The Companion of Lady Holmeshire by Debra Brown Page B

we. She may just remind us of Miss Wathem’s rules!”
    “ So it is true that you have not had Embry to tea! For you would have had admonitions aplenty from her and be quite informed.” Winnie smiled and chose to maintain proper decorum, as always, in a royal Drawing Room.
    Tea was served as Wills approached the Duke and expressed his surprise that he had allowed a portrait of the deceased Queen to be hung in his home. She was the rejected wife of his own brother and with such a reputation!
    “ Well, she is dead now, for one thing,” the Duke remarked. “One must show respect for the dead, and I have deep concern for a woman whose husband is cruel toward her, God rest his foolish soul. I have not spoken to one person who would swear to me of her improper behavior. Perhaps they feared to inform me of it, for not knowing how I would respond. The trials proved nothing, though they left much to be imagined. For another thing, His Majesty would never grace my doorstep when he was alive, even to concern himself with my loyalties in the matter! But I must not mind; he was a pointlessly busy man. He spent his time drumming up much of that expensive regal ceremony that is now custom.” He stood back and looked at the portraits. “My wife, you know, was a dear friend of the Princess,” he pointed to Charlotte, “and the Princess loved her mother...whenever she found it possible. It was not always easy; Caroline had locked her daughter in the bedroom with a boy, and she could have ruined the virginal reputation of the future queen!”
    “ Her mother was good to me,” Helena sought to persuade Wills, “and to your Mum!”
    “ And to others we know,” added Winnie.
    “ And that is all that matters, now,” the Duke shrugged, “it all being behind us. Furthermore, few of us in this family supported the Regent in his follies. Sadly, my father lived to see it and would have been driven mad, were he not already.” He sipped at brandy that he had poured and chided Wills, “Good it is to see you now grown enough to discuss matters of such vast importance. Ladies, I know you are exhausted from your travels, and I do have things to accomplish yet today, so I will take my leave of you and let you get some rest. Holmeshire, should you be up to it, I would like to take you along to voice your opinions, so we can all find out just what they are! If you are going to help run the Empire, I shall need to correct your thinking.”
    Laughter resounded. Wills happily bid the ladies adieu. Helena walked after them to the door of the room, saying goodbye to her James and holding on to Wills’ shoulder. She implored him to stay and not to be so very grown up. Wills, however, laughingly declined the request, and he joined the Duke in his exit. They were off to the nearest grand hotel to defeat the newest bill before it was introduced and before Parliament had even been opened.
    Helena looked back at the portraits and mused, “Ah, those days, so long ago. I have not talked of them in ages now! We did feel sorry for the problems of Caroline, sent to live apart from her husband and little daughter.” She picked up the teapot and filled her own cup. “Our Mama was angered by it all, but held her tongue. For her good graces, we were allowed to visit and play with the Princess Charlotte.”
    Winnie reminisced, “Helena, more than I, spent time with her. The poor thing was given her own house and household, though she was just a child! Probably because her father was very busy and...” she deplored, “did not care to be caught at it. What sort of example would that be for the future queen?”
    Helena walked around slowly while they spoke. She was, at forty-one, a bit younger than Winnie and had married a year later. Her gowns were richer, and her hair was filled with jewels. One always knew her from behind for her sparkling coiffure and the elegant design of the back of each dress.
    “ Yes,” she went on, “there were many scandalous