Geoffrey stared at his doughy mass and answered, “That sounds like a very good idea. Sis, put the kettle on .”
Once tea was served and all were settled in, Diana began reading the remainder of the story from where she left off last time .
Tommy returned to the butcher shop .
“Sir, I am ready for my next task,” he said bravely, still smarting from the fall .
The shop was filled with customers doing the last of their Christmas dinner shopping .
Customers were shouting orders and the butcher was working as fast as he could. He turned to Tommy and asked. “Can you lend me a hand here? I’ve only got two hands and two dozen customers .”
“I can, sir .”
Tommy went right to work, asking what each person wanted. And even though he was too short to be seen above the counter, the lady customers were delighted with his willingness to help and his eager smile .
Tommy wrapped each chop, chicken, or roast quickly after the butcher weighed it and collected the money from the customer .
They stayed open much later than the usual closing time, and by then, there was hardly any meat left to sell—a few pieces of liver, some chicken feet, and a sheep’s head that was only suited for making soup stock .
As the last customer left and the butcher locked the front door, Tommy collapsed onto the floor behind the meat counter. If he had two more minutes he would have fallen asleep .
The butcher came over and looked down at Tommy. “You done a good job today, lad. And I am sorry about your fall .”
Tommy looked up and gave a weak smile. “Thank you, sir .”
The butcher went into the back of the shop and came out with a large package wrapped in butcher paper .
“Here you go. This be your wages for the week. And son, if you are so inclined, I would like to offer you a permanent job. You did fine work today .”
“How much you payin’?” Tommy asked .
The butcher laughed. “Five bob a week .”
“Seven,” Tommy countered .
“Done. Now be gone. Go home and have a happy Christmas and I will see you bright and early the day after Boxing Day .”
“Yes, sir .”
“A-w-w,” both Geoffrey and Miriam said together .
“But that is not all, is it?” They asked together .
“Not quite,” Diana said, and then read on .
Tommy was weary and still in some pain from the fall as he trudged home, carrying his precious parcel which would be the basis for their Christmas dinner tomorrow. He was not particularly happy with tripe, but it would make a decent meal the way his mother prepared it .
He finally arrived home and opened the door. His mother was already home from the mill and, to his great surprise, he saw his sister standing at the side of the room decorating a Christmas tree. A few candles were burning brightly as Doris strung a chain of red and green paper garlands around the tree—careful not to string it near the candles .
“Happy Christmas, Tommy,” Doris cried out .
“You got us a tree?” he exclaimed .
“It is an angel tree,” Doris said. “I was selling my flowers and an angel bought my very last one for two guineas .”
Tommy could not answer but could only stare at the loveliness of the tree .
Finally, their mother spoke up .
“Tommy, did you bring us the tripe from the butcher’s ?”
Pulling himself together, Tommy handed his mother the parcel. “Yes, Mamma .”
“That is very heavy for tripe,” his mother added as she sat it on the small kitchen table .
She began to unwrap it as Tommy went over to help his sister decorate the tree .
“It is so beautiful,” he said. “Were you able to save any money from the two guineas ?”
“Oh, yes. Most of it. Because it was Christmas Eve, I got the tree at a very good price. Now we will be able to buy mother a used coat so she will not be so cold during the winter .
Mother let out a gasp. “Tommy, did you bring home the right package? This is not tripe, this is a whole turkey .”
The children turned and stared at their mother .
“A turkey? A whole turkey all for us ?”
“How long will it take to cook?” Doris asked .
“If I put it in the oven in the morning it will be ready for dinner .”
“Then we can go and bring Grandmother here for dinner tomorrow—if she is well enough .”
“That will be wonderful,” Mother said. “And my dear children, this is going to be our best Christmas ever .”
D iana put down her last sheet of paper. “There. All done. What do you think ?”
Miriam had tears in her eyes and was holding Geoffrey’s hand .
“That was so lovely,” she said .
“Bit daft, if you ask me,” Geoffrey said. “Angels? Nah. I do not think so .”
Miriam swatted his hand. “You are a terrible person, Geoffrey Sinclair. Go make your horrid bread and leave us alone. You do not deserve to be in genteel company .”
“I know when I am not wanted,” he said in a huff .
Geoffrey stood to go back to the kitchen, but Diana spoke up, “Wait. I need to speak with you both about the fete on Saturday .”
Geoffrey sat back down again .
“The carriage is to pick us up at 10 o’clock so I will need you to be ready and at our house by then. Can you do that ?”
Geoffrey leaned back on the sofa, crossed his legs and arms and said, “Of course .”
“And I need to let you know that our family is expected to remain in the Queen’s party most of the afternoon so I will not be available to participate in the games. But you may .”
“How gracious of you to allow us, lowly minions, to participate,” Geoffrey sneered .
“Geoffrey, behave yourself. This event is not about you. It is a great honor for Diana’s father, and he and his family deserve to receive the Queen’s full attention without you acting up and ruining everything. And stop pouting. You disgrace yourself,” Miriam insisted .
Geoffrey let his head fall with an exaggerated tumble. “So sorry.” He looked up. “Diana, your story was wonderful. We will be on time. And I shall be ever such a good little boy .”
Diana stood and pulled his ear. “You had better be, young man, or I will send ogres to tear you into a million pieces .”
Miriam looked at Diana and shrugged. “What can I do? He is what he is .”
* * *
T he day of the investiture Father was very nervous. He couldn’t manage to put on his cufflinks, so he went to Diana’s room to have her assist him .
“Father, remember, you fully deserve this honor, and Her Majesty is delighted to have you attend the ceremony, so please do not be nervous .”
“I will try. But I wish you or Mother could be by my side when I stand before the Queen .”
“We shall be close by, Father,” she said as she patted his shoulder and then his face. “And when it is all over you can relax and enjoy having tea with the Queen .”
Mother came into the room as she pulled up her elbow length gloves .
“There you are. I was looking all over for you. Are you both ready? The carriage will be here in ten minutes, and the twins are already here. Geoffrey said he was terrified to be late because of ogres or some such. I could make neither heads nor tails of what he was saying. Just gibberish. Come let us go .”
She took each of them by the arm and forced them out of Diana’s room .
“Mother, I need my coat,” Father said .
“Then go and get it. Gracious. Am I expected to do everything ?”
Diana could tell her mother was nervous, and she went to her as they descended the stairs .
“Everything is going to be just fine. And let me tell you, I have never seen you look more beautiful,” she said smiling .
That seemed to calm her mother some .
“Thank you, dear, so do you. In fact, that dress
is stunning. Her Majesty may bestow an honor on you once she sees how lovely you are .”
Diana laughed, as they reached the bottom of the stairs. She left her mother getting her wrap and went outside to greet the twins .
“Hello, you two. Lovely day for the fete, is it not ?”
The twins turned to her and gasped. “You look like a princess,” they both said in unison .
The Goodwin sisters were to watch the gallery for the day and were standing by admiring the dresses and making little comments between themselves .
Mother and Father finally came out, and the group was ready to leave .
And just as all were assembled, the Earl’s carriage pulled up in front of the house. Two footmen descended, opened the carriage doors, and flipped down the carriage steps for the guests to enter .
Diana took her father’s arm and whispered to him, “Now you shall be able to sign your name George Browning, O.M .”
Her father looked at her and smiled but he still seemed too nervous to respond verbally .
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 .
It was a very pleasant day with intermittent clouds, but with sufficient sunshine to be comfortable, and no visible threat of rain .
The fete was well underway by the time the royal carriage arrived, followed by two of the Earl’s carriages. All other activity ceased as the locals crowded around to honor and welcome the royal couple .
Two trumpeters played a fanfare as Victoria descended from the carriage and a spontaneous chorus of God Save the Queen burst forth from the crowd .
Her Majesty waved and acknowledged the cheers before they went into the presentation tent .
The Earl, Amelia, the Brownings and other guests of the queen followed inside .
It was not a complicated ceremony. The Queen stood at the front of the tent as a page read out the announcement of the honor being bestowed on one Professor George Daniel Browning. The Queen handed the Professor a certificate and pinned a medal on his coat. He bowed and then the quartet struck up a Handel processional march as the Queen proceeded to the refreshment tent .
“That was it?” Geoffrey asked of Diana. “Not much of a splash, was it ?”
Miriam chimed in. “Yes, I thought there would be more to it too. Flags waving, wild dancing, or at least a beheading or two. But this was just… bland. It was like paying the milkman once a week .”
“Now, now. Her Majesty was very gracious,” Diana defended .
“We are going outside for some fun,” Geoffrey declared .
“Do not forget we are to judge the baked goods,” Miriam said. “The Earl promised us .”
“I will find out about that. Maybe that has changed now that the Queen is here .”
“I hope not, I was looking forward to gorging on all those cakes, tartes and roly-poly puddings,” Geoffrey insisted .
Robert had gone up to her father to congratulate him. Diana joined them .
“May I see the citation?” Diana asked her father .
He handed it to her. It was in a leather folder and looked quite official with the royal seal and the Queen’s signature .
“It is lovely, Father. I am so proud of you .”
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