laid out on a flat, open area that could easily accommodate the various activities. There was one large tent where the investiture was to take place. Next to it was a smaller tent that housed the refreshments, and where the Royal couple would serve tea to the guests invited to the investiture. There were also two smaller tents where the flower and the baking competitions would be judged .
And in the open space around the tents, there were pens for the animal competitions—a few carnival games and entertainments—and a field where there would be various games and sports engaged in by the locals in a fit of rowdy exuberance. And, of course, there would be open air stands that served plenty of beer and cider .