A Most Extraordinary Pursuit Read Free Page A

as a liver chestnut, whose coat occupied a muddy middle ground between yellow and brown, neither brilliantly fair nor alluringly dark, remarkable only for its plainness. My employer had at one time expressed approval of this uninspired shade, in such a way that implied I’d had some choice in the matter. A valuable thing, to go about unnoticed, he told me gravely. An advantage not to be wasted.
    â€œYou have your mother’s hair,” said the Queen.
    â€œNot quite. Hers was more fair.”
    â€œAnd how would you know this? You hardly knew the girl.”
    â€œI have her portrait.”
    â€œThe artist flattered her. Aren’t you going to offer us a drink?”
    â€œWhat use would that be?”
    â€œIt would demonstrate a certain courtesy, for one thing, aquality in which you appear to be
badly
lacking. One supposes it is your mother’s influence. Your father was always a dutiful man.” Her fingers were full of rings, and she twisted them about on her lap, one by one, like an engineer twisting knobs on a machine, hoping one of them would do the trick. A look of triumph appeared on her face. “If I don’t exist, then why should I appear in your mirror?”
    â€œI expect it is all part of the illusion.” I set down the comb and swiveled the stool about to face her. My room was elegant and comfortably furnished but not large—exactly suited to my rank, I suppose—and Her Majesty sat only a yard or two away, while the coals spat on her dress. “Have you got something important to tell me? I really must go to bed.”
    Scandalized. “But your hair is still wet. You’ll catch a chill.”
    â€œYou are occupying the chair next to the fire, madam, where it is my usual custom to dry my hair.”
    She harrumphed but didn’t move.
    â€œIs this about the ceremony tomorrow?” I asked. “Have you any special instructions? I understand the two of you were close, at one time.”
    â€œHe was one of my most trusted advisors. I often hoped he would agree to lead the government, but he always refused.”
    â€œHe hated politics,” I said. “The parliamentary kind, at least. He was resigned to democracy, but he hardly relished it.”
    â€œAnd now the grand old Duke of Olympia is dead.” She shook her head. “And who is there to replace him, in all my empire? These new young fellows are all beardless fools, every last one.
Soft.
Nothing to the men of my day.”
    â€œThey’ll grow wiser, I’m sure. They always do.”
    â€œThey will drag us all into general war, mark my words. Or stumble into it, which is even worse. But never mind that. Aboutthis funeral tomorrow.” She stopped twiddling her rings and placed her hands over the rounded ends of each chair arm, as if she were about to heave herself up. “The duke’s widow will attend the service, of course.”
    â€œOf course. They were very much in love. I am deeply sorry for her. The death itself was so sudden.”
    â€œHe was eighty-six years old. She cannot have been surprised.” The Queen sniffed and turned to the fire. “She seems hardly bereaved at all. But then, she’s only an American.”
    â€œI assure you, she is devastated by the loss.”
    â€œYes. Well.” She returned her gaze to me, and I had the feeling that she was assessing me, the way she might measure up the man who was to become her next prime minister. Not that she had ever had much choice in the matter, although I am given to understand that she liked to
think
that she did. Don’t we all?
    â€œMadam,” I said, “I really must retire. There are so many details to which I must attend tomorrow, and I have been working day and night since the hour of His Grace’s death.”
    â€œNonetheless, you must listen to me. This is most important. Are you paying attention?”
    â€œSince I must.”
    â€œCheeky little baggage. You