“No, Highness,” she answered in French. “Nobody is there.”

Which probably meant that she was taking a long nap in her room. That girl could sleep more than anybody I had ever met. I chose what I hoped was the right tower and made my way up the spiral stair until I emerged to her cold and drafty corridor. If she’d snuggled under her blankets to keep warm, I couldn’t blame her. As I stood there, trying to remember which door was hers, a door opened and a young woman, dressed elegantly in black, came out.

“What do you require, Your Highness?” she asked in French.

I told her I was looking for Queenie.

“She has the room next to mine. This one”—she pointed at a door—“but I do not think she is there. Excuse me. I must go to dress the princess for dinner.”

I opened Queenie’s door and fumbled for a light switch but couldn’t find one. In the dim light from the hallway I could see that the room was unoccupied. The bed was made. Queenie was definitely not there.

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Still November 18
Have lost Queenie.

I retreated, puzzled and a little worried now. Where could she have gone? A secret tryst with a male servant? But I had little time to think about it. I’d have to hurry if I was to dress myself for dinner. I struggled into Belinda’s dress, which fortunately had a zipper at the side and not hooks up the back, then I brushed my hair, powdered my nose and finished my toilette. Still Queenie didn’t show up. I was alarmed and annoyed now. Where could she be?

I arrived in the gallery outside the banqueting hall to find it brimming with people and even more decorations and jewels than the night before. And tiaras. Oh, Lord, I should have worn my tiara. I was wondering whether I’d have time to sprint back upstairs to fetch it when I was grabbed by Prince Siegfried.

“You are looking enchanting, Lady Georgiana,” he said. “A most suitable gown, if you permit me to say so.”

“I didn’t realize that tiaras were going to be worn,” I said. “I left mine in my room.”

“It does not matter. You look delightfully refreshing, the way you are.”

Why was he being so charming? Did he think that I knew something about him that he would not wish to be repeated?