“Very nice,” Ann said. “Now off you go and I’ll make sure everyone is ready when the door opens.”
Miss Duley vanished out the door, they took their places, and Ann slowly became aware of how nervous she was. She even had to wipe her hands on her coverall several times. The younger girls broke into giggles after a few minutes of aching silence, but a good hard glare was enough to quiet them.
At last they heard the noises of people in the corridor. The door opening, creaking on its hinges, and there were the queen and Princess Elizabeth and Queen Mary, and just behind them Princess Margaret and the Duchess of Gloucester. They stood at the landing for a long moment, and the queen looked down at all the girls with a dazzling smile.
Ann bent her knees into a curtsy, and the others followed but not quite at the same time, which made for a rather comical effect as their heads bobbed up and down at intervals. But the queen didn’t notice, or rather was too polite to take notice, and instead she and the others swept down the stairs and into the workroom.
Mr. Hartnell and Miss Duley and Mam’selle followed just behind, and he showed the royal ladies the samples that Ann and Miriam had worked, and explained that the gown itself was next door in the sewing workroom.
“Having completed the principal embroidery on Your Royal Highness’s gown, we are now working on the train. Miss Hughes and Miss Dassin are my two most senior embroiderers, and they have led the way in the embroidery on both the gown and the train. Would Your Majesties and Royal Highnesses care to observe them at work for a moment or two?”
“I should like that very much,” said the queen with another wonderful smile, her cornflower-blue eyes so friendly and warm, and Ann sat in her chair and picked up her needle and began to work.
“They begin by attaching the satin appliqué pieces to the tulle, after which they affix the pearls and other decorations, and all the while they must take great care to ensure that every stitch is invisible,” Mr. Hartnell said in his most serious voice.
The queen and Princess Elizabeth had come to stand next to Ann, and just knowing they were so close made Ann’s hands go all wobbly, but it wasn’t so bad as to be noticeable. She managed to set several pearls at the center of one of the York roses before the queen nodded and said, “Thank you very much. We are so grateful for your hard work.”
Ann wasn’t sure if she was allowed to say anything, but it seemed rude not to respond. “Thank you, Your Majesty,” she said, and out of the corner of her eye she saw both Mr. Hartnell and Miss Duley nod.
The royal ladies processed back up the stairs, and Ann and Miriam stood up, and at the landing the queen paused and turned to say good-bye to everyone. They curtsied again, still horribly out of unison, and then the door shut and their visitors were gone.
“There,” Miss Duley said. “We survived. Well done, girls. Let’s all sit down and catch our breath, and mind you don’t start to chatter until our guests have left the premises. After that you may have your break a little early.”
Ann crossed the workroom to Miss Duley, who had collapsed onto her desk chair. “What do you think?”
“I’d say they were very pleased. They never talk much, you know. Only the queen, and she always has something nice to say. It was a very good idea to have the samples brought down, by the way.”
“Shall I take them back? Mr. Hartnell will probably need them again before the wedding.”
“Yes, do. But make sure to avoid the royal ladies.”
Ann set off for Mr. Hartnell’s office, taking the long way round so as to stay out of everyone’s way. It sent her through the showroom, which should have been empty, since any appointments would certainly have been canceled once the queen had announced her intention to visit.
Only it wasn’t empty. Three young men were sprawled on the upholstered chairs where clients usually sat, chatting amiably with one another, and they jumped to their feet when they heard her approaching.
Jeremy was one of the men.
Desperate to set the record straight, she took a small step toward him, then another. She hadn’t meant to deceive him, she wanted to say. She had been planning on—
“No,” he mouthed silently, his eyes wide.
“I, ah . . . I hadn’t expected anyone to, ah, to be here,” she stammered, and now she clutched the box of samples close to her chest. As if anything so insubstantial could shield her from what was to come. “I do apologize.”
“No need,” said one of the men in an airy tone. “On your way somewhere important?”