Victoria Read Free Page B

as she says she might, by and by. Lady N will be on my side sometimes, I expect. She thinks I am an advanced scholar for one my age. Imagine!
    I am afraid I am too lazy ever to be a really scholarly sort.

6 April
    Splendid ride this morning! Rosa just about flew!
    Currant pudding with wine custard sauce at tea – a rare surprise!

7 April
    Not just the post, but a messenger from Windsor Palace arrived this morning! He delivered with pomp a great, thick letter with gilded seals, Uncle King’s invitation to go to his ball next month! It came after lessons. Toire and I were playing “actress,” dressing up in Grandma’am’s old amber-coloured gown de deux jupes . (That’s French, and it means of two skirts . I must say, Grandma’am’s is so vast, it would make two whole gowns for me, but Toire was clever with some ribbons and made it pleat so nicely so I wasn’t absolutely swimming in it.)
    She took the mauve Spitalfields silk with the dove-grey farthingale and rose-coloured frill. Toire always chooses that one, because I once said I thought it used to be blue, but it faded. She pretends it is blue. I am afraid I cannot pretend about colours. I have no such imagination – to me, a thing either is or is not blue, and one cannot always have one’s favourite colour, but why pretend?
    While I was in the room, Mamma did not open the invitation. I believe she was put out with Grampion that he brought it in to her while I was not at my studies. I suppose she would have liked to surprise me with the news. Toire said Mamma most likely wanted to read the invitation first, to see who has been invited, before she decides if I am to be allowed to attend. On my word, it is His Majesty’s special invitation! I must attend! They shan’t keep me away this year! Surely they shan’t! Mamma says she will decide by and by.
    I said, “Please, Mamma, decide soon enough so I can have a new dress. I am ever so much taller than I was.”
    Mamma smiled when I said that. Baroness de Spaeth laughed. “Oh, yes,” she teased me, “you’ve grown the better part of an eighth of an inch!” But I am taller! Quite up to Mr Westall’s waistcoat pocket!

8 April
    Everyone here is commanded to attend. I think it is very kind and gracious of my Uncle King to entertain such a large assembly when he has been in such pain. I am told he can scarcely stand, some days. Aunt Soap says no one is more courteous and refined than His Majesty. She says he always found it embarrassing when Grandfather went into one of his peculiar fits. Uncle is consequently exceedingly proper in his own manners.
    But Mamma is put out about something, I can tell. She does not think all of His Majesty’s friends are quite good .
    She would not say as much to Aunt Soap, but I believe she thinks my Uncle King, himself, lacks proper behaviour. De Spaeth, bless her, said (I didn’t hear it, Toire did) that my own innocence will be adequate protection against any coarse or unseemly impressions. I don’t know exactly what it means. I am sure my innocence has not protected me from noting a Certain Person’s nose hairs want attention, and that is a coarse impression, I think.
    I know Lehzen is passionately eager for me to go to the ball. As she is my governess, I believe she wants me to behave to her credit, and I will certainly try to do so.
    Lehzen also said to de Spaeth, “Ivory peau d’ange silk for a May evening?” I think that is French for “angel skin” silk – it sounds lovely. And de Spaeth said, “With Honiton lace.” They were talking about my dress!
    But Mamma still hasn’t said yes.

Later
    I am being as good as I can be. I am so cooperative, I am quite a changed little vixen, Lehzen said. That is because it was rather breezy on our ride this morning – my hat blew right off, and my hair was all in knots. Mamma’s dresser, Mrs MacLeod, brushed